Drawdown Compressor Assembly for Natural Gas Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
During natural gas infrastructure maintenance and construction, gas is often vented to the atmosphere, leading to greenhouse gas emissions, as there is a lack of regulation to mitigate these emissions, and existing technologies do not effectively recover natural gas for reuse.
Innovation Solution
A drawdown compressor assembly that connects to a gas line, draws natural gas from one pipe, compresses it, and delivers it to another pipe, reducing emissions by recovering usable gas and allowing it to be reused, featuring a portable and compact design suitable for small-scale operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If natural gas is vented to the atmosphere during infrastructure maintenance, then the gas line can be safely brought out of service, but greenhouse gas emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful vented natural gas into a beneficial resource by capturing it through the compressor assembly and directing it to alternative pipes for continued use. The system transforms what would be wasted emissions into reusable fuel, simultaneously achieving safe decommissioning and emission reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressor assembly acts as an intermediary device between the decommissioned gas line and the active gas distribution network. It captures gas from the被关闭 line and mediates its transfer to alternative pipes, enabling resource recovery while maintaining system safety.
2Loss of substance
If existing gas recovery technologies are used, then some natural gas can be recovered, but they are not effective for small-scale operations and lack portability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the gas recovery function into a modular, portable compressor assembly that can be independently deployed at different locations along gas lines. This segmented design allows the system to be easily transported and positioned for small-scale operations, unlike large fixed infrastructure solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressor assembly is designed to be self-contained and portable, requiring minimal external infrastructure support. It can be independently deployed by workers to perform gas recovery operations without requiring complex installation or support systems, enabling easy deployment in various field conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a portable compressor assembly is used, then small-scale gas recovery becomes feasible, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor assembly is designed as a universal, multi-functional unit that can be deployed in various small-scale gas recovery scenarios. The same basic design handles different gas flow conditions and can be positioned at different locations, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices and simplifying overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces environmental impact by recovering and reusing natural gas, minimizing emissions during decommissioning processes, and is economically and efficiently deployable in small-scale gas recovery operations.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor attached to an opposite end of the first tubing and configured to draw natural gas from the first pipe through the first tubing and into the compressor for being compressed by the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A drawdown compressor assembly for recovering natural gas from a gas line includes a first tubing configured for connection to a first pipe of the gas line at a one end of the first tubing. A compressor is attached to an opposite end of the first tubing and configured to draw natural gas from the first pipe through the first tubing and into the compressor for being compressed by the compressor. A second tubing is connected to the compressor at one end of the second tubing and configured for connection to a second pipe of the gas line at an opposite end of the second tubing. Activation of the compressor draws the natural gas from the first pipe through the first tubing and delivers compressed natural gas to the second pipe through the second tubing.