Patent Application
20160341188
The present disclosure relates in general to a system and method for compressing gas. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for dispensing compressed natural gas in a refueling station.
Traditionally, internal combustion engines have been fueled by one or more distillates of fuel oil, such as gasoline or diesel. Gasoline or diesel is at atmospheric pressure during filling. Recently a growing number of vehicles have been manufactured, or converted, so their engines operate on natural gas instead of the longer chain hydrocarbons. The availability, low cost, and lower emissions of combusting natural gas over fuel oil distillates have garnered interest in continuing to increase the number of natural gas powered vehicles. Typically, natural gas fills a vehicle at a pressure exceeding 200 bar, which greatly exceeds the atmospheric pressure conditions of traditional fuels. The high filling pressure of natural gas requires compressing the natural gas prior to dispensing it to the vehicle. Thus while there are incentives to power vehicles with natural gas, obstacles exist in its delivery.
According to one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for compressing a gas including a gas source, for instance a gas pipeline or a gas distribution grid, which can be connected to a gas inlet line for delivering gas to a reciprocating compressor. The reciprocating compressor is arranged and configured for compressing gas from the gas source and delivering compressed gas towards a utility. In some embodiments the utility can include a dispenser, for instance a dispenser for vehicle fueling. In some embodiments the utility can include a compressed-gas storage tank. A combination of compressed-gas storage tank(s) and one or more dispensers can be provided, gas being compressed by the reciprocating compressor and delivered to the storage tank and therefrom upon request to the dispenser, e.g. for vehicle re-fueling. The system further includes a Stirling engine drivingly connected to the reciprocating compressor. A burner receives gas from the gas source, and gas burned in the burner is used to provide thermal power to the Stirling engine for converting thermal power into mechanical power and driving the reciprocating compressor. The burner can be connected to the same gas supply line which supplies gas at the suction side of the reciprocating compressor. Gas treatment equipment, such as dryers, filters and the like can be provided for treating the gas from the gas source before feeding the gas to the gas burner and to the reciprocating compressor inlet.
A compressed gas station can thus be designed, which can be installed in any location where a source of hydrocarbon gas is available, e.g. a gas pipeline. The gas is used as a source of energy for operating a gas compressor and dispensing compressed gas to a dispenser, for example for fueling a vehicle. The Stirling engine provides efficient power conversion to operate the compressor, and can easily be operated with a minimum or virtually no maintenance. Gas can e.g. be diverted from a gas pipeline and delivered partly to the burner for generating thermal energy powering the Stirling engine, and partly to the reciprocating compressor. This latter compresses the gas and delivers compressed gas to the compressed-gas storage tank and/or the dispenser, for example for vehicle fuelling purposes.
According to a further aspect, the disclosure concerns a method of supplying compressed gas, e.g. hydrocarbon gas. The method includes providing a supply of hydrocarbon gas; providing a reciprocating compressor; connecting the reciprocating compressor to the supply of hydrocarbon gas; providing a Stirling engine drivingly connected to the reciprocating compressor; generating thermal power by burning hydrocarbon gas from the supply; at least partly converting the thermal power into mechanical power in the Stirling engine; driving the reciprocating compressor with mechanical power generated by the Stirling engine; compressing hydrocarbon gas from the supply in the reciprocating compressor; and delivering the compressed hydrocarbon gas to a utility, e.g. a dispenser and/or a compressed-storage tank in turn connected to a dispenser.
Features and embodiments are disclosed here below and are further set forth in the appended claims, which form an integral part of the present description. The above brief description sets forth features of the various embodiments of the present invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, other features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be set forth in the appended claims. In this respect, before explaining several embodiments of the invention in details, it is understood that the various embodiments of the invention are not limited in their application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which the disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and/or systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
A more complete appreciation of the disclosed embodiments of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. Additionally, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.
Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” means that the particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment(s). Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
In an example, the hydrocarbons can be saturated or unsaturated, and the gas can include trace amounts of non-hydrocarbons, such as nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur. A shut-off valve 16, which may optionally be automated or manual, is shown at the connection between the inlet line 12 and supply line 14 for selectively blocking communication between the inlet line 12 and supply line 14. Optionally, an additional valve 18 may be provided in the inlet line 12 downstream of valve 16. Inlet line 12 terminates at a filter 20, which may be used for removing particles and other non-desirable matter from within a stream of gas flowing within the inlet line 12. Filter 20 connects via line 22 to a dryer 24, which may include a desiccant for removing moisture from the gas stream.
