Method of Construction for High Cycle Fatigue Resistant Pressure Vessels in Hydrogen Service

Abstract

A method and system are described for a gas booster, preferably for use with hydrogen. A linear actuator can provide compression in first and second compression vessels. The liner of the compression vessels can be placed in compressive stress so that any cracks that form do not spread. Compressive stress can be applied using, at least, a shrink fit process or a wire wrapping process. The compressive stress will help the inner liner to resist fatigue and cracking due to pressure cycling and corrosion by materials being compressed in the compression vessels. This also protects the chamber jacket from wear and tear.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gas booster for compressing a gas, comprising:
 a compression vessel comprising:
 an inlet configured to receive a portion of gas from a supply line; 
 a liner surrounded by a jacket, wherein jacket and the liner have been joined by a shrink fit process; and 
   a linear actuator, the linear actuator operable to compress the portion of gas in the compression vessel when moving in a first direction and operable to draw the portion of gas into the compression vessel when moving in a second direction opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The gas booster of  claim 1  further comprising a second compression vessel, comprising:
 a second compression vessel comprising;
 a second inlet configured to receive the portion of gas from the compression vessel; and 
 a second liner surrounded by a second jacket, wherein the second jacket and the second liner have been joined by a shrink fit process; 
 
 wherein the linear actuator is operable to compress the portion of gas in the second compression vessel when moving in the second direction and to draw the portion of gas into the second compression vessel when moving in the first direction. 
 
     
     
         3 . The gas booster of  claim 1  wherein the portion of gas comprises hydrogen. 
     
     
         4 . The gas booster of  claim 1  wherein the linear actuator is hydraulically driven. 
     
     
         5 . The gas booster of  claim 1  wherein the linear actuator is pneumatically driven. 
     
     
         6 . The gas booster of  claim 2  wherein the compression vessel has a larger diameter than the second compression vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The gas booster of  claim 1  wherein the jacket comprises a steel alloy. 
     
     
         8 . The gas booster of  claim 1  wherein the liner comprises a steel alloy. 
     
     
         9 . A barrel for use in a gas booster, the barrel comprising:
 an inlet configured to receive a portion of gas from a supply line;   a liner surrounded by a jacket, wherein jacket and the liner have been joined by a shrink fit process; and   an outlet configured to direct gas out of the compression vessel;   wherein the barrel is configured to receive a linear actuator therein for the purpose of compressing the portion of gas.   
     
     
         10 . The barrel of  claim 9  wherein the portion of gas comprises hydrogen. 
     
     
         11 . The barrel of  claim 9  wherein the linear actuator is hydraulically driven. 
     
     
         12 . The barrel of  claim 9  wherein the linear actuator is pneumatically driven. 
     
     
         13 . The barrel of  claim 9  wherein the liner comprises a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         14 . The barrel of  claim 9  wherein the jacket comprises a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         15 . The barrel of  claim 9  wherein the liner comprises a steel alloy. 
     
     
         16 . The barrel of  claim 9  further comprising a check valve configured to close the inlet once the portion of gas enters the barrel. 
     
     
         17 . A method for manufacturing a gas booster:
 provide a chamber jacket comprising an inner diameter;   provide a chamber liner, the chamber liner comprising an outer diameter at least as large as the inner diameter of the chamber jacket;   heat the chamber jacket such that the inner diameter becomes larger than the outer diameter of the chamber liner;   place the chamber liner within the chamber jacket;   allow the chamber jacket to cool such that the chamber jacket engages the chamber liner to create a barrel and such that compressive stresses are applied to the chamber liner; and   couple the barrel to a linear actuator.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising creating a second barrel and coupling the second barrel to the linear actuator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the barrel and second barrel are coupled to opposite ends of the linear actuator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising coupling a gas outlet of the barrel to a gas inlet of the second barrel.