Super-Synchronous Motor Compressor for Pipeline Gas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional natural gas pipeline compressors face challenges with seal complexity leading to reduced availability, increased maintenance costs, and potential leakage in super-synchronous electric drives, which are prone to contamination and environmental issues due to the complexity of internal seal systems.
Innovation Solution
A compressor assembly utilizing a permanent magnet-type super-synchronous electric motor with a variable frequency drive, eliminating the need for gearboxes and carbon-based slip rings, and employing magnetic bearings for support, which allows for higher efficiency and reliability by operating at speeds up to 20,000 rpm without additional components, thus reducing maintenance and footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If internal seal systems (dry gas seals) are used in super-synchronous electric drives, then sealing of process gas is achieved, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the internal seal system (dry gas seals) from the super-synchronous electric drive, extracting the sealing function from the motor and eliminating the associated complexity and reliability issues while maintaining gas containment through alternative means
2Productivity
If super-synchronous electric drives operate at high speeds (greater than 3,600 rpm for 60 Hz), then productivity increases, but seal complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the seal system from the high-speed electric drive, allowing the motor to operate at super-synchronous speeds (greater than 3,600 rpm for 60 Hz) for improved productivity while eliminating the seal-related complexity that would otherwise accompany such operation
3Reliability
If internal seal systems are used in electric drives, then gas containment is achieved, but maintenance costs increase and availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the internal seal system from the electric drive, eliminating maintenance-intensive components while maintaining gas containment through the redesigned system architecture, thereby reducing maintenance costs and improving availability
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 enhances operational efficiency, reduces maintenance costs, and increases reliability by enabling rapid gas pressurization and minimizing leakage, while maintaining a smaller footprint and improved environmental compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
A compressor assembly utilizing a permanent magnet-type super-synchronous electric motor
Implementation Method 2
employing magnetic bearings for support
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor assembly (200) for use in transporting natural gas is provided. The assembly includes a natural gas compressor (202) comprising at least one stage of compression, a permanent magnet-type super-synchronous motor (204) coupled to the natural gas compressor for powering said compressor, and a housing (230), the compressor positioned within the housing, and the compressor configured to facilitate increasing a pressure of natural gas being transmitted.