Optionally, dryer 24 can be empty and provide an open space to operate as a knockout drum thereby removing moisture by gravity separation. Valve 26 is disposed in line 22 for selectively blocking flow between filter 20 and dryer 24. An outlet line 28 connects dryer 24 to a second filter 30 for additional filtering downstream of the dryer 24. Valve 32 is shown in line 28 and selectively blocks communication between dryer 24 and filter 30. Optional regeneration lines 34, 36 are shown connecting respectively to line 22 and line 28 between the dryer 24 and valves 26, 32. Desiccant in the dryer 24 can be regenerated by closing valves 26, 32 to isolate dryer 24, opening valves in regeneration lines 34, 36, and circulating a hot and/or dry gas through regeneration lines 34, 36 and dryer 24. A line 38 connects to filter 30 on one end and to a compressor package 40 on another for transmitting gas from the filter 30 to be compressed within the compressor package 40. A pressure control valve 42 is shown in line 38 for controlling the flow of gas within line 38.
The example compressor package 40 of
An exit line 94 connects the last compressor cylinder and provides a transmission line for discharging compressed gas from the compressor package 40. Thus, in one example, the compressor package 40 receives gas at about the pressure in the supply line 14 and compresses the gas to pressures in excess of about 210 bar, and alternatively to pressures in excess of about 250 bar. Optionally, the discharge pressure in exit line 94 can be in excess of about 300 bar, and alternatively to pressures in excess of about 400 bar. Compressors for use with the method and system described herein are not limited to four stage compressors. Alternative embodiments exist wherein the gas is compressed with a compressor having, one stage, two stages, three stages, five stages, or more than five stages. Also, in further embodiments, more than one reciprocating compressor can be provided, each driven by a respective compressor driver 47.
Still referring to
The CNG system 10 of
Gas compressed in CNG system 10 can be accessible to end users of the compressed gas via dispensers 140, 142. Nozzles 144, 146 on dispensers 140, 142 provide a flow path for gas compressed in the CNG system 10 to a vehicle (not shown) or other storage vessel for compressed gas purchased by a consumer. Thus, dispensers 140, 142 may be equipped with card readers or other payment facilities so that a consumer may purchase an amount of compressed gas at the dispensers 140, 142. Although two dispensers 140, 142 are shown, the CNG system 10 can have one, three, or more than three dispensers.
Lines 94, 148, 150, 152 provide example flow paths between the CNG system 10 and dispensers 140, 142. In the example of
As mentioned, compressor driver 47 of compressor package 40 includes a Stirling engine. The Stirling engine can be of any known configuration. According to some embodiments Stirling engine 47 is of the α-type, as illustrated in
Referring to
A first connecting rod 259 connects the first piston 253 to a crank pin 261 forming part of an output 263. A second connecting rod 265 connects the second piston 257 to the same output 263. A flywheel 267 can be mounted on the output shaft 63.
The Stirling engine 47 can include a hot end with a heater 269 which receives heat from the burner 48. The heater is in flow communication with the interior of the first cylinder 251. A flow path connects the heater 269 to a regenerator 273, a cooler 275 and the interior of the second cylinder 255. The cooler 275 can be in thermal contact with a cold source or heat sink, and forms a cold end of the Stirling engine 47. The heat sink can be the ambient air. In some embodiments, a cooler with a cooling circuit, for example a water cooling circuit can be used as a heat sink. In
The operation of the Stirling engine is known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail herein. In general terms, a working gas contained in the closed system formed by the inner volumes of cylinder-piston system 251, 253, cylinder-piston system 255-257, heater 269, regenerator 273, cooler 275 and relevant piping is subject to a thermal cycle including cyclic compression, heating, expansion and cooling. The thermodynamic cycle performed by the working gas in the Stirling engine 47 converts part of the thermal energy delivered by the thermal source 271 to the hot end of the Stirling engine into useful mechanical power available on the output shaft 263.
