Method of feeding an inert gas and a system therefor

Abstract

An inert gas is fed from an inert gas source to a piston-reciprocating compressor and compressed therein. The compressed gas is sent to a high-pressure storage tank. Pressure of the gas in the high-pressure storage tank is detected. When it reaches an upper limit, the piston-reciprocating compressor is stopped by a controller. At the same time, the gas is not fed from the inert gas source into the piston-reciprocating compressor and the gas from the compressor is released to outside. Meanwhile, when the pressure of the gas in the high-pressure storage tank reaches to a lower limit, the compressor starts. At the same time, the inert gas source is allowed to communicate with the compressor, and the gas which reaches to a desired density after the gas is released is sent from the compressor to the tank.

1 . A method of feeding an inert gas, comprising the steps of: 
 feeding the inert gas from an inert gas source to a piston-reciprocating compressor;    compressing the gas in the piston-reciprocating compressor;    sending the compressed gas to a high-pressure storage tank;    detecting pressure of the gas in the high-pressure storage tank when the pressure reaches an upper limit, to stop the piston-reciprocating compressor and feed of the inert gas into the piston-reciprocating compressor while the gas from the piston-reciprocating compressor is released to outside; and    detecting pressure of the gas in the high-pressure storage tank when the pressure reaches to a lower limit, to start the piston-reciprocating compressor and to allow the inert gas source to communicate with the piston-reciprocating compressor while the gas is supplied from the piston-reciprocating compressor into the high-pressure storage tank when the gas reaches a desired density after the gas is released.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the inert gas comprises N 2 .  
   
   
       3 . A high-pressure inert gas feeding system comprising: 
 an inert gas source feeding an inert gas;    a sucking conduit having a supply valve and connected to the inert gas source;    a piston-reciprocating compressor having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connected to the sucking conduit, said compressor compressing the inert gas;    a release conduit connected to the outlet of the piston-reciprocating compressor and having a relief valve;    a high-pressure storage tank connected to the release conduit and receiving the high-pressure inert gas; and    a controller connected to the high-pressure storage tank, the supply valve of the sucking conduit, the piston-reciprocating compressor and the relief valve of the release conduit, said controller closing the supply valve, stopping the piston-reciprocating compressor and opening the relief valve to allow the gas to flow to outside when the pressure of the gas in the high-pressure storage tank reaches an upper limit, while said controller opens the supply valve, starting the piston-reciprocating compressor and shutting the relief valve after density of the gas reaches a desired level to allow the release conduit to communicate with the high-pressure storage tank when the pressure of the gas in the high-pressure storage tank reaches a lower limit.    
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 3  wherein the inert gas comprises N 2 .  
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 3  wherein the relief valve comprises a two-way electromagnetic valve, said system further comprising a check valve in the release conduit between two-way electromagnetic valve and the high-pressure storage tank.  
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 3  wherein the relief valve comprises a three-way electromagnetic valve.  
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 3  wherein a pressure switch is connected to the high-pressure storage tank to detect the pressure of the gas in the high-pressure storage tank to send it to the controller.