Assemblies and methods for enhancing diversion of gas and/or fluid from operation of a reciprocating compressor

Abstract

Embodiments of assemblies and methods to enhance diversion of fluid, including gas and/or liquid, passing from a cylinder of a compressor to an interior cavity of the compressor, may include a diversion assembly including a diversion passage positioned to extend at least partially through a packing assembly of the compressor. The diversion passage may be positioned to provide a flow path for fluid, including a gas and/or liquid, at a first pressure from the cylinder, thereby to divert leakage fluid, including gas and/or liquid, from the cylinder to one or more of an intake of the compressor during operation or a collection passage. Embodiments of the assemblies and methods further may include a valve associated with the diversion passage and positioned to control pressure in the diversion passage, thereby to enhance diversion of the leakage fluid to the one or more of the intake of the compressor or the collection apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gas diversion assembly to enhance diversion of gas passing from a cylinder of a compressor to an interior cavity of the compressor, the gas diversion assembly comprising:
 a diversion passage positioned to extend at least partially through a packing assembly providing an at least partial seal between a cylinder of the compressor and an interior cavity of the compressor, the diversion passage being positioned to provide a flow path for a gas at a first pressure from the cylinder, thereby to divert leakage gas from the cylinder to an intake of the compressor during operation; and   a valve associated with the diversion passage and positioned to control pressure in the diversion passage, thereby to enhance diversion of the leakage gas to one or more of the intake of the compressor or a collection apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The gas diversion assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the leakage gas comprises a gas stream including a gas and a liquid, and wherein the valve is positioned to open during a discharge stroke of the compressor and close during a suction stroke of the compressor. 
     
     
         3 . The gas diversion assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises one or more of a one-way valve a pressure-differential-actuated valve, a check valve, or an electronically actuated valve, and wherein the valve is associated with the packing assembly on an end of the packing assembly adjacent the cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The gas diversion assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an eductor associated with the diversion passage, thereby to draw the leakage gas from a packing vent passage, thereby to provide a flow path from an interior of the packing assembly into the interior cavity of the compressor. 
     
     
         5 . The gas diversion assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the leakage gas in the packing vent passage is at a second pressure lower than the first pressure wherein the diversion passage extends through an axial length of the packing assembly, and wherein the leakage gas comprises gaseous fluid from the cylinder associated with operation of the compressor. 
     
     
         6 . A fluid diversion assembly to enhance diversion of fluid passing from a cylinder of a compressor to an interior cavity of the compressor, the fluid diversion assembly comprising:
 a diversion passage positioned to extend at least partially through a packing assembly providing an at least partial fluid seal between a cylinder of the compressor and an interior cavity of the compressor, the diversion passage being positioned to provide a flow path for fluid at a first pressure from the cylinder, thereby to divert leakage fluid from the cylinder to one or more of (a) an intake of the compressor during operation or (b) a collection apparatus; and   a valve associated with the diversion passage and positioned to control pressure in the diversion passage, thereby to enhance diversion of the leakage fluid to the one or more of the intake of the compressor or the collection apparatus.   
     
     
         7 . The fluid diversion assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the leakage fluid comprises a gas. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid diversion assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the valve is positioned to open during a discharge stroke of the compressor and close during a suction stroke of the compressor, wherein the valve comprises one or more of a one-way valve a pressure-differential-actuated valve, a check valve, or an electronically actuated valve, and wherein the valve is associated with the packing assembly on an end of the packing assembly adjacent the cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid diversion assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising an eductor associated with the diversion passage, thereby to draw the leakage fluid from a packing vent passage, thereby to provide a flow path from an interior of the packing assembly into the interior cavity of the compressor. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid diversion assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the leakage fluid in the packing vent passage is at a second pressure lower than the first pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid diversion assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the diversion passage extends through an axial length of the packing assembly, and wherein the leakage fluid comprises gaseous fluid from the cylinder associated with operation of the compressor. 
     
     
         12 . A reciprocating compressor comprising:
 a cylinder;   a piston rod having a first end connected to a crankshaft;   a piston connected to a second end of the piston rod and being positioned to reciprocate in the cylinder, via rotation of the crankshaft, from a first position to a second position during a suction stroke, and from the second position to the first position during a discharge stroke;   a packing assembly through which the piston rod passes between the crankshaft and the cylinder, the packing assembly providing an at least partial fluid seal between the cylinder and an interior cavity of the compressor;   a diversion passage extending between the cylinder and the interior cavity of the reciprocating compressor, the diversion passage providing a flow path for fluid at a first pressure from the cylinder to one or more of (a) an intake of the reciprocating compressor or (b) a collection apparatus, thereby to divert leakage fluid from the cylinder to the one or more of the intake of the reciprocating compressor during operation or the collection apparatus; and   a valve associated with the diversion passage and positioned to control pressure in the diversion passage, thereby to enhance diversion of the leakage fluid to the one or more of the intake of the reciprocating compressor or the collection apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 12 , wherein the leakage fluid comprises a gas. 
     
