Near Isothermal Gas Compression
Devices, systems, and methods for compressing a gas are disclosed. A low-pressure gas is drawn into a vessel through a source gas inlet. The source gas inlet and a liquid gas outlet are sealed. A liquid is pumped into the vessel through a liquid inlet such that the low-pressure gas is compressed to produce a high-pressure gas. The liquid inlet is sealed. A destination gas outlet is opened and the high-pressure gas is passed out of the vessel. The destination gas outlet is sealed. The source gas inlet is opened. A liquid outlet is opened and the liquid is removed out of the vessel such that the low-pressure gas is drawn into the vessel as the liquid is removed from the vessel.
1 . A method for compressing a gas comprising:
drawing a low-pressure gas into a vessel through a source gas inlet;
sealing the source gas inlet and a liquid gas outlet;
pumping a liquid into the vessel through a liquid inlet such that the low-pressure gas is compressed to produce a high-pressure gas;
sealing the liquid inlet;
opening a destination gas outlet and passing the high-pressure gas out of the vessel;
sealing the destination gas outlet;
opening the source gas inlet;
opening the liquid outlet and removing the liquid out of the vessel such that the low-pressure gas is drawn into the vessel as the liquid is removed out of the vessel.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein compression occurs substantially isothermally.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid inlet comprises a spray nozzle, the spray nozzle causing the liquid entering the vessel to form a spray.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the gas comprises a vapor and the liquid strips the vapor from the gas.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a plurality of vessels and passing the high-pressure gas out of the plurality of vessels is staggered such that each of the plurality of vessels passes the high-pressure gas out at off-set times to produce a flow rate of the high-pressure gas that remains substantially steady.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a plurality of vessels arranged in series with the destination gas outlet of a previous vessel of the plurality of vessels being the source gas outlet for a next vessel of the plurality of vessels such that a final pressure of each of the plurality of vessels is higher than a final pressure of the previous vessel of the plurality of vessels.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the source gas inlet and the destination gas outlet meet at a three-way valve, the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet meet at a three-way valve, or a combination thereof.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises an inverse-boot.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a mist eliminator before the destination gas outlet.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the source gas inlet, the destination gas outlet, the liquid inlet, and the liquid outlet comprise control valves.
11 . A system for compressing a gas, comprising:
a liquid pump;
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a vessel comprising a source gas inlet, a destination gas outlet, a liquid inlet, and a liquid outlet, wherein:
a low-pressure gas is drawn into the vessel through the source gas inlet,
the source gas inlet and a liquid outlet are sealed;
a liquid is pumped by the liquid pump into the vessel through a liquid inlet such that the low-pressure gas is compressed to produce a high-pressure gas;
the liquid inlet is sealed;
a destination gas outlet is opened and the high-pressure gas is passed out of the vessel;
the destination gas outlet is sealed;
the source gas inlet is opened;
a liquid outlet is opened and the liquid is removed out of the vessel such that the low-pressure gas is drawn into the vessel.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein compression occurs substantially isothermally.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the liquid inlet comprises a spray nozzle, the spray nozzle causing the liquid entering the vessel to form a spray.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the gas comprises a vapor and the liquid strips the vapor from the gas.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a plurality of vessels and the high-pressure gas is passed out of the plurality of vessels such that each of the plurality of vessels passes the high-pressure gas out at off-set times to produce a flow rate of the high-pressure gas that remains substantially steady.
16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises a plurality of vessels arranged in series, with the destination gas outlet of a previous vessel of the plurality of vessels being the source gas outlet for a next vessel of the plurality of vessels, such that a final pressure of each of the plurality of vessels is higher than a final pressure of the previous vessel of the plurality of vessels.
17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the source gas inlet and the destination gas outlet meet at a three-way valve, the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet meet at a three-way valve, or a combination thereof.
18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the vessel comprises an inverse-boot.
19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the vessel comprises a mist eliminator before the destination gas outlet.
20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the source gas inlet, the destination gas outlet, the liquid inlet, and the liquid outlet comprise control valves.