Gas burner control and ignition system for oilfield separators

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for controlling a heater for an oil and gas separator. According to the present invention, a spark is provided for igniting a gas burner. The spark is controlled such that the gas burner is ignited, without unduly complex control or sensor requirements. In the description below, generally an entire temperature-controller separator is described to provide context for the discussion. The invention also contemplates just the heating subsystem, e.g. to mount with existing separators. The invention also contemplates just the heating control subsystem, e.g., to retrofit existing pilot ignition subsystems.

1 . A gas burner control and ignition system for an oil and gas separator, the separator capable of indicating when heat is required, comprising: 
 a) A gas valve having an inlet and an outlet, where the inlet is adapted to accept gas from a gas supply and the outlet is adapted to supply gas to a gas burner;    b) a spark generator, adapted to mount with the burner such that a spark from the spark generator ignites gas in the gas burner;    c) a burner temperature sensor, adapted to mount with the gas burner and generate a burner temperature signal representative of heat generated by the gas burner;    d) a valve control subsystem, enabling gas flow through the gas valve when the separator indicates that heat is required;    e) a spark control subsystem, enabling the spark generator when both (1) the separator indicates that heat is desired, and (2) the burner temperature signal indicates that the burner has not generated a determined amount of heat.    
   
   
       2 . A gas burner control and ignition system for an oil and gas separator, comprising: 
 a) a gas valve having an inlet and an outlet, where the inlet is adapted to accept gas from a gas supply and the outlet is adapted to supply gas to a gas burner;    b) a spark generator, adapted to mount with the burner such that a spark from the spark generator ignites gas in the gas burner;    c) a burner temperature sensor, adapted to mount with the gas burner and generate a burner temperature signal representative of heat generated by the gas burner;    d) a separator temperature sensor, adapted to mount with the separator and generate a signal representative of the temperature of the contents of the separator;    e) a valve control subsystem, responsive to the separator temperature sensor, enabling gas flow through the gas valve when the temperature of the contents of the separator is below a determined temperature;    f) a spark control subsystem, enabling the spark generator when both (1) the temperature of the contents of the separator is below a determined temperature, and (2) the burner temperature signal indicates that the burner has not generated a determined amount of heat.    
   
   
       3 . A temperature control system for an oil and gas separator, comprising: 
 a) a gas burner, adapted to mount with the separator and impart heat thereto;    b) a gas burner control and ignition system according to  claim 2 .    
   
   
       4 . An oil and gas separator, comprising: 
 a) a separator vessel;    b) a temperature control system according to  claim 3 .    
   
   
       5 . A gas burner control and ignition system for an oil and gas separator, comprising: 
 a) a gas valve having an inlet and an outlet, where the inlet is adapted to accept gas from a gas supply and the outlet is adapted to supply gas to a gas burner;    b) a spark generator, adapted to mount with the burner such that a spark from the spark generator ignites gas in the gas burner;    c) a burner temperature sensor, adapted to mount with the gas burner and generate a burner temperature signal representative of heat generated by the gas burner;    d) a separator temperature sensor, adapted to mount with the separator and generate a signal representative of the temperature of the contents of the separator;    e) a pressure sensor mounted with the gas valve generating a signal indicative of the state of the gas valve;    f) a valve control subsystem, responsive to the separator temperature sensor, enabling gas flow through the gas valve when the temperature of the contents of the separator is below a determined temperature;    g) a spark control subsystem, enabling the spark generator when both (1) the pressure sensor indicates that the gas valve is open, and (2) the burner temperature signal indicates that the burner has not generated a determined amount of heat.    
   
   
       6 . A temperature control system for an oil and gas separator, comprising: 
 a) a gas burner, adapted to mount with the separator and impart heat thereto;    b) a gas burner control and ignition system according to  claim 5 .    
   
   
       7 . An oil and gas separator, comprising: 
 a) a separator vessel;    b) a temperature control system according to  claim 6 .    
   
   
       8 . A gas burner control and ignition system according to  claim 5 , further comprising a gas flow restrictor mounted between the gas valve and the burner.  
   
   
       9 . A gas burner control and ignition system according to  claim 5 , wherein the spark control system comprises an electric energy storage system, and a solar cell charging system.  
   
   
       10 . A gas burner control and ignition system according to  claim 5 , wherein the spark control system comprises: 
 a) A power supply;    b) A spark generating device;    c) An oscillating circuit connected to the power supply and generating an oscillating circuit;    d) An energy storage device connected to the oscillating circuit;    e) An energy transformer connected to the spark generating device;    f) An energy sensing and triggering circuit, connected to the energy storage device and connecting the energy storage device to the energy transformer when sufficient energy is sensed in the energy storage device.    
   
   
       11 . A gas burner control and ignition system according to  claim 10 , wherein the power supply comprises a battery, and a solar cell charging system connected to the battery.  
   
   
       12 . A gas burner control and ignition system according to  claim 5 , wherein the gas valve supplies gas at a pressure of about 10 pounds per square inch, and wherein the pressure switch indicates that the gas valve is open when the output pressure of the gas valves reaches about 2 pounds per square inch.  
   
   
       13 . A gas burner control and ignition system according to  claim 5 , wherein the burner has an associated outlet stack exhausting heat from the burner after passing in proximity to the separator, and wherein the burner temperature sensor mounts with an outlet stack of the burner, and wherein the burner temperature sensor indicates that sufficient heat has been generated when the burner temperature sensor reaches about 140 degrees Fahrenheit.  
   
   
       14 . An oil and gas separator according to  claim 7 , wherein the separator vessel comprises a horizontal separator.  
   
   
       15 . An oil and gas separator according to  claim 7 , wherein the separator vessel comprises a vertical separator.