Parallel dynamic compressor arrangement and methods related thereto

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9284964-B2
Application number	US-201113643539-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2011
Priority date	May 21, 2010
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to a novel arrangement for equipment used to compress fluids. A single prime mover is connected to a plurality of compressors. A supply conduit with parallel branch conduits directs fluid to be compressed to at least two compressors and parallel output conduits from each compressor are connected to a common output conduit, which directs compressed fluids to at least one additional compressor.

First claim

I claim:

1. Apparatus for compressing fluids comprising:
a prime mover having at least one drive shaft mechanically coupled thereto;
a first compressor coupled to the prime mover via a first drive shaft;
a second compressor coupled to the prime mover via a second drive shaft;
a third compressor coupled to the prime mover via a third drive shaft;
a first conduit for connection to a source of fluid to be compressed;
a pair of parallel conduits each extending from the first conduit to respective inlets for any two of the three compressors;
a second conduit for connection to a source of fluid to be compressed, the second conduit having a pair of parallel conduits each extending to a respective side load inlet of any two of the three compressors; and
a pair of parallel output conduits each extending from an outlet of the any two compressors, wherein the parallel output conduits convey compressed fluids; and wherein the compressed fluids are directed through one or more compressed fluid conduits to an inlet of the remaining compressor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the any two compressors are low pressure compressors, and the remaining compressor is a high pressure compressor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising cooling and scrubbing units connected between the output of the low pressure compressors and the input for the high pressure compressor.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a fourth compressor coupled with the prime mover, and further comprising a pair of parallel output conduits connected to a respective outlet of the remaining compressor and the fourth compressor, wherein the one or more compressed fluid conduits comprises a pair of parallel input conduits fluidically coupled to inlets on the fourth compressor body and the remaining compressor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a gear box connected to one of the drive shafts.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a starter/helper motor/generator connected to one of the drive shafts.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a variable frequency drive connected to the starter/helper motor/generator.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a third conduit for connection to a source of fluid to be compressed, the third conduit connected to an inlet of the remaining compressor.

Assignees

• Sites Omar Angus
• Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co

Inventors

• Sites Omar Angus

Classifications

• F04B25/00

  Multi-stage pumps · CPC title

• F04B41/06

  Combinations of two or more pumps · CPC title

• F04D25/16 Primary

  Combinations of two or more pumps {; Producing two or more separate gas flows} · CPC title

• F04D25/04

  the pump being fluid-driven {(pumps driven by exhaust gases F02B37/00, F02B39/00; turbochargers F02C6/12)} · CPC title

• F04D25/06

  the pump being electrically driven (F04D25/08 takes precedence) · CPC title