Gas pressure reduction generator

Abstract

Gas Pressure Reduction Generator (GPRG) systems and methods for implementing a GPRG system are provided, where the GPRG systems comprise a gas inlet configured to receive a pressurized gas flow, at least one expander in gas flow receiving communication with the gas inlet wherein the expander is operable to convert the pressurized gas flow into mechanical energy and a depressurized gas flow, and a generator configured to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for converting pressure to power, the system comprising:
 A. a pressurized gas system inlet and a reduced pressure gas system outlet;   B. a pressurized gas expander comprising a pressurized gas expander inlet in pressurized gas receiving communication with said pressurized gas system inlet and a reduced pressure gas expander outlet in reduced pressure gas sending communication with said reduced pressure gas system outlet;   C. a variable speed alternating current electrical power generator in mechanical power receiving communication with said pressurized gas expander;   D. a rotational speed governor; and   E. one or more rotational speed monitor(s) in rotational speed data sending communication with said rotational speed governor;   
       wherein the system is configured to generate alternating current electrical power at a specified frequency based on rotational speed data provided by said one or more rotational speed monitor(s) to said rotational speed governor. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pressurized gas system inlet comprises a pressurized natural gas system inlet and said reduced pressure gas system outlet comprises a reduced pressure natural gas system outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising one or more clutch(es) in mechanical power receiving communication with said pressurized gas expander and in mechanical power sending communication with said alternating current electrical power generator. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said rotational speed governor comprises at least one pressurized gas flow control valve in pressurized gas flow receiving communication with said pressurized gas system inlet and in pressurized gas flow sending communication with said pressurized gas expander inlet, at least one clutch in mechanical power receiving communication with said pressurized gas expander and in mechanical power sending communication with said alternating current electrical power generator, or said at least one pressurized gas flow control valve in pressurized gas flow receiving communication with said pressurized gas system inlet and in pressurized gas flow sending communication with said pressurized gas expander inlet and said at least one clutch in mechanical power receiving communication with said pressurized gas expander and in mechanical power sending communication with said alternating current electrical power generator. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein at least one of said one or more rotational speed monitor(s) is in rotational speed monitoring communication with said alternating current electrical power generator and said rotational speed governor comprises said at least one pressurized gas flow control valve. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein at least one of said one or more rotational speed monitor(s) is in rotational speed monitoring communication with said alternating current electrical power generator and said rotational speed governor comprises said at least one clutch. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a controller comprising one or more processor(s), memory, one or more data communication input(s) in data receiving communication with said one or more rotational speed monitor(s), and at least one data communication output in data sending communication with said rotational speed governor, said controller configured to control said system to generate alternating current electrical power at a specified frequency based on rotational speed data provided by said one or more rotational speed monitor(s). 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pressurized gas expander and the alternating current electrical power generator are enclosed within a common pressure housing. 
     
     
         9 . A method of generating constant frequency alternating current electrical power from a non-recirculating flow of pressurized gas using a rotating pressurized gas expander, a variable speed alternating current electrical power generator, a rotational speed governor, and a rotational speed monitor, the method comprising:
 A. receiving the flow of pressurized gas at a pressurized gas inlet of the rotating pressurized gas expander;   B. expanding said pressurized gas in said rotating pressurized gas expander, thereby generating mechanical power;   C. communicating said mechanical power to the variable speed alternating current electrical power generator, thereby generating alternating current electrical power;   D. monitoring the rotational speed of said variable speed alternating current electrical power generator via the rotational speed monitor;   E. communicating rotational speed data from said rotational speed monitor to the rotational speed governor; and   F. adjusting the frequency of said generated alternating current electrical power via said rotational speed governor based on said rotational speed data from said rotational speed monitor.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said flow of pressurized gas comprises a flow of pressurized natural gas. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  additionally using a controller comprising one or more processor(s), memory, a data communication input in data receiving communication with said rotational speed monitor, and a data communication output in data sending communication with said rotational speed governor, wherein the step of adjusting the frequency of said generated alternating current electrical power is performed via said controller. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  additionally using at least one pressurized gas flow control valve, at least one clutch, or at least one pressurized gas flow control valve and at least one clutch, wherein the step of adjusting the frequency of said generated alternating current electrical power comprises:
 A. controlling said flow of pressurized gas at said pressurized gas inlet using the at least one pressurized gas flow control valve; 
 B. controlling said mechanical power communicated to said alternating current electrical power generator from said rotating pressurized gas expander using the at least one clutch; or 
 C. controlling said flow of pressurized gas at said pressurized gas inlet using said at least one pressurized gas flow control valve and controlling said mechanical power communicated to said alternating current electrical power generator from said rotating pressurized gas expander using said at least one clutch. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  additionally using a controller comprising one or more processor(s), memory, a data communication input in data receiving communication with said rotational speed monitor, and a data communication output in data sending communication with said rotational speed governor, wherein the step of adjusting the frequency of said generated alternating current electrical power is performed via said controller. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said data communication output is in data sending communication with at least one of any of said at least one pressurized gas flow control valves or at least one of any of said at least one clutches. 
     
     
         15 . A method of converting gas pressure to power using a pressurized gas expander, a variable speed alternating current electrical power generator, a rotational speed governor, and a rotational speed monitor, the method comprising:
 A. expanding a non-circulating stream of pressurized gas in a pressurized gas expander to create rotational mechanical power;   B. communicating said rotational mechanical power to an alternating current electrical power generator to generate alternating current electrical power;   C. monitoring the rotational speed of said alternating current electrical power generator using the rotational speed monitor; and   D. adjusting the frequency of said generated alternating current electrical power to a specified frequency via the rotational speed governor.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said pressurized gas comprises pressurized natural gas. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  additionally using at least one pressurized gas flow control valve as said rotational speed governor to perform the step of adjusting said generated alternating current electrical power to a specified frequency. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  additionally using at least one clutch as said rotational speed governor to perform the step of adjusting said generated alternating current electrical power to a specified frequency. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  additionally using at least one clutch and at least one pressurized gas flow control valve as said rotational speed governor to perform the step of adjusting said generated alternating current electrical power to a specified frequency. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further using a controller comprising one or more processor(s), memory, one or more data communication input(s) in data receiving communication with said one or more rotational speed monitor(s), and at least one data communication output in data sending communication with said rotational speed governor, wherein the step of controlling the speed of said alternating current electrical power generator to generate alternating current electrical power at a specified frequency is performed via said controller.