Modular compression plant

Abstract

A building structure for operating turbomachinery equipment is disclosed. The building structure includes a first pre-fabricated structure, a second pre-fabricated structure, and a connector attaching the first pre-fabricated substructure to the second pre-fabricated substructure. Each pre-fabricated substructure includes a rigid frame formed from a plurality of linear members. The plurality of linear members forms a first rectangular structure, a second rectangular structure, and connects the first rectangular structure to the second rectangular structure. Each pre-fabricated substructure also includes a noise attenuating sealing panel attached to one or more of the first rectangular structure and the second rectangular structure. The connector includes a spacer plate inserted between first and second pre-fabricated substructures and a fastener. The spacer plate includes an elongated opening extending through the spacer plate. The fastener is inserted through a linear member of each of the first and second pre-fabricated substructures and the elongated opening of the spacer plate. Ancillary systems to support the turbomachinery operation may be housed in the pre-fabricated structures to reduce site construction time and cost.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular building structure for operating turbomachinery equipment, the building comprising:
 a first pre-fabricated substructure including:
 a first rigid frame formed from a plurality of linear members, the plurality of linear members including:
 at least four linear members forming a first rectangular structure, the first rectangular structure having a first connector receiving point, 
 at least four linear members forming a second rectangular structure, and 
 at least four linear members connecting the first rectangular structure to the second rectangular structure, and 
 at least one noise attenuating sealing panel attached to one or more of the first rectangular structure and the second rectangular structure; 
 
   a second pre-fabricated substructure including:
 a second rigid frame formed from a plurality of linear members, the plurality of linear members including:
 at least four linear members forming a third rectangular structure, the second rectangular structure having a second connector receiving point, 
 at least four linear members forming a fourth rectangular structure, and 
 at least four linear members connecting the third rectangular structure to the fourth rectangular structure, and 
 
 at least one sealing panel attached to one or more of the third rectangular structure and the fourth rectangular structure; and 
   a connector attaching the first pre-fabricated substructure to the second pre-fabricated substructure, the connector including:
 a spacer plate inserted between the first connector receiving point and the second connector receiving point, the spacer plate including at least one elongated opening extending through the spacer plate, and 
 at least one fastener inserted through:
 one linear member of the plurality of linear members of the first rectangular structure at the first connector receiving point, 
 one linear of the plurality of linear members of the third rectangular structure at the second connector receiving point, and 
 the elongated opening of the spacer plate. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector receiving point is located on a lower surface of the first rectangular structure; and
 The second connector receiving point is located on an upper surface of the third rectangular structure such that the first pre-fabricated substructure is located on top of the second pre-fabricated substructure.   
     
     
         3 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector receiving point is located on a side surface of the first rectangular structure; and
 The second connector receiving point is located on an end surface of the third rectangular structure such that the first pre-fabricated substructure is positioned orthogonal to the second pre-fabricated substructure.   
     
     
         4 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector receiving point is located on an end surface of the first rectangular structure; and
 The second connector receiving point is located on an end surface of the third rectangular structure such that the first pre-fabricated substructure is positioned in linear alignment to the second pre-fabricated substructure.   
     
     
         5 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first pre-fabricated substructure has a first length, and the second pre-fabricated substructure has a second length longer than the first length. 
     
     
         6 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 A third pre-fabricated structure including
 A third rigid frame formed from a plurality of liner members, the plurality of linear members including:
 at least four linear members forming a fifth rectangular structure, 
 the fifth rectangular structure having a third connector receiving point, 
 at least four linear members forming a sixth rectangular structure, and 
 at least four linear members connecting the fifth rectangular structure to the sixth rectangular structure, and 
 
 at least one sealing panel attached to one or more of the first rectangular structure and the second rectangular structure; and 
   a second connector attaching the first pre-fabricated substructure to the second pre-fabricated substructure, the connector including:
 a spacer plate inserted between the first connector receiving point and the second connector receiving point, the spacer plate including at least one elongated opening extending through the space plate, and 
 at least one fastener inserted through:
 one linear member of the plurality of linear members of the fifth rectangular structure at the third connector receiving point, 
 one linear member of the plurality of linear members of one of the first rectangular structure and the second rectangular structure at fourth connector receiving point, and 
 the elongated opening of the spacer plate. 
 
