초록 ▼

A natural gas processing system is mounted on a mobile platform that is transported to a natural gas source, such as a well. A liquid removal tank separates liquid contaminants from the gas. A particulate filter removes particulates from the gas. A membrane separates the natural gas into a retentate

A natural gas processing system is mounted on a mobile platform that is transported to a natural gas source, such as a well. A liquid removal tank separates liquid contaminants from the gas. A particulate filter removes particulates from the gas. A membrane separates the natural gas into a retentate gas and a permeate gas. A gas compressor, powered by the natural gas, is selectively connected either upstream of the membrane or downstream of the membrane. For low pressure source gas, the upstream connection will compress the natural gas before entering the membrane. For high pressure source gas, the downstream connection will compress the natural gas after exiting the membrane. An electrical generator and an air compressor are provided. A process control is connected to all the valves in the system, all instruments, the gas compressor, the electrical generator, and the air compressor. The process control monitors and controls the natural gas processing system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A natural gas processing system for use in connection with a natural gas source and raw source natural gas produced by the source, the natural gas processing system comprising: a mobile platform adapted for being transported to the natural gas source;a liquid removal tank juxtaposed with the mobi

1. A natural gas processing system for use in connection with a natural gas source and raw source natural gas produced by the source, the natural gas processing system comprising: a mobile platform adapted for being transported to the natural gas source;a liquid removal tank juxtaposed with the mobile platform, the liquid removal tank being adapted for attachment in fluid communication to the natural gas source for receiving the source natural gas, the liquid removal tank being adapted for separating liquid contaminants from the source natural gas, the liquid removal tank being adapted for allowing passage of the natural gas therethrough;a particulate filter mounted on the mobile platform, the particulate filter being connected downstream of and in fluid communication with the liquid removal tank, the particulate filter being adapted for removing particulate matter from the natural gas, the particulate filter being adapted for allowing passage of the natural gas therethrough;a membrane mounted on the mobile platform, the membrane being connected downstream of and in fluid communication with the particulate filter, the membrane being adapted for separating the natural gas into a retentate gas and a permeate gas, the membrane being adapted for allowing passage of the permeate gas therethrough, and restricting passage of the retentate gas therethrough;a gas compressor mounted on the mobile platform, the gas compressor being connected in fluid communication with the membrane, the gas compressor being adapted for compressing the natural gas and allowing passage of the natural gas therethrough, the gas compressor being driven by a first power source;a source natural gas valve connected in fluid communication with the natural gas source and the liquid removal tank for controlling the source natural gas entering the liquid removal tank;a retentate valve connected downstream of and in fluid communication with the membrane for controlling the retentate gas exiting the natural gas processing system; anda process control operatively connected to at least the source natural gas valve and the retentate valve for controlling the natural gas processing system. 2. The natural gas processing system of claim 1, further comprising selective connections of the gas compressor upstream of the membrane and downstream of the membrane, the selective connections being controlled by the process control, wherein the gas compressor is selectively connected in fluid communication with the membrane in a one of: upstream of the membrane so as to compress the natural gas before entering the membrane, wherein a pressure of the source natural gas entering the natural gas processing system is less than a predetermined pressure; anddownstream of the membrane so as to compress the natural gas after exiting the membrane, wherein the pressure of the source natural gas entering the natural gas processing system is greater than the predetermined pressure. 3. The natural gas processing system of claim 1, further comprising a first pressure control valve connected in fluid communication with the membrane and the gas compressor for controlling a pressure of the natural gas entering the gas compressor. 4. The natural gas processing system of claim 1, further comprising a second pressure control valve connected in fluid communication with the membrane for controlling a pressure of the natural gas downstream of the membrane. 5. The natural gas processing system of claim 1, wherein the first power source is selected from the group consisting of: natural gas; permeate gas; diesel fuel; gasoline; and electricity. 6. The natural gas processing system of claim 1, further comprising an air compressor mounted on the mobile platform for supplying process compressed air, the air compressor being driven by a second power source, the air compressor being operatively connected to the process control. 7. The natural gas processing system of claim 6, wherein the second power source is selected from the group consisting of: natural gas; permeate gas; diesel fuel; gasoline; and electricity. 8. The natural gas processing system of claim 1, further comprising an electrical generator juxtaposed with the mobile platform for supplying process electricity, the electrical generator being driven by a third power source, the electrical generator being operatively connected to the process control. 9. The natural gas processing system of claim 8, wherein the third power source is selected from the group consisting of: natural gas; permeate gas; diesel fuel; and gasoline. 10. The natural gas processing system of claim 1, further comprising: a first heat exchanger mounted on the mobile platform, the first heat exchanger being connected in fluid communication with the membrane, the first heat exchanger being upstream of the membrane, for changing a temperature of the natural gas entering the membrane; anda first temperature control valve connected in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and the membrane, the first temperature control valve being upstream of the first heat exchanger, the first temperature control valve being operatively connected to the process control for controlling the temperature of the natural gas entering the membrane. 11. The natural gas processing system of claim 10, wherein the first temperature control valve is adapted to proportionately divide the flow of the natural gas between the first heat exchanger and the membrane in proportion to the temperature of the natural gas entering the first temperature control valve, thereby controlling the temperature of the natural gas entering the membrane. 12. The natural gas processing system of claim 1, further comprising: a second heat exchanger mounted on the mobile platform, the second heat exchanger being connected in fluid communication with the membrane for changing a temperature of the natural gas downstream of the membrane; anda second temperature control valve connected in fluid communication with the membrane and the second heat exchanger, the second temperature control valve being operatively connected to the process control for controlling the temperature of the natural gas downstream of the membrane. 