The α-type Stirling engine shown in
The various embodiments of the system disclosed herein can utilize an α-type Stirling engine 47 as schematically shown in
The output shaft of Stirling engine 47 can be directly connected to crankshaft 45 of reciprocating compressor 41.
The hot end of Stirling engine 47 receives heat from a burner 48, where natural gas from supply line 14 is burned. The gas delivered to burner 48 can be taken upstream of the filter and drier arrangement 20, 24, 30. In some embodiments, gas is however taken from line 38, after filtering and drying. A gas diverting line 50 connects line 38 to burner 48. A valve 52 can be provided along diverting line 50, to shut down fuel delivery to the burner.
According to some embodiments, the compressor package can be designed so that the compressing piston of the compressor is directly acted upon by the working piston of a free-piston Stirling engine, thus avoiding a crankshaft. An embodiment using a free-piston Stirling engine of this kind for driving the reciprocating compressor of the CNG system 10 is illustrated in
The power piston 303 can be directly connected with a piston rod 313 to a reciprocating piston 315 slidingly housed in a cylinder 317 of the reciprocating compressor 41. In some embodiments the reciprocating compressor 41 can be a double-effect compressor. The interior of the cylinder 317 can be divided by piston 314 into a first chamber 317A and a second chamber 317B. Each chamber 317A, 317B can be provided with at least one automatic suction valve 318A, 318B and one automatic discharge valve 319A, 319B. The suction valves 318A, 318B selectively connect the two chambers 317A, 317B with a suction duct 321 wherefrom low-pressure gas is sucked. The suction duct 321 can be connected e.g. to the gas supply line 38. The discharge valves 319A, 319B selectively connect the two chambers 317A, 317B with a discharge duct, which can be in direct or indirect fluid communication with one or more dispensers 140, 142 and/or with one or more storage tanks 128, 130, 132.
The gas supply line 38 also supplies gas to a burner 48 which provides heat to the hot end of the Stirling engine 47.
The free-piston Stirling engine provides a direct link between the power piston 303 of the engine and the reciprocating piston 315 of the reciprocating compressor 41, thus further simplifying the structure of the system.
Compressor package 40 and optional filter and dryer arrangement 20, 24, 30 can be arranged in a container for shipping or transportation, e.g. an ISO container. The storage tanks 128, 130, 132 can be mounted in or on the container or installed separately therefrom. A transportable modular compression system is thus obtained, which can easily be transported to a location having a supply of hydrocarbon gas and which can quickly be connected to the gas supply. The same gas which is compressed by the system is also used as a fuel to operate the Stirling engine. Need for an electric power distribution grid is avoided.
According to some embodiments, the Stirling engine can also be provided for driving an electric generator 160, for generating electric power available on a local electric power grid G. The electric power generated by electric generator 160 can be used to power auxiliaries of the system 10 and/or external additional users.
The use of an external combustion engine, such as a Stirling engine, rather than an internal combustion engine makes the compressor package more reliable and requiring virtually no maintenance. Among the potential benefits of a Stirling engine vs. an internal combustion engine the following are worth noting: limited or no need (depending upon the configuration of the Stirling engine) for lubrication oil, which reduces or eliminates the need of lubrication circuit topping-up, periodical oil and oil-filter replacement; no need for spark plugs, air filters, timing chains and other components of the timing system; no need for fuel injection systems; and consequent reduction of management and maintenance costs. This makes the system particularly suitable for use in locations which are difficult to reach e.g. by suppliers of spare parts.
In an embodiment, Stirling engines are moreover particularly useful in combination with a CNG reciprocating compressor as the rotational speed rate of a Stirling engine is substantially the same as the rotational speed of the reciprocating compressor and thus gearboxes can be avoided, which increases the overall efficiency of the system and the reliability thereof.
The reduced vibrations and noise of the Stirling engine vis-à-vis an internal combustion engine make the use thereof even more attractive.
While the disclosed embodiments of the subject matter described herein have been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with several exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications, changes, and omissions are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings, the principles and concepts set forth herein, and advantages of the subject matter recited in the appended claims. Hence, the proper scope of the disclosed innovations should be determined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications, changes, and omissions. Different features, structures and instrumentalities of the various embodiments can be differently combined.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| FI2014A000021 | Jan 2014 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2015/051908 | 1/30/2015 | WO | 00 |
