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EP-4739914-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INJECTING DRY GASES INTO GAS COMPRESSOR

EP4739914A1EP 4739914 A1EP4739914 A1EP 4739914A1EP-4739914-A1

Abstract

System (100, 300) for injecting dry gases into one or more gas compressors (200) includes a nitrogen gas supply system (102) to generate a stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (Nl), a process gas supply system (118) to generate a stream of conditioned process gas (Pl), and a compression device (134). The compression device (134) is configured to receive and pressurize the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (Nl) or the stream of conditioned process gas (Pl), and direct a pressurized stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (N3) or a pressurized stream of conditioned process gas (P3) towards the one or more gas compressors (200). The system (100, 300) includes a first valve (136) that provides selective fluid communication between the nitrogen gas supply system (102) and the compression device (134) to direct the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (Nl) towards the compression device (134) or selective fluid communication between the process gas supply system (118) and the compression device (134) to direct the stream of conditioned process gas (Pl) towards the compression device (134).

Inventors

  • EZIYI, IFEGWU LEKWAUWA KALU

Assignees

  • Solar Turbines Incorporated

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240612

Claims (10)

  1. 1. A system (100, 300) for injecting dry gases into one or more gas compressors (200), the system (100, 300) comprising: a nitrogen gas supply system (102) to generate a stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (Nl); a process gas supply system (118) to generate a stream of conditioned process gas (Pl); a compression device (134) disposed in selective fluid communication with the nitrogen gas supply system (102) and the process gas supply system (118), wherein the compression device (134) is configured to: receive the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (Nl) or the stream of conditioned process gas (Pl); pressurize the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (Nl) or the stream of conditioned process gas (Pl); and direct a pressurized stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (N3) or a pressurized stream of conditioned process gas (P3) towards the one or more gas compressors (200); and a first valve (136) disposed upstream of the compression device (134) along a gas flow direction (F3), wherein, in a first state, the first valve (136) provides selective fluid communication between the nitrogen gas supply system (102) and the compression device (134) to direct the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (Nl) towards the compression device (134), and wherein, in a second state, the first valve (136) provides selective fluid communication between the process gas supply system (118) and the compression device (134) to direct the stream of conditioned process gas (Pl) towards the compression device (134).
  2. 2. The system (100, 300) of claim 1, wherein the nitrogen gas supply system (102) includes: a nitrogen generator (104) to generate a stream of nitrogen gas (N2); and a nitrogen gas conditioning unit (108) disposed downstream of the nitrogen generator (104) along a nitrogen gas flow direction (Fl), wherein the nitrogen gas conditioning unit (108) is configured to receive and process the stream of nitrogen gas (N2) from the nitrogen generator (104) to generate the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (Nl) available at an output (110).
  3. 3. The system (100, 300) of claim 1, wherein the process gas supply system (118) includes: a process gas supply line (120) to supply a stream of process gas (P2); and a process gas conditioning unit (122) disposed downstream of the process gas supply line (120) along a process gas flow direction (F2), wherein the process gas conditioning unit (122) is configured to receive and process the stream of process gas (P2) from the process gas supply line (120) to generate the stream of conditioned process gas (Pl) available at an output (124).
  4. 4. The system (100) of claim 3, wherein the process gas supply line (120) is in fluid communication with a suction line (204) of at least one of the one or more gas compressors (200) to supply the stream of process gas (P2).
  5. 5. The system (300) of claim 3, wherein the process gas supply line (120) is in fluid communication with a discharge line (206) of at least one of the one or more gas compressors (200) to supply the stream of process gas (P2).
  6. 6. The system (300) of claim 5, further comprising a gas bypass line (352) fluidly communicating the first valve (136) and the one or more gas compressors (200), wherein, when the process gas supply line (120) is in fluid communication with the discharge line (206) of at least one of the one or more gas compressors (200), the stream of conditioned process gas (Pl) exiting the process gas conditioning unit (122) is directed towards the one or more gas compressors (200) via the first valve (136) and the gas bypass line (352).
  7. 7. The system (100, 300) of claim 3, further comprising a filter (132) disposed upstream of the process gas conditioning unit (122) along the process gas flow direction (F2).
  8. 8. The system (100, 300) of claim 1, wherein the first valve (136) is switched between the first state and the second state based on receipt of an operator input (II), and wherein the first valve (136) is switched between the first state and the second state as per an availability of the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (Nl).
  9. 9. The system (100, 300) of claim 1, further comprising a controller (144) configured to: determine an unavailability of the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (Nl); and switch the first valve (136) from the first state to the second state to direct the stream of conditioned process gas (Pl) towards the compression device (134) based on the unavailability of the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (Nl).
  10. 10. The system (100, 300) of claim 9, wherein the controller (144) is further configured to: determine an availability of the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (Nl); and switch the first valve (136) from the second state to the first state to direct the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (Nl) towards the compression device (134) based on the availability of the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas (Nl).

