Method and system for multi-stage compression of a gas using a liquid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9903355-B2
Application number	US-201414505122-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2014
Priority date	Nov 20, 2013
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A method of compressing a gas includes maintaining a first volume of liquid in a first high pressure chamber and maintaining a first volume of gas in a second high pressure chamber, wherein the first volume of gas is at a first pressure and the first high pressure chamber and the second high pressure chamber are fluidly connected through a high pressure pump. A pressurized gas is forced into the first high pressure chamber having the first volume of liquid and simultaneously pumping, using the high pressure pump, at least a portion of the first volume of liquid in the first high pressure chamber to the second high pressure chamber, wherein the first volume of liquid pumped into the second high pressure chamber compresses the first volume of gas in the second high pressure chamber to a second pressure greater than the first pressure.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of compressing a gas using a liquid, comprising:
maintaining a first volume of liquid in a first compression stage first chamber;
maintaining a first volume of gas in a first compression stage second chamber, wherein the first volume of gas is at a first pressure and said first compression stage first chamber and said first compression stage second chamber are fluidly connected through a first compression stage first pump; and
receiving, from a buffer chamber, a pressurized gas into the first compression stage first chamber having the first volume of liquid and simultaneously pumping, using the first compression stage first pump, at least a portion of the first volume of liquid in the first compression stage first chamber to the first compression stage second chamber, wherein the at least a portion of the first volume of liquid pumped into the first compression stage second chamber compresses the first volume of gas in the first compression stage second chamber to a second pressure greater than the first pressure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the pressurized gas into the first compression stage first chamber having the first volume of liquid further comprises:
maintaining a second volume of liquid in a second compression stage first chamber;
maintaining a second volume of gas in a second compression stage second chamber, wherein said second compression stage first chamber and said second compression stage second chamber are fluidly connected through a second compression stage pump;
pressurizing the second volume of gas in the second compression stage second chamber by pumping, using the second compression stage pump, at least a portion of the second volume of liquid in the second compression stage first chamber to the second compression stage second chamber, wherein the second compression stage second chamber is fluidly connected with the buffer first chamber and at least a portion of the pressurized second volume of gas is forced into the first buffer chamber; and
drawing gas into the second compression stage first chamber as the at least a portion of liquid in the second compression stage first chamber is pumped to the second compression stage second chamber.

3. The method claim 2 , wherein any one or more of the first compression stage first chamber, the first compression stage second chamber, the second compression stage first chamber and the second compression stage second chamber have an internal geometry for increasing a surface area of contact between the gas, an internal surface of the respective chamber, and the liquid.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the internal geometry of any one or more of first compression stage first chamber, the first compression stage second chamber, the second compression stage first chamber and the second compression stage second chamber comprises a Coanda profile.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising circulating the gas and the liquid in a bottom and an upper part of any one or more of the first compression stage first chamber, second compression stage first chamber, first compression stage second chamber, or second compression stage second chambers to increase heat and mass transfer between the liquid and the gas.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the Coanda profile provides a Coanda effect that is used to increase mass transfer to aid in purification of the gas by the liquid, or the liquid by the gas.

7. The method of claim 3 , further comprising providing capillary tubing in any one or more of the first compression stage first chamber, second compression stage first chamber, first compression stage second chamber, or second compression stage second chambers to increase heat transfer between the liquid and the gas.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein providing capillary tubing comprises providing capillary tubing having diameters of 1 mm or less.

9. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the use of the internal geometry to cause the liquid to flow along an internal surface of any one or more of the first compression stage first chamber, second compression stage first chamber, first compression stage second chamber, or second compression stage second chamber.

10. The method of claim 3 , further comprising admitting the liquid to any one or more of the first compression stage first chamber, second compression stage first chamber, first compression stage second chamber, or second compression stage second chamber via a spray mechanism.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the buffer chamber is located between any one or more of the first compression stage first chamber and the second compression stage first chamber or the second compression stage second chamber.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing a third compression stage chamber, wherein the buffer chamber is between the third compression stage chamber and the first compression stage first chamber.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein any one or more of the second compression stage first chamber and the second compression stage second chamber discharges into the buffer chamber and the buffer chamber discharges into the first compression stage first chamber.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the pressurized gas into the first compression stage first chamber having the first volume of liquid comprises pressurizing a second volume of gas using a mechanical piston compressor and at least a portion of the pressurized second volume of gas is forced into the first compression stage first chamber.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a separation system, wherein the separation system is used to separate out liquid droplets entrained in the gas.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the liquid comprises a hygroscopic liquid for removing moisture from the gas.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the liquid is used to wash, scrub, or cleanse the gas of other undesired chemicals or particles.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the liquid is a member of the glycol family.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the liquid is Triethylene Glycol (TEG).

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a filter, chemical processing element, or heat exchanger to purify the gas or liquid.

21. A system for compressing a gas using a liquid, comprising:
a buffer chamber;
a first compression stage first chamber in fluid communication with the buffer chamber, said first compression stage first chamber having a first volume of liquid, wherein a pressurized gas is forced into the first compression stage first chamber having the first volume of liquid;
a first compression stage pump; and
a first compression stage second chamber, wherein a first volume of gas is maintained in the first compression stage second chamber and wherein the first volume of gas is at a first pressure and said first compression stage first chamber and said first compression stage second chamber are fluidly connected through the first compression stage pump,
wherein at least a portion of the first volume of liquid in the first compression stage first chamber is simultaneously pumped to the to the first compression stage second chamber, wherein the at least a portion of the first volume of liquid pumped into the first compression stage second chamber compresses the first volume of gas in the first compression stage second chamber to a second pressure greater than the first pressure.

22. The system of claim 21 , further compri

Assignees

• Ohio State Innovation Foundation

Inventors

• Chiara Fabio
• Durand James
• Underhill Robert
• Fly Gerald
• Triberti Matteo

Classifications

• B01D2252/2026

  Polyethylene glycol, ethers or esters thereof, e.g. Selexol · CPC title

• F15B3/00

  Intensifiers or fluid-pressure converters, e.g. pressure exchangers; Conveying pressure from one fluid system to another, without contact between the fluids {(fluid-driven pumps F04B9/08)} · CPC title

• C10L3/10

  Working-up natural gas or synthetic natural gas · CPC title

• F04B41/02

  having reservoirs · CPC title

• F04B39/0011 Primary

  liquid pistons · CPC title