Multi-Stage Gas Compression with Gravity-Independent Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas compression systems are inefficient and unreliable, especially in abnormal gravity environments, due to the need to compress gas streams with high condensable component concentrations, which leads to increased power consumption, volume, and mass, as well as mechanical stress on components.
Innovation Solution
A multistage compression system with gravity-independent phase separators is used to remove condensable components at each stage, reducing the load on subsequent stages and allowing for isothermal compression, thereby decreasing power and volume requirements and improving reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If condensable components are not removed at each compression stage, then the system structure is simpler, but power consumption and volume increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The compression system is divided into multiple stages, with each stage including a compressor, condenser, and phase separator. This segmentation allows condensable components to be removed incrementally at each stage rather than all at once, reducing the compression workload and power consumption for subsequent stages while distributing the system complexity across modular units.
Solution Approach 2:
Condensable components are removed in advance at each compression stage before the gas enters the next compression stage. This preliminary removal action reduces the amount of condensable components that subsequent compressors need to handle, decreasing their power consumption and volume requirements.
2Reliability
If condensable components are removed at each compression stage, then reliability improves by preventing compressor failures, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple compression stages with phase separators between them, segmenting the compression process. This segmentation prevents condensed components from accumulating and causing failures in any single compressor, improving overall reliability while distributing complexity across multiple smaller units.
Solution Approach 2:
Phase separators are positioned before each compressor to remove condensable components in advance, cushioning the compressors against potential damage from liquid accumulation. This protective measure improves reliability by preventing a common failure mode before it can occur.
3Adaptability or versatility
If gravity-independent phase separators are used, then the system can operate in abnormal gravity environments, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces gravity-dependent separation mechanisms with gravity-independent phase separation technology that uses alternative physical principles such as centrifugal force, surface tension, or electrostatic fields. This substitution enables operation in abnormal gravity environments including microgravity and partial gravity, expanding adaptability while managing complexity through non-mechanical separation methods.
4Volume of moving object
If multiple compression stages are used with component removal, then volume and mass are reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression system is segmented into multiple stages with each stage being a self-contained module (compressor + condenser + phase separator). This modular segmentation reduces the volume of individual components compared to a single large-stage system, while the standardized modules simplify manufacturing and assembly despite the increased number of components.
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 system achieves reduced power consumption, smaller size, and enhanced reliability by continuously removing condensable components across multiple stages, effectively managing condensable components in abnormal gravity environments.
Implementation Method 1
The compressor is configured to receive the gas stream from either the system inlet or another of the plurality of compression stages and compress the gas stream
Implementation Method 2
The condenser is configured to cool the gas stream and condense the second component from the gas stream
Implementation Method 3
The gravity-independent phase separator is configured to remove the second component from the gas stream and discharge the gas stream to either the vapor system outlet or another of the plurality of compression stages
Data Source
AI summary
A gas compression system includes a system inlet to receive a gas stream containing a first component and a second component, a vapor system outlet to discharge the gas stream, and a plurality of compression stages coupled in series between the system inlet and the vapor system outlet. Each of the plurality of compression stages includes a compressor, a condenser coupled to the compressor, and a gravity-independent phase separator coupled to the condenser. The compressor is configured to receive the gas stream from either the system inlet or another of the plurality of compression stages and compress the gas stream. The condenser is configured to condense the second component from the gas stream. The gravity-independent phase separator is configured to remove the second component from the gas stream and discharge the gas stream to either the system outlet or another of the plurality of compression stages.