Compressor diaphragm piston rod seal

Abstract

One or more techniques and systems are described herein for a compressor technology that may be used to improve operations and outcomes of a compressor. For example, existing compressors with reciprocating pistons utilize a packing system to mitigate leaks. As described herein, a flexible diaphragm may be disposed in a fixed arrangement with the piston rod and the chamber wall of a compressor to improve leakage prevention, and improve overall operations and maintenance of the compressor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compressor, comprising:
 a first chamber;   a second chamber fluidly coupled with the first chamber;   a piston disposed in the first chamber;   a rod operably connected to the piston, the rod extending from the first chamber and through the second chamber;   a diaphragm configured to fluidly separate the first chamber and the second chamber, the diaphragm having a process side and an environment side, wherein environment material on the environment side is prevented from entering the process side, and process material on the process side is prevented from entering the environment side.   
     
     
         2 . The compressor of  claim 1 , where the diaphragm is disposed in the second chamber operably connected to the piston and a sidewall of the second chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The compressor of  claim 1 , the first chamber is a compression chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the second chamber is a mechanical work chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The compressor of  claim 1 , the diaphragm comprising an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         6 . The compressor of  claim 1 , the diaphragm comprising an upstroke position, a downstroke position, and a center position. 
     
     
         7 . The compressor of  claim 6 , wherein the upstroke position comprises the diaphragm comprising a convex shape. 
     
     
         8 . The compressor of  claim 6 , wherein the downstroke position comprises the diaphragm comprising concave shape. 
     
     
         9 . The compressor of  claim 6 , wherein the center position comprises a diaphragm in a centered position. 
     
     
         10 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the environment material is oil. 
     
     
         11 . The compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a crank shaft operably coupled with the piston rod. 
     
     
         12 . The compressor of  claim 11 , wherein the crank shaft comprises one rotation, one rotation comprising the diaphragm comprising an upstroke position, a downstroke position, and a center position. 
     
     
         13 . The compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first stage inlet fluidly coupled with a first stage outlet fluidly coupled with the mechanical work chamber and the compression chamber;   a second stage inlet fluidly coupled with the first stage outlet and a second stage outlet; and   a crosshead; the diaphragm disposed between the crosshead and the compression chamber.   
     
     
         14 . A compressor, comprising:
 a compression chamber;   a mechanical work chamber fluidly coupled with the compression chamber;   a piston disposed in the compression chamber;   a rod operably connected to the piston, the rod extending from the compression chamber and through the mechanical work chamber;   a packing diaphragm configured to fluidly separate the first chamber and the second chamber, the diaphragm having a process side and an environment side, wherein environment material on the environment side is prevented from entering the process side, and process material on the process side is prevented from entering the environment side.   
     
     
         15 . The compressor of  claim 14 , wherein the packing diaphragm is disposed in the mechanical work chamber sealingly connected to the piston and a sidewall of the mechanical work chamber, the mechanical work chamber free of packing wear components. 
     
     
         16 . The compressor of  claim 15 , the packing diaphragm comprising an upstroke position, a downstroke position, and a center position. 
     
     
         17 . The compressor of  claim 14 , the packing diaphragm comprising an upstroke position, a downstroke position, and a center position, the packing diaphragm comprising a convex shape relative to the compression chamber during the upstroke position, and the packing diaphragm comprising a concave shape during the downstroke position. 
     
     
         18 . The compressor of  claim 14 , wherein the compressor is a vertical industrial compressor. 
     
     
         19 . The compressor of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first stage inlet fluidly coupled with a first stage outlet fluidly coupled with the mechanical work chamber and the compression chamber;   a second stage inlet fluidly coupled with the first stage outlet and a second stage outlet; and   a crosshead disposed within the mechanical work chamber; and   a crankshaft operably connected to the crosshead;   the compression chamber comprising a process gas, the packing diaphragm disposed between the crosshead and the compression chamber and configured to prevent contamination and/or leakage from the crankcase to the process gas.   
     
     
         20 . A compressor, comprising:
 a compression chamber;   a mechanical work chamber fluidly coupled with the compression chamber, the mechanical work chamber having a process side and an environment side;   a piston disposed in the compression chamber;   a rod operably connected to the piston, the rod extending from the compression chamber and through the mechanical work chamber;   a packing diaphragm disposed in the mechanical work chamber sealingly connected to the piston and a sidewall of the mechanical work chamber, the mechanical work chamber free of packing wear components.   a first stage inlet fluidly coupled with a first stage outlet fluidly coupled with the process side of the mechanical work chamber and the compression chamber;   a second stage inlet fluidly coupled with the first stage outlet and a second stage outlet; and   the compression chamber comprising a product, the packing diaphragm configured to prevent contamination and/or leakage from the environment side of the packing diaphragm to the process gas in the compression chamber.