System and method for fuel gas distribution

Abstract

A fuel gas manifold comprises a manifold body configured to fluidically couple to a fuel gas source. The manifold body comprises a central body having a first end and a second end, wherein the central body has a first internal diameter. The manifold body also comprises a plurality of branch line take-off pipes coupled to the central body. The internal diameter of each of the plurality of branch line take-off pipes is smaller than the first internal diameter, the plurality of branch line take-off pipes are coupled to the manifold body such that the longitudinal axes of each of the plurality of the branch line take-off pipes is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the central body, and each of the plurality of branch line take-off pipes is configured to fluidically couple the manifold body to a branch line corresponding to one or more fuel gas consuming assets. The fuel gas manifold also comprises a manifold coupler attached to the first end of the manifold body, wherein the manifold coupler is operable to fluidically couple the manifold body to a fuel gas feed line. The fuel gas manifold also comprises a branch line coupler coupled to each branch line take-off pipe by a branch line valve, wherein each branch line coupler is operable to couple to a corresponding branch line.

1 . A system for distributing fuel gas comprising:
 a fuel gas feed line configured to fluidically couple to a fuel gas source;   a manifold body fluidically coupled to the fuel gas feed line, wherein the manifold body comprises:
 a central body having a first end and a second end, wherein the central body has a first internal diameter, and wherein the central body comprises a port extending from an exterior of the central body to the first internal diameter, the port configured to receive an instrument that is operable to measure a property of fuel gas within the central body; 
 a plurality of branch line take-off pipes coupled to the central body,
 wherein an internal diameter of each of the plurality of branch line take-off pipes is smaller than the first internal diameter; 
 wherein the plurality of branch line take-off pipes are coupled to the manifold body such that a longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of the branch line take-off pipes is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the central body; and 
 wherein each of the plurality of branch line take-off pipes fluidically couples the manifold body to a branch line corresponding to one of two or more power-providing assets; 
 
   a manifold coupler attached to the first end of the manifold body,
 wherein the manifold coupler is operable to fluidically couple the manifold body to the fuel gas feed line; and 
   one or more branch line couplers, each branch line coupler coupled to one branch line take-off pipe by a branch line valve,
 wherein at least one branch line is coupled to at least one of the branch line couplers. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first internal diameter is between 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches and an internal diameter of at least one of the plurality of branch line take-off pipes is between 1.5 and 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a pressure of the fuel gas within the at least one branch line is less than 1500 PSI. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a manifold pressure gauge operable to provide a measurement of a pressure of fuel gas within the central body. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel gas comprises natural gas. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold body is affixed to a portable trailer. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of branch line take-off pipes are welded to the central body. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of branch line take-off pipes have the same internal diameter. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a branch line splitter, wherein:
 the branch line splitter is coupled to the at least one branch line and provides fluidic coupling between the branch line and two capillary lines; and 
 each capillary line is fluidically coupled to one of the two or more power-providing assets. 
   
     
     
         10 . A fuel gas manifold comprising:
 a manifold body configured to fluidically couple to a fuel gas source, wherein the manifold body comprises:
 a central body having a first end and a second end, wherein the central body has a first internal diameter, and wherein the central body comprises a port extending from an exterior of the central body to the first internal diameter, the port configured to receive an instrument that is operable to measure a property of fuel gas within the central body; 
 a plurality of branch line take-off pipes coupled to the central body,
 wherein an internal diameter of each of the plurality of branch line take-off pipes is smaller than the first internal diameter; 
 wherein the plurality of branch line take-off pipes are coupled to the manifold body such that a longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of the branch line take-off pipes is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the central body; 
 wherein each of the plurality of branch line take-off pipes is configured to fluidically couple the manifold body to a branch line corresponding to one or more power-providing assets; 
 
 a manifold coupler attached to the first end of the manifold body,
 wherein the manifold coupler is operable to fluidically couple the manifold body to a fuel gas feed line; and 
 
   one or more branch line couplers, each branch line coupler coupled to one branch line take-off pipe by a branch line valve, wherein each branch line coupler is operable to couple to a corresponding branch line.   
     
     
         11 . The fuel gas manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the first internal diameter is between 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches and an internal diameter of at least one of the plurality of branch line take-off pipes is between 1.5 and 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel gas manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal axis of a first of the plurality of branch line take-off pipes is oriented at approximately 90° to the longitudinal axis of a second of the plurality of branch line take-off pipes. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel gas manifold of  claim 10 , further comprising a manifold pressure gauge operable to provide a measurement of a pressure of fuel gas within the central body. 
     
     
         14 . The fuel gas manifold of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of branch line take-off pipes have the same internal diameter. 
     
     
         15 . A method for distributing fuel gas comprising:
 supplying the fuel gas from a fuel gas source to a fuel gas manifold system, wherein the fuel gas manifold system comprises:
 a fuel gas feed line configured to fluidically couple to the fuel gas source; 
 a manifold body fluidically coupled to the fuel gas feed line, wherein the manifold body comprises:
 a central body having a first end and a second end, wherein the central body has a first internal diameter, and wherein the central body comprises a port extending from an exterior of the central body to the first internal diameter, the port configured to receive an instrument that is operable to measure a property of fuel gas within the central body; 
 a plurality of branch line take-off pipes coupled to the central body,
 wherein an internal diameter of each of the plurality of branch line take-off pipes is smaller than the first internal diameter; 
 wherein the plurality of branch line take-off pipes are coupled to the manifold body such that M longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of the branch line take-off pipes is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the central body; and 
 wherein each of the plurality of branch line take-off pipes fluidically couples the manifold body to a branch line corresponding to one of one or more power-providing assets; 
 
 
 a manifold coupler attached to the first end of the manifold body,
 wherein the manifold coupler is operable to fluidically couple the manifold body to the fuel gas feed line; and 
 
 one or more branch line couplers, each branch line coupler coupled to one branch line take-off pipe by a branch line valve,
 wherein at least one branch line is coupled to at least one of the branch line couplers; and 
 
   wherein at least one of the one or more power-providing assets is fluidically coupled to the manifold body by the at least one branch line.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first internal diameter is between 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches and an internal diameter of at least one of the plurality of branch line take-off pipes is between 1.5 and 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fuel gas manifold system further comprises a manifold pressure gauge operable to provide a measurement of a pressure of the fuel gas within the central body, and the method further comprising:
 monitoring the pressure of the fuel gas within the central body.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the manifold body is made of steel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the manifold body is affixed to a portable trailer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of branch line take-off pipes have the same internal diameter.