13. The natural gas processing system of claim 12, wherein the second temperature control valve is adapted to proportionately divide the flow of the natural gas between the second heat exchanger and the retentate valve in proportion to the temperature of the natural gas entering the second temperature control valve, thereby controlling the temperature of the natural gas downstream of the membrane. 14. The natural gas processing system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is adapted to process the source natural gas having the properties of: a pressure range of from 50 psig to 1200 psig;a temperature range of from 40° F. to 120° F.; anda BTU composition range from 1,100 BTU to 1,400 BTU; and whereinthe source natural gas saturation levels are at dewpoint. 15. The natural gas processing system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is adapted to process the source natural gas having the properties of: a pressure range of from atmospheric pressure to 2400 psig;a temperature range of from 30° F. to 180° F.; anda BTU composition range from 950 BTU to 1800 BTU; and whereinthe source natural gas saturation levels are at dewpoint. 16. The natural gas processing system of claim 1, further comprising a condensate tank in fluid communication with the liquid removal tank, the particulate filter, the membrane, and the gas compressor, for collecting water and contaminants. 17. The natural gas processing system of claim 1, wherein the particulate filter is adapted for removing water vapor from the natural gas. 18. A natural gas processing system for use in connection with a natural gas source and raw source natural gas produced by the source, the natural gas processing system comprising: a mobile platform adapted for being transported to the natural gas source;a liquid removal tank juxtaposed with the mobile platform, the liquid removal tank being adapted for attachment in fluid communication to the natural gas source for receiving the source natural gas, the liquid removal tank being adapted for separating liquid contaminants from the source natural gas, the liquid removal tank being adapted for allowing passage of the natural gas therethrough;a source natural gas valve connected in fluid communication with the natural gas source and the liquid removal tank for controlling the source natural gas entering the liquid removal tank;a particulate filter mounted on the mobile platform, the particulate filter being connected downstream of and in fluid communication with the liquid removal tank, the particulate filter being adapted for removing particulate matter from the natural gas, the particulate filter being adapted for allowing passage of the natural gas therethrough;a membrane mounted on the mobile platform, the membrane being connected downstream of and in fluid communication with the particulate filter, the membrane being adapted for separating the natural gas into a retentate gas and a permeate gas, the membrane being adapted for allowing passage of the permeate gas therethrough, and restricting passage of the retentate gas therethrough;a retentate valve connected downstream of and in fluid communication with the membrane for controlling the retentate gas;a gas compressor mounted on the mobile platform, the gas compressor being connected in fluid communication with the membrane, the gas compressor being adapted for compressing the natural gas and allowing passage of the natural gas therethrough, the gas compressor being powered by the natural gas, the gas compressor being adapted for selective connections upstream of the membrane and downstream of the membrane, wherein the gas compressor is selectively connected in fluid communication with the membrane in a one of: upstream of the membrane so as to compress the natural gas before entering the membrane, wherein a pressure of the source natural gas entering the natural gas processing system is less than a predetermined pressure; anddownstream of the membrane so as to compress the natural gas after exiting the membrane, wherein the pressure of the source natural gas entering the natural gas processing system is greater than the predetermined pressure;an electrical generator juxtaposed with the mobile platform for supplying process electricity, the electrical generator being powered by the natural gas;an air compressor mounted on the mobile platform for supplying process compressed air, the air compressor being operatively connected to the electrical generator and powered by electricity from the electrical generator; anda process control operatively connected to the source natural gas valve, the retentate valve, the gas compressor, the electrical generator, and the air compressor, for controlling the natural gas processing system, wherein the selective connections are controlled by the process control. 19. The natural gas processing system of claim 18, further comprising a first pressure control valve connected in fluid communication with the membrane and the gas compressor, the first pressure control valve being upstream of the gas compressor and operatively connected to the process control for controlling a pressure of the natural gas entering the gas compressor. 20. The natural gas processing system of claim 18, further comprising a second pressure control valve connected in fluid communication with the membrane, the second pressure control valve being downstream of the membrane and operatively connected to the process control for controlling a pressure of the natural gas downstream of the membrane. 21. The natural gas processing system of claim 18, further comprising: a first heat exchanger mounted on the mobile platform, the first heat exchanger being connected in fluid communication with the membrane, the first heat exchanger being upstream of the membrane, for changing a temperature of the natural gas entering the membrane; anda first temperature control valve connected in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and the membrane, the first temperature control valve being upstream of the first heat exchanger, the first temperature control valve being operatively connected to the process control for controlling the temperature of the natural gas entering the membrane. 22. The natural gas processing system of claim 21, wherein the first temperature control valve is adapted to proportionately divide the flow of the natural gas between the first heat exchanger and the membrane in proportion to the temperature of the natural gas entering the first temperature control valve, thereby controlling the temperature of the natural gas entering the membrane. 23. The natural gas processing system of claim 18, further comprising: a second heat exchanger mounted on the mobile platform, the second heat exchanger being connected in fluid communication with the membrane for changing a temperature of the natural gas downstream of the membrane; anda second temperature control valve connected in fluid communication with the membrane and the second heat exchanger, the second temperature control valve being operatively connected to the process control for controlling the temperature of the natural gas downstream of the membrane. 24. The natural gas processing system of claim 23, wherein the second temperature control valve is adapted to proportionately divide the flow of the natural gas between the second heat exchanger and the retentate valve in proportion to the temperature of the natural gas entering the second temperature control valve, thereby controlling the temperature of the natural gas downstream of the membrane.