Liquid ring compressors for subsea compression of wet gases

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to liquid ring compressors that can be employed to remove liquid from a wet gas and/or to compress a wet gas. In one embodiment, a liquid ring compressor includes a shaft, a main body inner casing disposed about the shaft to form a chamber between the shaft and the main body inner casing, and an inlet configured to remove a portion of liquid from a wet gas and to direct the wet gas into the chamber. The liquid ring compressor also includes an impeller rotatably disposed within the chamber and configured to direct a remaining portion of the liquid in the wet gas out towards the main body inner casing to form a liquid ring within the chamber to compress the wet gas.

1 . A liquid ring compressor, comprising:
 a shaft;   a main body inner casing disposed about the shaft to form a chamber between the shaft and the main body inner casing;   an inlet configured to remove a portion of liquid from a wet gas and to direct the wet gas into the chamber; and   an impeller rotatably disposed within the chamber and configured to direct a remaining portion of the liquid in the wet gas out towards the main body inner casing to form a liquid ring within the chamber to compress the wet gas.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid ring compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet comprises a toroidal scroll inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid ring compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet comprises an inlet inner casing with an interior configured to receive the wet gas, an inlet outer casing disposed about the inlet inner casing to form a liquid collection chamber therebetween, and openings within the inlet inner casing configured to direct the separated portion of the liquid into the liquid collection chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid ring compressor of  claim 3 , wherein the inlet inner casing is connected to the shaft to direct the wet gas into an inlet chamber within the shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid ring compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft comprises a hollow shaft, and wherein the main body inner casing is configured to rotate with the impeller. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid ring compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is configured to rotate with the impeller and wherein the main body inner casing is configured to remain stationary. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid ring compressor of  claim 1 , comprising a main body outer casing disposed around the main body inner casing to form a liquid collection volume therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . A liquid ring compressor, comprising:
 a shaft;   an inner casing disposed about the shaft to form a chamber between the shaft and the inner casing;   an impeller rotatably disposed within the chamber and configured to direct a liquid out towards the inner casing to form a liquid ring within the chamber to compress a wet gas;   apertures configured to remove a portion of the liquid from the liquid ring;   a gas outlet coupled to the chamber to direct the compressed wet gas from the liquid ring compressor; and   a liquid outlet coupled to the apertures to direct the removed portion of the liquid from the liquid ring compressor.   
     
     
         9 . The liquid ring compressor of  claim 8 , wherein at least some of the apertures are disposed within the inner casing. 
     
     
         10 . The liquid ring compressor of  claim 8 , comprising a pair of end plates disposed on opposite ends of the inner casing, wherein at least some of the apertures are disposed within at least one of the pair of end plates. 
     
     
         11 . The liquid ring compressor of  claim 8 , comprising an outer casing disposed about the inner casing to form a liquid collection volume therebetween, wherein the apertures are disposed within the inner casing to direct the removed portion of the liquid from the chamber to the liquid collection volume. 
     
     
         12 . The liquid ring compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the inner casing is configured to rotate with the impeller, and wherein the gas outlet comprises an outlet chamber disposed within an interior of the shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The liquid ring compressor of  claim 8 , wherein the shaft is configured to rotate with the impeller. 
     
     
         14 . A subsea compression system, comprising:
 a liquid ring compressor configured to remove liquid from a wet gas; and   a conventional compressor disposed downstream of the liquid ring compressor to compress the wet gas from the liquid ring compressor.   
     
     
         15 . The subsea compression system of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid ring compressor is configured to compress the wet gas. 
     
     
         16 . The subsea compression system of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid ring compressor is configured to reduce variation in an amount of liquid in the wet gas entering the convention compressor. 
     
     
         17 . The subsea compression system of  claim 14 , wherein the conventional compressor comprises a centrifugal compressor. 
     
     
         18 . The subsea compression system of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid ring compressor and the conventional compressor are driven by a common shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The subsea compression system of  claim 18 , comprising a gear box coupled to the shaft between the liquid ring compressor and the conventional compressor. 
     
     
         20 . The subsea compression system of  claim 14 , comprising multiple stages of conventional compressors and/or liquid ring compressors.