Natural gas liquid pressure regulating vaporizer sampling system

Abstract

System and method for natural gas liquid sample pressure regulating vaporizer system including a vented cabinet having a gas sample input, a pressure regulator, a single path vaporizer, a liquid block, a heated regulator and a gas sample outlet, and a communications assembly including a temperature controller, a communication outlet, and a power input electrically connected via appropriate secure feedthroughs to the cabinet.

I claim: 
     
       1. A natural gas liquid sample vaporizer system comprising:
 a vented cabinet having a natural gas liquid sample input configured to receive a natural gas liquid sample, 
 a pressure regulator configured to reduce the pressure of the natural gas liquid sample, 
 a single path vaporizer configured to vaporize the natural gas liquid sample output from the pressure regulator, a liquid block, 
 a heated pressure regulator and configured to reduce the pressure of the vaporized natural gas liquid sample, 
 a liquid drain configured to receive any unvaporized natural gas liquid,  
 a gas sample outlet, and 
 a communications assembly electrically connected via appropriate secure feedthroughs to the cabinet, said assembly including an electrically powered temperature controller, an electrically powered communication outlet, and an electrical power input. 
 
     
     
       2. The natural gas liquid sample vaporizer system of  claim 1  having a single gas sample path. 
     
     
       3. The natural gas liquid sample vaporizer system of  claim 2  where the liquid block heated pressure regulator is heated by electrical power. 
     
     
       4. The natural gas liquid sample vaporizer system of  claim 2  where the cabinet includes a speed loop for pressure control and the liquid drain is located between the vaporizer and the heated pressure regulator. 
     
     
       5. A method for conditioning a sample of natural gas liquid by reducing the liquid pressure and vaporizing the liquid extracted from a high pressure natural gas liquid line, comprising the steps of:
 a) inputting a natural gas liquid sample into a sample conditioning system; 
 b) reducing the pressure of the natural gas liquid sample; 
 c) vaporizing the natural gas liquid sample; 
 d) passing the vaporized natural gas liquid sample through a liquid block any unvaporized natural gas liquid remaining after vaporization through a liquid drain; and 
 e) passing the vaporized natural gas liquid sample through a pressure reducing regulator to a sample analyzer output while maintaining a sufficient temperature to prevent hydrocarbon dew point drop-out. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  where the liquid block is heated further comprising the step of passing the vaporized natural gas liquid sample through a liquid block before passing any remaining natural gas liquid through the liquid drain. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5  where the natural gas liquid is extracted from a high pressure line and where the vaporized natural gas liquid is heated before and after during pressure reduction. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5  where the vaporized natural gas liquid sample follows a single gas sample path. 
     
     
       9. A natural gas liquid sample vaporizer system comprising:
 a cabinet having a natural gas liquid sample input configured to receive a natural gas liquid sample,   a pressure regulator configured to reduce the pressure of the natural gas liquid sample,   a single path vaporizer configured to vaporize the natural gas liquid sample output from the pressure regulator,   a heated pressure regulator configured to reduce the pressure of the vaporized natural gas liquid sample,   a liquid drain configured to receive any unvaporized natural gas liquid,   a gas sample outlet, and   a communications assembly electrically connected via appropriate secure feedthroughs to the cabinet, said assembly including an electrically powered temperature controller, an electrically powered communication outlet, and an electrical power input.    
     
     
       10. The natural gas liquid sample vaporizer system of claim 9 having a single gas sample path.  
     
     
       11. The natural gas liquid sample vaporizer system of claim 10 further including a liquid block disposed in the pathway between the vaporizer and heated pressure regulator.  
     
     
       12. The natural gas liquid sample vaporizer system of claim 10 where the cabinet includes a speed loop for pressure control.  
     
     
       13. A method for conditioning a sample of a liquid subject to Joule-Thompson condensation from a high pressure source by reducing the liquid pressure and vaporizing the extracted liquid, comprising the steps of:
 a) inputting a natural gas liquid sample into a sample conditioning system;   b) reducing the pressure of the natural gas liquid sample input into the sample conditioning system;   c) vaporizing the natural gas liquid sample;   d) passing any unvaporized natural gas liquid remaining after vaporization through a liquid drain; and   e) passing the vaporized natural gas liquid sample through a pressure reducing regulator to a sample analyzer output while maintaining a sufficient temperature to prevent Joule-Thompson condensation.    
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of passing the vaporized natural gas liquid sample through a liquid block before passing any remaining natural gas liquid through the liquid drain.  
     
     
       15. The method of claim 13 where the vaporized liquid is heated before and during pressure reduction.  
     
     
       16. The natural gas liquid sample vaporizer system of claim 1 where the liquid drain is disposed in the pathway between the vaporizer and heated pressure regulator.  
     
     
       17. The natural gas liquid sample vaporizer system of claim 9 where the liquid drain is disposed in the pathway between the vaporizer and heated pressure regulator.  
     
     
       18. The natural gas liquid sample vaporizer system of claim 1 where the liquid drain outputs any unvaporized natural gas liquid remaining after vaporization.