   
     
     
         7 . The modular building structure of  claim 6 , wherein the first connector receiving point is located on a lower surface of the first rectangular structure; and
 the second connector receiving point is located on an upper surface of the third rectangular structure such that the first pre-fabricated substructure is located on top of the second pre-fabricated substructure; and   wherein third connector receiving point is located on a side surface of the fifth rectangular structure and the fourth connector receiving portion is located on a end surface of the third rectangular structure such that the third pre-fabricated structure is positioned orthogonal to second pre-fabricated substructure.   
     
     
         8 . The modular building structure of  claim 6 , wherein the first connector receiving point is located on an end surface of the first rectangular structure; and
 The second connector receiving point is located on an end surface of the third rectangular structure such that the first pre-fabricated substructure is positioned orthogonal to the second pre-fabricated substructure; and   wherein third connector receiving point is located on a side surface of the fifth rectangular structure and the fourth connector receiving portion is located on an end surface of the third rectangular structure such that the third pre-fabricated structure is positioned orthogonal to second pre-fabricated substructure.   
     
     
         9 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector receiving point includes a first window formed in the one linear member of the first rectangular structure through which the fastener is inserted; and
 the second connector receiving point includes a second window formed in the one linear member of the third rectangular structure through which the fastener is inserted.   
     
     
         10 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , wherein spacer plate includes two elongated holes extending through the spacer plate
 wherein a pair of fasteners are inserted through the first rectangular structure, the third rectangular structure, and the elongated openings of the spacer plate.   
     
     
         11 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a bridge crane mounted on the first pre-fabricated substructure and the second pre-fabricated substructure, the bridge crane comprising:
 a support frame mounted to the first rectangular structure and the third rectangular structure;   a lift mechanism attached to the support frame; and   a lift attachment device coupled to the lift mechanism and configured to be lifted by the lift mechanism.   
     
     
         12 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first pre-fabricated substructure further includes piping and cable trays for industrial equipment attached to the first rigid frame. 
     
     
         13 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first pre-fabricated substructure further includes at least one of supply fans, exhaust louvers, and dampers attached to the first rigid frame. 
     
     
         14 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first pre-fabricated substructure may include a back-up electrical generator housed attached to the first rigid frame. 
     
     
         15 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first pre-fabricated substructure may include a coalescing filter and an electric heater for fuel-gas treatment attached the first rigid frame. 
     
     
         16 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first pre-fabricated substructure may include an office work space and physical document storage attached to the first rigid frame. 
     
     
         17 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first pre-fabricated substructure may include a coalescing filter and an electric heater for compressor seal gas attached to the first rigid frame. 
     
     
         18 . The modular building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first pre-fabricated substructure may include a sealed, pressurized local equipment room for electrical equipment attached to the first rigid frame. 
     
     
         19 . A pre-fabricated substructure for a modular building structure for operating turbomachinery equipment, the pre-fabricated substructure comprising:
 a rigid frame formed from a plurality of linear members, the plurality of linear members including:
 at least four linear members forming a first rectangular structure, the first rectangular structure having a first connector receiving point, 
 at least four linear members forming a second rectangular structure, and 
 at least four linear members connecting the first rectangular structure to the second rectangular structure, and 
   at least one sealing panel attached to one or more of the first rectangular structure and the second rectangular structure;   a connector configured for attaching the pre-fabricated substructure to a second pre-fabricated substructure, the connector including:
 a spacer plate including at least one elongated opening extending through the spacer plate, and 
 at least one fastener inserted through:
 one linear member of the plurality of linear members of the first rectangular structure at the first connector receiving point, and 
 the elongated opening of the spacer plate. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . The pre-fabricated substructure of  claim 20 , wherein the first connector receiving point includes a window formed in the one linear member of the first rectangular structure through which the fastener is inserted