Boundary layer disk turbine systems for controlling pneumatic devices
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F01D-001/36
F04D-017/16
F04B-035/01
출원번호
US-0617313
(2012-09-14)
등록번호
US-9188006
(2015-11-17)
발명자
/ 주소
Beeler, Casey L.
출원인 / 주소
Leed Fabrication Services, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Lathrop & Gage LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
6
초록▼
Provided are various devices and processes that harness the inherent kinetic energy of a flowing pressurized fluid to drive a compressor to compress a fluid without any need for electrical or chemical energy. The flowing drive fluid flows over a boundary layer disk turbine, or Tesla turbine, which i
Provided are various devices and processes that harness the inherent kinetic energy of a flowing pressurized fluid to drive a compressor to compress a fluid without any need for electrical or chemical energy. The flowing drive fluid flows over a boundary layer disk turbine, or Tesla turbine, which is mechanically coupled to a compressor that compresses a fluid. The flowing fluid may be a natural gas from a hydrocarbon recovery operation. The compressed fluid may be air that is used to power a pneumatic device in an industrial process. Harnessing the kinetic energy of the flowing fluid increases economic efficiency of the process, while also avoiding unwanted emissions adverse to the environment and public health.
대표청구항▼
1. A method of compressing air in an industrial process, said method comprising the steps of: mechanically coupling a boundary layer disk turbine (BLDT) to a compressor pump;directing a flow of a pressurized drive fluid comprising flashed hydrocarbon vapor over said BLDT to mechanically power said c
1. A method of compressing air in an industrial process, said method comprising the steps of: mechanically coupling a boundary layer disk turbine (BLDT) to a compressor pump;directing a flow of a pressurized drive fluid comprising flashed hydrocarbon vapor over said BLDT to mechanically power said compressor pump;compressing air with said compressor pump mechanically powered by said BLDT to obtain compressed air; wherein said compressing occurs without electrical or chemical power;storing said compressed air in a retention tank; andcontrolling a pneumatic device with said compressed air from said retention tank. 2. A self-powered compressor comprising: a pressure vessel configured to contain a source of pressurized drive fluid, wherein said pressurized drive fluid is a hydrocarbon vapor flashed from a hydrocarbon-containing liquid;a boundary layer disk turbine (BLDT);a fluid conduit fluidically connecting said BLDT and said pressure vessel, said fluid conduit configured to provide a flow of said pressurized drive fluid to said BLDT under a pressure differential;a compressor pump mechanically connected to said BLDT; wherein said flow of pressurized fluid over said BLDT mechanically powers said compressor;an air source fluidically connected to said compressor pump to provide air for compression by said compressor pump;a pressure tank fluidically connected to said compressor pump configured to hold air compressed by said compressor pump; anda pneumatic device fluidically connected to said pressure tank, wherein compressed air in said pressure tank is used to control said pneumatic device. 3. The self-powered compressor of claim 2, further comprising: a controller for on-demand release of said compressed air in said pressure tank to control said pneumatic device. 4. The self-powered compressor of claim 2, further comprising: a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in said pressure tank; anda controller operably connected to said pressure sensor and said compressor or said BLDT, wherein said controller is configured to engage compression when said pressure sensor measures a pressure in said pressure tank that is below a user-selected first set-point and stop compression when said measured pressure is above a user selected second set-point, wherein said user-selected first set-point is less than said user-selected second set-point. 5. A method for powering a pneumatic device in an industrial process application, said method comprising the steps of: mechanically coupling a boundary layer disk turbine (BLDT) to a compressor pump;directing a flow of a pressurized drive fluid over said BLDT to mechanically power said compressor pump, wherein said pressurized drive fluid comprises a flashed hydrocarbon vapor gas from a hydrocarbon-containing liquid in a pressure vessel;compressing air with said mechanically powered compressor pump to obtain compressed air; andstoring said compressed air in a retention tank, wherein said compressed air is used to power said pneumatic device. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the boundary layer disk turbine is directly coupled to the compressor pump. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the boundary layer disk turbine is indirectly coupled to the compressor pump. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the mechanical coupling comprises a clutch. 9. The method of claim 5, wherein said flow of pressurized drive fluid is provided in a closed loop. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein an outlet flow of drive fluid from said BLDT is provided to a gas outlet pipeline. 11. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing said compressed air from said retention tank to said pneumatic device, thereby powering said pneumatic device. 12. The method of claim 5, further comprising: monitoring a pressure in said retention tank, and when said monitored pressure falls below a user-selected set-point, engaging said BLDT to power said compressor to pressurize said retention tank to a value above said user-selected set-point. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said monitoring step further comprises: selecting a first pressure set-point and a second pressure set-point, wherein said second pressure set-point is greater than said first pressure set-point;engaging said BLDT to power said compressor when said monitored pressure is less than first pressure set-point; anddisengaging said BLDT from powering said compressor when said monitored pressure is greater than a second pressure set-point. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said first and second pressure set-points have a pressure difference relative to each other that is greater than or equal to 5% and less than or equal to 50%. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of disengaging said BLDT comprises stopping said flow of pressurized drive fluid to said BLDT. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of disengaging said BLDT comprises mechanically uncoupling said BLDT from said compressor. 17. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of stopping said compressing step when said retention tank is fully pressurized. 18. The method of claim 5, wherein said compressor operates without an external electrical or hydrocarbon combustion energy source. 19. The method of claim 5, wherein no external electrical or hydrocarbon combustion energy source is required to control the industrial process or the vapor recovery. 20. The method of claim 5, wherein a plurality of BLDT is mechanically coupled to a plurality of compressors. 21. The method of claim 5, wherein said pressure vessel is part of a hydrocarbon liquid and gas production unit. 22. The method of claim 5, wherein the pneumatic device is selected from the group consisting of: control valves, motor valves, liquid level controls, temperature controller, pressure controller, and any combination thereof. 23. The method of claim 5, wherein said pressurized drive fluid comprises natural gas and said compressible fluid comprises air. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said compressed air from said compressing step provides on-demand powering of said pneumatic device. 25. The method of claim 5, wherein said air comprises ambient air from an environment surrounding said compressor. 26. The method of claim 5, further comprising, capturing said directed flow of drive fluid flow from said BLDT and outputting said captured fluid flow into a recovery outlet conduit. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein said recovery outlet conduit is directed to: a pressure vessel containing said drive fluid, an outlet pipeline, or a compressor.
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Bosley Robert W. ; Edelman Edward C. ; Miller Ronald F., Gaseous fuel compression and control system and method.
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