Description

Description SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INJECTING DRY GASES INTO GAS COMPRESSOR Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a system and a method for injecting dry gases into one or more gas compressors. Background Typically, gas compressors include various seals to prevent leakage of process gases from a compression space of the gas compressor and/or to prevent inflow of a lubricant, air, and the like into the compression space. As such gas compressors may be used to compress process gases that may be flammable/explosive, toxic, and/or corrosive, it may be desirable that the seals used in gas compressors do not use oil as a sealing material. Accordingly, many gas compressors now include dry gas seals that do not use oil as the sealing material. A sealing gas is typically supplied to the dry gas seals. In most examples, the sealing gas is the process gas being supplied to the gas compressor. Some portion of the sealing gas being delivered to the dry gas seals may leak towards the atmosphere. In some examples, the process gases may include natural gases that include methane as a major constituent, or a blend of hydrogen gases and natural gases. A leakage of such process gases from the dry gas seals may increase greenhouse gas emissions during operation. Hence, a solution is desired that may reduce usage and subsequent leakage of sealing gases, especially greenhouse gases, into the atmosphere. U.S. Patent No. 9,239,061 describes a sealing system equipped with a dry gas seal having a rotating ring positioned between a casing and a rotor shaft and around the circumference of the rotor shaft, and stationary rings provided on the casing with elastic members interposed therebetween and so as to be capable of contacting the orthogonal edge surfaces of the rotating ring that are substantially orthogonal to the rotor shaft; a sealing gas channel having one end connected to a discharge channel, the other end connected so as to connect to a space between the casing and the outer perimeter surface of the rotating ring in the dry gas seal, and having a sealing gas regulating valve provided therein; and a drain gas channel having one end connected so as to connect to the space via a through hole formed in the casing below the rotating ring, and the other end connected to an intake channel. Summary of the Disclosure In an aspect of the present disclosure, a system for injecting dry gases into one or more gas compressors is provided. The system includes a nitrogen gas supply system to generate a stream of conditioned nitrogen gas. The system also includes a process gas supply system to generate a stream of conditioned process gas. The system further includes a compression device disposed in selective fluid communication with the nitrogen generator and the process gas supply system. The compression device is configured to receive the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas or the stream of conditioned process gas. The compression device is also configured to pressurize the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas or the stream of conditioned process gas. The compression device is further configured to direct a pressurized stream of conditioned nitrogen gas or a pressurized stream of conditioned process gas towards the one or more gas compressors. The system includes a first valve disposed upstream of the compression device along a gas flow direction. In a first state, the first valve provides selective fluid communication between the nitrogen gas supply system and the compression device to direct the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas towards the compression device. In a second state, the first valve provides selective fluid communication between the process gas supply system and the compression device to direct the stream of conditioned process gas towards the compression device. In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for injecting dry gases into one or more gas compressors is provided. The method includes providing a nitrogen gas supply system to generate a stream of conditioned nitrogen gas and a process gas supply system to generate a stream of conditioned process gas. The method also includes providing a compression device. The compression device is in selective fluid communication with the nitrogen gas supply system and the process gas supply system. The method further includes providing a first valve upstream of the compression device along a gas flow direction. The method includes operating the first valve in a first state or a second state. In the first state, the first valve provides selective fluid communication between the nitrogen gas supply system and the compression device to direct the stream of conditioned nitrogen gas towards the compression device. In the second state, the first valve provides selective fluid communication between the process gas supply system and the compression device to direct the stream of conditioned process gas towards the compression device. The method also includes receivin