Methods and devices for constructively using the pressure pulsations in reciprocating compressors installations

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for constructively utilizing pressure pulses to enhance the volumetric efficiency of a reciprocating compressor are provided. An apparatus includes a gas circulation device and a controller. The gas circulation device provides a path through which the gas circulates between a reciprocating compressor and a volume bottle buffering the reciprocating compressor from an installation. The gas circulation device is configured to have a resonance frequency substantially equal to a frequency of the performing compression cycles in the reciprocating compressor. The controller is configured to control timing of switching a valve located between the reciprocating compressor and the gas circulation device in order to constructively use pressure pulsations occurring in the gas circulation device, to enhance the volumetric efficiency of the reciprocating compressor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a gas circulation device that provides a path through which a gas to be compressed circulates between a reciprocating compressor and a volume bottle buffering the reciprocating compressor from an installation, the gas circulation device being configured to have a resonance frequency substantially equal to a frequency of the performing compression cycles in the reciprocating compressor; and   a controller configured to control timing of switching a valve located between the reciprocating compressor and the gas circulation device in order to constructively use the pressure pulsations occurring in the gas circulation device to enhance a volumetric efficiency of the reciprocating compressor.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas circulation device comprises:
 a pipe and an in-line resonator having an area larger than the pipe area,   wherein the pipe and the in-line resonator are located in-between the reciprocating compressor and the volume bottle.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the gas circulation device further comprises a side-branch resonator, located laterally to the in-line resonator, wherein the side-branch resonator is connected to the in-line resonator through a resonator valve, the resonator valve being switched between being opened and being closed thereby connecting or disconnecting the side-branch resonator to the in-line resonator depending on a composition of the gas. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas circulation device comprises:
 a pipe located between the reciprocating compressor and the volume bottle; and   a side-branch pipe located laterally to the pipe,   wherein the side-branch pipe is connected to the pipe through a resonator valve, the resonator valve being switched between being opened and being closed thereby connecting or disconnecting the side-branch pipe to the pipe depending on a composition of the gas.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the gas circulation device further comprises an additional side-branch resonator connected to the side resonator. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the side-branch resonator and the additional side-branch resonator is connected through a valve to the pipe or to the side-branch resonator, respectively, the valve being switched between being opened and being closed thereby connecting or disconnecting the side-branch pipe or the additional side-branch resonator thereof depending on a composition of the gas. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gas circulation device comprises:
 a pipe located between the reciprocating compressor and the volume bottle; and   a side-branch pipe located laterally to the pipe,   wherein the side-branch pipe is connected to the pipe through a resonator valve, the resonator valve being switched between being opened and being closed thereby connecting or disconnecting the side-branch pipe to the pipe depending on a composition of the gas.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is a suction valve, and wherein the controller controls the timing of actuating the valve to have a maximum pulsation pressure added to a suction pressure while the valve is open. 
     
     
         9 . A method of using a pulse charging effect to enhance a volumetric efficiency of a reciprocating compressor, the method comprising:
 providing a gas circulation device between a valve of the reciprocating compressor and a volume bottle buffering the reciprocating compressor from an installation, wherein the gas circulation device is configured to have a resonance frequency that is substantially equal to a frequency of performing compression cycles in the reciprocating compressor; and   controlling timing of actuating the valve to constructively use the pressure pulses inherently occurring in the gas circulation device to enhance the volumetric efficiency of the reciprocating compressor.   
     
     
         10 . A method for retrofitting a reciprocating compressor installation in which an output or an input of a reciprocating compressor is buffered by a volume bottle from the rest of the installation, the installation being retrofitted to use a pulse charging effect of the reciprocating compressor to enhance a volumetric efficiency thereof, the method comprising:
 modifying a gas circulation device by connecting an output or an input of the reciprocating compressor to the volume bottle, by adding at least one acoustic resonator to a pipe of the gas circulation device, to make the gas circulation device to have a resonance frequency substantially equal to a frequency of performing compression cycles in the reciprocating compressor; and   connecting a valve between the reciprocating compressor and the gas circulation device to a controller configured to control timing of actuating the valve in order to constructively use the pressure pulsations occurring in the gas circulation device, to enhance a volumetric efficiency of the reciprocating compressor.