Pumpless Odorant Injection via Pipeline Differential Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing odorant injection systems for natural gas pipelines often rely on pumps that require frequent seal replacements and can vent unwanted odorant vapors into the environment, necessitating a pumpless and more efficient method to introduce odorants while minimizing environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A pressure-driven system that utilizes differential pressure to inject odorants into the pipeline without pumps, using a pressurized tank and solenoids to leverage pipeline pressure and prevent odorant vapors from entering the atmosphere.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pumps are used to inject odorant into the pipeline, then the odorant injection can be achieved, but the seals require frequent replacement and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pump component entirely from the odorant injection system, extracting the harmful element (pump seals that require maintenance) while preserving the core function of odorant injection through pressure-driven flow
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical pump system with a pressure-driven fluid dynamics system, using differential pressure between upstream and downstream pipeline pressures to drive odorant injection without mechanical moving parts
2Productivity
If traditional odorant injection systems are used, then odorant can be injected into the pipeline, but unwanted odorant vapors are vented to atmosphere without filtration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful odorant vapor venting into a beneficial filtered discharge by routing vent gases through a filtration system that captures and removes odorant vapors before atmospheric release, turning an environmental hazard into a controlled discharge
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a filtration system as an intermediary component between the odorant injection system and the atmosphere, using the filter as a mediator to capture odorant vapors and prevent their direct release into the environment
3Stress or pressure
If pumps with seals are used for odorant injection, then the system can maintain pressure, but the seals need frequent replacement increasing maintenance needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pump component entirely from the odorant injection system, extracting the harmful element (pump seals that require maintenance) while preserving the core function of odorant injection through pressure-driven flow
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by leveraging pipeline pressure differentials to drive odorant injection, replacing mechanical pressure maintenance with a pressure-based fluid dynamics approach that eliminates sealing requirements
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
This solution effectively introduces odorants into natural gas pipelines without pumps, reducing environmental contamination and minimizing maintenance needs, while ensuring efficient and reliable odorant distribution.
Implementation Method 1
A pressurized tank contains the odorant and uses a blanket gas to apply pressure to the tank supply
Implementation Method 2
uses the concept of differential pressure to inject odorant into the pipeline
Data Source
AI summary
An odorization system is provided that introduces foul-smelling odorant into a natural gas pipeline in order to make gas leaks more easily detectable. The system improves upon prior art odorization systems by using a pumpless mechanism driven by differential pressures. The elimination of pumps from the system reduces the likelihood of system failure and further reduces the likelihood that odorant leaks to atmosphere.