Increasing compressor peak flow via higher-pressure gas injection

Abstract

Embodiments of a system for increasing the flow rate of a compressor system are provided. The system includes a gas inlet component, a compression component including a compressor; and an injection component having a compression component connection connected to one or more chambers of the compressor. By injecting a secondary high-pressure gas stream into the compressor through the injection component, the discharge flow rate of the compressor system may be increased above the flow rate capable based on the design of the compressor, without additional equipment or unduly increasing power consumption of the compressor system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a gas inlet component;   a compression component comprising a compressor; and   an injection component having a compression component connection connected to the compressor;   wherein the injection component injects a secondary high pressure gas stream into the compressor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the high pressure gas stream is directed from one or more storage vessels to the injection component by a valve control panel. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the high pressure gas stream is directed from an output of the compression section to the injection component by a valve control panel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor comprises a plurality of compression stages. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a first compression stage is in fluidic communication with the gas inlet component, and the injection component is connected to the first compression stage. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the injection component is connected to the last compression stage of the plurality of compression stages. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , the injection component comprising a plurality of compressor component connections, wherein each compression component connection is connected to one of the plurality of compression stages. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor comprises a plurality of compression stages. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a first compression stage is in fluidic communication with the gas inlet component, and the injection component is connected to the first compression stage. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the injection component is connected to the last compression stage of the plurality of compression stages. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , the injection component comprising a plurality of compression component connections, wherein each compression component connections is connected to one of the plurality of compression stages. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , the compression component comprising a plurality of compressors. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the injection component is connected to exactly one of the plurality compressors. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , the injection component comprising more than one compression component connections, each compression component connection connected to one of the plurality compressors. 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 a CNG station for refueling motor vehicles, the CNG station comprising:
 a gas inlet component; 
 a compression component comprising a reciprocating compressor, the compression component being in fluidic communication with the gas inlet component; 
 a gas flow control component comprising one or more storage vessels and a valve control panel; 
 a dispensing component; and 
 an injection component having a compression component connection connected to the reciprocating compressor; 
 wherein the injection component injects a secondary high pressure gas stream into the reciprocating compressor chamber. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the high pressure gas stream is directed from the one or more storage vessels to the injection component by the valve control panel. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the high pressure gas stream is directed from an output of the compression section to the injection component by the valve control panel. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , the reciprocating compressor comprising multiple compression stages and the injection component being connected to a final compression stage of the multiple compression stages. 
     
     
         19 . A system, comprising:
 a gas inlet component;   a compression component comprising a reciprocating compressor having four compression stages, the compression component being in fluidic communication with the gas inlet component;   a gas flow control component comprising one or more storage vessels and a valve control panel;   a dispensing component; and   an injection component having a compression component connection connected to the fourth compression stage of the reciprocating compressor;   wherein the injection component injects a high-pressure gas stream into the fourth stage of the reciprocating compressor   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , the injection component further comprising a valve for controlling the amount of high-pressure gas injected into the fourth stage of the reciprocating compressor. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the flow rate of the system with the valve closed such that no high-pressure gas is injected into the fourth stage is 640 scfm. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the flow rate of the system with the valve in a first position is 1500 scfm, and the flow rate of the system with the valve in a second position is 1950 scfm. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the flow rate of the system is between 1500 scfm and 1950 scfm when the valve is in a position between the first position and the second position.