Apparatuses, Systems, and Methods for Improved Performance of a Pressurized System

Abstract

A natural gas pumping system that includes a reciprocating compressor having at least two cylinders, a first conduit in fluid communication with an outlet of the first cylinder, a second conduit in fluid communication with an outlet of the second cylinder, and a junction in fluid communication with the first conduit and the second conduit.

1 . A natural gas pumping system, comprising:
 a reciprocating compressor including:   a first cylinder having:
 an inlet through which natural gas is received; and 
 an outlet through which natural gas is discharged; 
   a second cylinder having:
 an inlet through which natural gas is received; and 
 an outlet through which natural gas is discharged; 
   a first conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the outlet of the first cylinder and a second end in fluid communication with a junction; and   a second conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the outlet of the second cylinder and a second end in fluid communication with the junction.   
     
     
         2 . The natural gas pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a length of the first conduit is such that pulses coming from the first cylinder reflect back from the junction to the outlet of the first cylinder at a time when the first cylinder is near a minimum volume end of its stroke; and   a length of the second conduit is such that pulses coming from the second cylinder reflect back from the junction to the outlet of the second cylinder at a time when the second cylinder is near a minimum volume end of its stroke.   
     
     
         3 . The natural gas pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the length of the first conduit is such that pulses coming from the first cylinder reflect back from the junction to the inlet of the first cylinder at a time when the first cylinder is near a maximum volume end of its stroke; and   the length of the second conduit made such that pulses coming from the second cylinder reflect back from the junction to the inlet of the second cylinder at a time when the second cylinder is near a maximum volume end of its stroke.   
     
     
         4 . The natural gas pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the length of the first conduit is such that pulses coming from the first cylinder reflect back from the junction to the outlet of first cylinder at a time when the first cylinder is near mid stroke; and   the length of the second conduit is such that pulses coming from the second cylinder reflect back from the junction to the outlet of the second cylinder at a time when the second cylinder is near mid stroke.   
     
     
         5 . The natural gas pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the length of the first conduit is such that pulses coming from the first cylinder reflect back from the junction to the inlet of the first cylinder at a time when the first cylinder is near mid stroke; and   the length of the second conduit is such that pulses coming from the second cylinder reflect back from the junction to the inlet of the second cylinder at a time when the second cylinder is near mid stroke.   
     
     
         6 . A natural gas pumping system, comprising:
 a reciprocating compressor including:
 a first cylinder having:
 a first end; 
 a second end; 
 a first piston in the first cylinder; 
 an inlet through which natural gas is received; and 
 an outlet through which natural gas is discharged; 
 
 a second cylinder having:
 a first end; 
 a second end; 
 a second piston in the second cylinder; 
 an inlet through which natural gas is received; and 
 an outlet through which natural gas is discharged; 
 
   a first conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the outlet of the first cylinder, a second end in fluid communication with a junction, and a length to reflect a pulse emanating from the first cylinder back from the junction to the outlet of the first cylinder when the first piston is near one of the first and second ends of the first cylinder; and   a second conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the outlet of the second cylinder, a second end in fluid communication with the junction, and a length to reflect a pulse emanating from the second cylinder back from the junction to the outlet of the second cylinder when the second piston is near one of the first and second ends of the second cylinder.   
     
     
         7 . The natural gas compressor of  claim 6 , wherein:
 natural gas is expelled from the first cylinder when the first piston is moving toward the first end of the first cylinder;   natural gas flows into the first cylinder when the first piston is moving toward the second end of the first cylinder;   the length of the first conduit is such as to reflect a pulse emanating from the first cylinder back from the junction to the outlet of the first cylinder when the first piston is at or near the first end of the first cylinder;   natural gas is expelled from the second cylinder when the second piston is moving toward the first end of the second cylinder;   natural gas flows into the second cylinder when the second piston is moving toward the second end of the second cylinder; and   the length of the second conduit is such as to reflect a pulse emanating from the second cylinder from the junction to the outlet of the second cylinder when the second piston is at or near the first end of the second cylinder.   
     
     
         8 . The natural gas compressor of  claim 6 , wherein:
 natural gas is expelled from the first cylinder when the first piston is moving toward the first end of the first cylinder;   natural gas flows into the first cylinder when the first piston is moving toward the second end of the first cylinder;   the length of the first conduit is such as to reflect a pulse emanating from the first cylinder back from the junction to the outlet of the first cylinder when the first piston is at or near the second end of the first cylinder;   natural gas is expelled from the second cylinder when the second piston is moving toward the first end of the second cylinder;   natural gas flows into the second cylinder when the second piston is moving toward the second end of the second cylinder; and   the length of the second conduit is such as to reflect a pulse emanating from the second cylinder from the junction to the outlet of the second cylinder when the second piston is at or near the second end of the second cylinder.   
     
     
         9 . A natural gas pumping system, comprising:
 a reciprocating compressor including:
 a first cylinder having:
 a first end; 
 a second end; 
 a first piston in the first cylinder; 
 an inlet through which natural gas is received; and 
 an outlet through which natural gas is discharged; 
 
 a second cylinder having:
 a first end; 
 a second end; 
 a second piston in the second cylinder; 
 an inlet through which natural gas is received; and 
 an outlet through which natural gas is discharged; 
 
   a first conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the inlet of the first cylinder, a second end in fluid communication with a junction, and a length to reflect a pulse emanating from the first cylinder back from the junction to the inlet of the first cylinder when the first piston is at or near one of the first and second ends of the first cylinder; and   a second conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the inlet of the second cylinder, a second end in fluid communication with the junction, and a length to reflect a pulse emanating from the second cylinder back from the junction to the inlet of the second cylinder when the second piston is near one of the first and second ends of the second cylinder.   
     
