Pulsation Attenuation

Abstract

A pump efficiency improvement device. The pump efficiency improvement device includes first and second junctions having a main connector, a first branch connector, and a second branch connector; and first and second branches extending between the first and second junctions. A header has a first end coupled to the pump and a second end coupled to the main connector of the first junction, the header having a length that improves performance at the pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reciprocating natural gas compressor efficiency improvement device, comprising:
 a first junction having a main connector, a first branch connector, and a second branch connector;   a second junction having a main connector, a first branch connector, and a second branch connector;   a first branch having a length, a first end coupled to the first branch connector of the first junction, and a second end coupled to the first branch connector of the second junction;   a second branch having a first end coupled to the second branch connector of the first junction and a second end coupled to the second branch connector of the second junction, the second branch being longer than the first branch by half of a first primary wavelength within a range of wavelengths of vibrations propagating in the natural gas discharged from the reciprocating natural gas compressor; and   an outlet header having a first end coupled to an outlet of the reciprocating natural gas compressor and a second end coupled to the main connector of the first junction, the header having a length that improves efficiency of the reciprocating natural gas compressor over a different length outlet header;   a third junction having a main connector coupled to the main connector of the second junction, a first branch connector, and a second branch connector;   a fourth junction having a main connector, a first branch connector, and a second branch connector;   a third branch having a length, a first end coupled to the first branch connector of the third junction, and a second end coupled to the first branch connector of the fourth junction;   a fourth branch having a first end coupled to the second branch connector of the third junction and a second end coupled to the second branch connector of the fourth junction, the fourth branch being longer than the third branch by half of a second primary wavelength within a range of wavelengths of vibrations propagating in the natural gas discharged from the reciprocating natural gas compressor, the second primary wavelength being different from the first primary wavelength and not a harmonic of the first primary wavelength;   a fifth junction having a main connector, a first branch connector, and a second branch connector;   a sixth junction having a main connector, a first branch connector, and a second branch connector;   a fifth branch having a length, a first end coupled to the first branch connector of the fifth junction, and a second end coupled to the first branch connector of the sixth junction;   a sixth branch having a first end coupled to the second branch connector of the fifth junction and a second end coupled to the second branch connector of the sixth junction, the sixth branch being longer than the fifth branch by half of a third primary wavelength within a range of wavelengths of vibrations propagating in the natural gas sucked into the reciprocating natural gas compressor; and   an inlet header having a first end coupled to an inlet of the reciprocating natural gas compressor and a second end coupled to the main connector of the fifth junction, the header having a length that improves efficiency of the reciprocating natural gas compressor over a different length inlet header;   a seventh junction having a main connector coupled to the main connector of the sixth junction, a first branch connector, and a second branch connector;   an eighth junction having a main connector, a first branch connector, and a second branch connector;   a seventh branch having a length, a first end coupled to the first branch connector of the seventh junction, and a second end coupled to the first branch connector of the eighth junction;   an eighth branch having a first end coupled to the second branch connector of the seventh junction and a second end coupled to the second branch connector of the eighth junction, the eighth branch being longer than the seventh branch by half of a fourth primary wavelength within a range of wavelengths of vibrations propagating in the natural gas sucked into the reciprocating natural gas compressor, the fourth primary wavelength being different from the third primary wavelength and not a harmonic of the third primary wavelength.   
     
     
         2 . The reciprocating natural gas compressor efficiency improvement device of  claim 1 , wherein the main connector of the second junction is coupled to the main connector of the third junction by a pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The reciprocating natural gas compressor efficiency improvement device of  claim 1 , wherein the main connector of the sixth junction is coupled to the main connector of the seventh junction by a pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The reciprocating natural gas compressor efficiency improvement device of  claim 1 , wherein the first branch and the second branch carry equal parts of the natural gas stream flowing through the outlet header. 
     
     
         5 . The reciprocating natural gas compressor efficiency improvement device of  claim 4 , wherein the third branch and the fourth branch carry equal parts of the natural gas stream flowing through the outlet header. 
     
     
         6 . The reciprocating natural gas compressor efficiency improvement device of  claim 5 , wherein the fifth branch and the sixth branch carry equal parts of the natural gas stream flowing through the inlet header. 
     
     
         7 . The reciprocating natural gas compressor efficiency improvement device of  claim 6 , wherein the seventh branch and the eighth branch carry equal parts of the natural gas stream flowing through the inlet header. 
     
     
         8 . The reciprocating natural gas compressor efficiency improvement device of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet header length improves the efficiency of the reciprocating natural gas compressor by reducing the pressure at the outlet of the reciprocating natural gas compressor over a different length outlet header. 
     
     
         9 . The reciprocating natural gas compressor efficiency improvement device of  claim 8 , wherein the outlet header reduces the pressure at the outlet of the reciprocating natural gas compressor by carrying reflected pulsations to the outlet of the reciprocating natural gas compressor. 
     
     
         10 . A pump efficiency improvement device, comprising:
 a first junction having a main connector, a first branch connector, and a second branch connector;   a second junction having a main connector, a first branch connector, and a second branch connector;   a first branch having a first end coupled to the first branch connector of the first junction and a second end coupled to the first branch connector of the second junction;   a second branch having a first end coupled to the second branch connector of the first junction and a second end coupled to the second branch connector of the second junction; and   a header having a first end coupled to the pump and a second end coupled to the main connector of the first junction, the header having a length that improves pressure at the pump over a different length header.   
     
     
         11 . The pump efficiency improvement device of  claim 10 , wherein the header is coupled to the outlet of the pump. 
     
     
         12 . The pump efficiency improvement device of  claim 10 , wherein the header is coupled to the inlet of the pump. 
     
     
         13 . The pump efficiency improvement device of  claim 10 , wherein pressure at the pump is improved by carrying reflected pulsations to the pump. 
     
     
         14 . The pump efficiency improvement device of  claim 10 , wherein the first branch has a first length and the second branch has a second length different than the first length by half of a first primary wavelength within a range of wavelengths of vibrations propagating from the pump. 
     
     
         15 . The pump efficiency improvement device of  claim 14 , wherein the main connector of the second junction is coupled to a main connector of a third junction, the third junction also having a first branch connector connected to a first end of a third branch having a third length and a second branch connector connected to a first end of a fourth branch having a fourth length, the fourth length being longer than the third length by half of a second primary wavelength within a range of wavelengths of vibrations propagating from the pump, the second primary wavelength being different from the first primary wavelength and not a harmonic of the first primary wavelength, the third branch having a second end connected to a fourth junction and the fourth branch having a second end connected to the fourth junction. 
     
     
         16 . The pump efficiency improvement device of  claim 15 , wherein the main connector of the second junction is coupled to the main connector of the third junction by a pipe. 
     
     
         17 . The pump efficiency improvement device of  claim 10 , wherein the first branch and the second branch carry equal parts of the natural gas stream flowing through the outlet header. 
     
     
         18 . The pump efficiency improvement device of  claim 10 , wherein the pump is a reciprocating natural gas compressor. 
     
     
         19 . The pump efficiency improvement device of  claim 10 , wherein improving pressure at the pump includes reducing pressure at the outlet of the pump.