Control gas filter for gas processing system

• US 20070079706A1
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Richey, Richard Richey
• Original Assignee: Michael Richey, Richard Richey
• Inventors: Richey, Michael, Richey, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/248,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20070079706A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 96/408
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2275/105 Wound layers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/003 including coalescing means for the separation of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/4272 Special valve constructions adapted to filters or filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/44 controlling filtration

Abstract

A control gas system for a well gas separator uses a filter to further remove liquid from the control gas. The control gas flows through a gas line to a drain valve actuator to cause the actuator valve to open. A float valve located in the control gas line will supply gas from the separator to the control gas line to allow flow out the drain valve when the float senses that the liquid level has risen sufficiently. The filter is a tubular member having a mesh material within it. The inlet end is located below the outlet so that moisture collected therein flows back down an entry portion of the control gas line.

Claims

1. A control system for a gas/liquid separator having a first port for receiving a liquid/gas mixture, the gas separator having a second port for the outflow of separated gas and a third port for the outflow of separated liquid, the control system comprising:

a control valve for operable connection to one of the ports, the control valve having an actuator that in response to a control gas, changes a position of the control valve;

a control gas line leading to the control valve for supplying the control gas to the actuator;

a sensor for connection to the separator and sensing a parameter of the separator;

a sensor valve connected into the control gas line and to the sensor for providing the control gas to the actuator in response to the parameter sensed; and

a filter in the control gas line upstream of the sensor valve for removing liquid from the control gas, the filter having an upstream end and a downstream end and being oriented with the upstream end at a lower elevation than the downstream end for causing liquid separated from the control gas to flow back into the control gas line upstream of the filter.

2. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tubular housing connected into the control gas line;

a pair of plates located in the housing with the filter located therebetween, each of the plates having at least one aperture for the passage of the control gas.

3. The control system according to claim 2, wherein the filter comprises a strip of mesh material rolled up about an axis of the tubular housing.

4. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tubular housing containing the mesh filter and having a threaded outlet and a threaded inlet, the outlet and the inlet having inner diameters that are the same as an inner diameter of the housing.

5. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a float valve for determining when separated liquid in the separator reaches a selected level.

6. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure regulator connected to the control gas line downstream of the filter for reducing pressure of the control gas in the control gas line.

7. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising a control gas separator in the control gas line downstream from the filter for removing residual amounts of liquid that may be present in the control gas.

8. A gas processor, comprising:

a separator having a main inlet for receiving a liquid/gas mixture, a main outlet line for the outflow of separated gas, and a liquid drain line for draining collected liquid from the separator;

a drain valve connected to the drain line, the drain valve having an actuator operable in response to pressure from a control gas for opening the drain valve;

a control gas line leading from a point downstream of the main inlet of the separator to the control valve for supplying the control gas to the actuator;

a pressure regulator in the control gas line for reducing the pressure of the control gas in the control gas line to a level below the pressure in the main outlet line;

a float valve connected into the control gas line and to the separator for providing the control gas to the actuator in response to detecting a selected level of liquid in the separator; and

a filter assembly in the control gas line upstream of the pressure regulator, the filter assembly having a tubular housing containing a mesh filter for removing liquid from the control gas, the housing having an inlet located below an outlet for causing liquid trapped by the mesh filter to drain back through the inlet into the control gas line upstream of the filter assembly.

9. The processor according to claim 8, wherein the filter assembly further comprises:

a pair of plates located in the housing with the mesh filter located therebetween, each of the plates having at least one aperture for the passage of the control gas.

10. The control system according to claim 8, wherein the mesh filter comprises a strip of mesh material rolled up about an axis of the housing.

11. The control system according to claim 8, wherein the housing has a threaded outlet and a threaded inlet for connection into the control gas line, the outlet and the inlet having inner diameters that are the same as an inner diameter of the housing.

12. The control system according to claim 8, further comprising a control gas separator in the control gas line downstream from the filter assembly for removing residual amounts of liquid that may be present in the control gas.

13. A method of controlling a gas/liquid separator having a first port for receiving a liquid/gas mixture, a second port for the outflow of separated gas and a third port for the outflow of separated liquid, comprising:

(a) connecting a control valve to one of the ports, the control valve having a pressure activated actuator;

(b) connecting a control gas line to the control valve;

(c) connecting a sensor valve to the separator and into the control gas line; and

(d) connecting a filter in the control gas line upstream of the sensor valve, the filter having an upstream end and a downstream end and being oriented with the upstream end at a lower elevation than the downstream end;

(e) when the sensor valve senses a selected parameter of the separator, flowing control gas through the filter to the actuator and changing a position of the control valve in response thereto; and

(f) with the filter separating any liquid in the control gas and draining the separated liquid out the upstream end of the filter into the control gas line.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein step (d) comprises placing mesh filter material within a tubular housing and connecting the housing into the control gas line.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein step (e) comprises sensing a level of separated liquid in the gas/liquid separator.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein step (e) further comprises opening the control valve to allow separated liquid in the gas/liquid separator to drain from the separator.

18. The method according to claim 13, further comprising reducing pressure of the control gas in the control gas line downstream of the filter.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein step (f) comprises draining the separated liquid from the filter into a main outlet flowline of the gas/liquid separator.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein step (f) comprises draining the separated liquid from the filter into the gas/liquid separator.

14. The method according to claim 14, wherein step (b) comprises connecting an upstream end of the control gas line to a point downstream of the first port of the gas/liquid separator.