     
         10 . The natural gas compressor of  claim 9 , wherein:
 natural gas is expelled from the first cylinder when the first piston is moving toward the first end of the first cylinder;   natural gas flows into the first cylinder when the first piston is moving toward the second end of the first cylinder;   the length of the first conduit is such as to reflect a pulse emanating from the first cylinder back from the junction to the inlet of the first cylinder when the first piston is at or near the first end of the first cylinder;   natural gas is expelled from the second cylinder when the second piston is moving toward the first end of the second cylinder;   natural gas flows into the second cylinder when the second piston is moving toward the second end of the second cylinder; and   the length of the second conduit is such as to reflect a pulse emanating from the second cylinder back from the junction to the inlet of the second cylinder when the second piston is at or near the first end of the second cylinder.   
     
     
         11 . The natural gas compressor of  claim 9 , wherein:
 natural gas is expelled from the first cylinder when the first piston is moving toward the first end of the first cylinder;   natural gas flows into the first cylinder when the first piston is moving toward the second end of the first cylinder;   the length of the first conduit is such as to reflect a pulse emanating from the first cylinder back from the junction to the inlet of the first cylinder when the first piston is at or near the second end of the first cylinder;   natural gas is expelled from the second cylinder when the second piston is moving toward the first end of the second cylinder;   natural gas flows into the second cylinder when the second piston is moving toward the second end of the second cylinder; and   the length of the second conduit is such as to reflect a pulse emanating from the second cylinder back from the junction to the inlet of the second cylinder when the second piston is at or near the second end of the second cylinder.   
     
     
         12 . A natural gas pumping system, comprising:
 a reciprocating compressor including:
 a first cylinder having:
 a first end; 
 a second end; 
 a first piston in the first cylinder; 
 an inlet through which natural gas is received; and 
 an outlet through which natural gas is discharged; 
 
 a second cylinder having:
 a first end; 
 a second end; 
 a second piston in the second cylinder; 
 an inlet through which natural gas is received; and 
 an outlet through which natural gas is discharged; 
 
   a first conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the outlet of the first cylinder, a second end in fluid communication with a junction, and a length to reflect a pulse emanating from the first cylinder back from the junction to the outlet of the first cylinder when the first piston is near the middle of its stroke between the first and second ends of the first cylinder; and   a second conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the outlet of the second cylinder, a second end in fluid communication with the junction, and a length to reflect a pulse emanating from the second cylinder back from the junction to the outlet of the second cylinder when the second piston is near the middle of its stroke between the first and second ends of the second cylinder.   
     
     
         13 . The natural gas compressor of  claim 12 , wherein:
 natural gas is expelled from the first cylinder when the first piston is moving toward the first end of the first cylinder;   natural gas flows into the first cylinder when the first piston is moving toward the second end of the first cylinder;   the length of the first conduit is such as to reflect a pulse emanating from the first cylinder back from the junction to the outlet of the first cylinder when the first piston is near the middle of its stroke between the first and second ends of the first cylinder;   natural gas is expelled from the second cylinder when the second piston is moving toward the first end of the second cylinder;   natural gas flows into the second cylinder when the second piston is moving toward the second end of the second cylinder; and   the length of the second conduit is such as to reflect a pulse emanating from the second cylinder from the junction to the outlet of the second cylinder when the second piston is near the middle of its stroke between the first and second ends of the second cylinder.   
     
     
         14 . A natural gas pumping system, comprising:
 a reciprocating compressor including:
 a first cylinder having:
 a first end; 
 a second end; 
 a first piston in the first cylinder; 
 an inlet through which natural gas is received; and 
 an outlet through which natural gas is discharged; 
 
 a second cylinder having:
 a first end; 
 a second end; 
 a second piston in the second cylinder; 
 an inlet through which natural gas is received; and 
 an outlet through which natural gas is discharged; 
 
   a first conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the inlet of the first cylinder, a second end in fluid communication with a junction, and a length to reflect a pulse emanating from the first cylinder from the junction to the inlet of the first cylinder when the first piston is near the middle of its stroke between the first and second ends of the first cylinder; and   a second conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the inlet of the second cylinder, and a second end in fluid communication with the junction, and a length to reflect a pulse emanating from the second cylinder from the junction to the inlet of the second cylinder when the second piston is near the middle of its stroke between the first and second ends of the second cylinder.   
     
     
         15 . The natural gas compressor of  claim 14 , wherein:
 natural gas is expelled from the first cylinder when the first piston is moving toward the first end of the first cylinder;   natural gas flows into the first cylinder when the first piston is moving toward the second end of the first cylinder;   the length of the first conduit is such as to reflect a pulse emanating from the first cylinder back from the junction to the inlet of the first cylinder when the first piston is near the middle of its stroke between the first and second ends of the first cylinder;   natural gas is expelled from the second cylinder when the second piston is moving toward the first end of the second cylinder;   natural gas flows into the second cylinder when the second piston is moving toward the second end of the second cylinder; and   the length of the second conduit is such as to reflect a pulse emanating from the second cylinder from the junction to the inlet of the second cylinder when the second piston is near the middle of its stroke between the first and second ends of the second cylinder.