     
         14 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 12 , further comprising a packing vent passage extending from an interior of the packing assembly into the interior cavity of the compressor, and wherein the leakage fluid in the packing vent passage is at a second pressure less than the first pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 12 , further comprising an eductor associated with the diversion passage and the packing vent passage, thereby to draw the leakage fluid into the diversion passage. 
     
     
         16 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 15 , wherein the flow path of the diversion passage passes through the eductor, thereby drawing the leakage fluid from the packing vent passage into the eductor and into the flow path of the diversion passage, wherein the valve is positioned to open during the discharge stroke and close during the suction stroke, and wherein the first position is closer to the piston rod than the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 12 , wherein the valve comprises one or more of a check-valve or a pressure-differential-actuated valve, and wherein the valve is positioned in the packing assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 12 , wherein one or more of:
 (a) the leakage fluid comprises gaseous fluid received from the cylinder via passage of the leakage fluid from the cylinder into the packing assembly; or   (b) the fluid at the first pressure from the cylinder is supplied during movement of the piston from the second position to the first position during the discharge stroke.   
     
     
         19 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid at the first pressure from the cylinder is supplied during movement of the piston from the second position to the first position during the discharge stroke, the first position being remote from the packing assembly, and the second position being adjacent the packing assembly. 
     
     
         20 . A packing assembly to enhance diversion of leakage fluid from a cylinder of a reciprocating compressor to an intake of the reciprocating compressor, the packing assembly comprising:
 (a) a packing gland having a gland body and at least partially defining:
 (i) a gland aperture extending axially through the gland body and positioned to receive a piston rod of the reciprocating compressor therethrough, and 
 (ii) a diversion aperture extending axially through the gland body and partially defining a diversion passage positioned to receive fluid flow at a first pressure; and 
   (b) a plurality of packing rings axially extending from a cylinder end to a gland end and connected to the packing gland via the gland end, one or more of the plurality of packing rings having a respective ring body and at least partially defining a respective ring aperture extending axially through the respective ring body, the respective ring aperture of each of the one or more packing rings at least partially defining a packing cylinder passage positioned to received therethrough the piston rod of the reciprocating compressor, the one or more packing rings further at least partially defining:
 a diversion passage positioned to extend between the cylinder and an interior cavity of the reciprocating compressor, the diversion passage providing a flow path for fluid at the first pressure from the cylinder to one or more of (a) an intake of the reciprocating compressor or (b) a collection apparatus, via the diversion aperture of the packing gland, thereby to divert leakage fluid from the cylinder to the one or more of the intake of the reciprocating compressor during operation or the collection apparatus. 
   
     
     
         21 . The packing assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the leakage fluid comprises a gas. 
     
     
         22 . The packing assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising a valve associated with the diversion passage and positioned to control pressure in the diversion passage, thereby to enhance diversion of the leakage fluid to the intake of the reciprocating compressor, and wherein the valve comprises one or more of a check-valve, a pressure-differential-actuated valve, a check-valve, or an electronically actuated valve. 
     
     
         23 . The packing assembly of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the packing gland further at least partially defines a vent aperture extending axially through the gland body; and   the one or more packing rings further at least partially define a packing vent passage extending from (a) the vent aperture of the gland body to (b) a position between the cylinder end and the gland end of the plurality of packing rings,   the vent aperture and the packing vent passage being positioned to receive the leakage fluid from the cylinder of the reciprocating compressor.   
     
     
         24 . The packing assembly of  claim 23 , wherein leakage fluid in the packing vent passage is at a second pressure less than the first pressure, and wherein fluid flow through the diversion passage is positioned to draw leakage fluid through the packing vent passage. 
     
     
         25 . A method for enhancing diversion of leakage fluid during operation of a reciprocating compressor, the method comprising:
 diverting leakage fluid, via a diversion passage extending between a cylinder of the reciprocating compressor and one or more of (a) an intake of the reciprocating compressor or (b) a collection apparatus, the leakage fluid having passed at least partially through a packing assembly associated with the cylinder of the reciprocating compressor and a piston rod of the reciprocating compressor; and   controlling pressure in the diversion passage via operation of a valve associated with the diversion passage, thereby to divert the leakage fluid from the cylinder to the one or more of the intake of the reciprocating compressor or the collection apparatus.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the leakage fluid comprises a gas, and wherein:
 the reciprocating compressor comprises a piston positioned in the cylinder to reciprocate from a first position to a second position during a suction stroke and from the second position to the first position during a discharge stroke, and   the controlling of the pressure in the diversion passage comprises opening the valve during the discharge stroke and closing the valve during the suction stroke.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising increasing pressure in a packing vent passage extending from an interior of the packing assembly to the diversion passage, and wherein the increasing of the pressure in the packing vent passage comprises passing fluid from the diversion passage through an eductor in fluid communication with the packing vent passage.