System and Method for Control of a Gas

• US 20080011248A1
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ksd Enterprises LLC
• Original Assignee: Ksd Enterprises LLC
• Inventors: Cutlip, H. David, Disbennett, Gary W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,944,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/3
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 7/00 Methods or devices for drawing- off gases with or without subsequent use of the gas for any purpose
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/027 Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or volume flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/029 Determining density, viscosity, concentration or composition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0027 the fuel being gaseous non-electrical control F02D19/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0215 Mixtures of gaseous fuels; Natural gas; Biogas; Mine gas; Landfill gas
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0227 Means to treat or clean gaseous fuels or fuel systems, e.g. removal of tar, cracking, reforming or enriching
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

The gas control system removes gas from a borehole by generating and collecting an air stream from the borehole using a blower, collecting the gas contained in the air stream using a fuel collector, removing moisture from the gas using a heated dryer, and transporting the gas from the heated dryer to an engine that is at least partially fueled by the gas. The gas control system can include one or more sensors that provide data associated with operating conditions of the gas control system. The sensor data is provided to a manager component, and can be used to evaluate system performance, determine consumption of greenhouse gases and optimize system operations.

Claims

1. A gas control system that removes a gas from a source, comprising:

a blower that includes an inlet that generates an air stream from the source and a discharge section that expels the air stream from said blower;

a fuel collector operably connected to said discharge section of said blower that collects the gas contained in the air stream;

an engine that is at least partially fueled by the gas;

a sensor that generates a sensor data related to operating conditions of said engine; and

a manager component that records said sensor data.

2. The system of claim 1, said sensor data is recorded to document greenhouse gas destruction.

3. The system of claim 1, said sensor is selected from the group consisting of an air flow sensor, a methane content sensor and an engine efficiency sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, said manager component controls operation of the gas control system based at least in part upon said sensor data.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a means for effecting operation of said engine, said means is directed by said manager component.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a communication component operably connected to said manager component, said communication component provides said sensor data to an remote monitoring system.

7. The system of claim 6, said remote monitoring system directs operation of the gas control system via said communication component.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a conical funnel housed within said fuel collector that collects methane gas, said funnel is shaped such that the flow of gas through said funnel is substantially free-flowing and substantially uniformly mixed.

9. The system of claim 8, said funnel is between eight and twelve inches in length.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for automatic shutdown and startup of the gas control system.

11. The system of claim 1, the manager component generates an alert based at least in part said sensor data.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a heated dryer operably connected to said fuel collector that eliminates moisture from the gas; and

a means for regulating atmospheric air flow to said engine.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a venturi operably connected to the heated dryer that provides for initial dehydration of the gas.

14. A gas control system that removes a gas from a source, comprising:

a blower that includes an inlet that generates an air stream from the source and a discharge section that expels said air stream from said blower;

a fuel collector operably connected to said discharge section of said blower that collects the gas contained in said air stream;

a conical funnel housed within said fuel collector that collects methane gas, said funnel is between eight and twelve inches in length;

a heated dryer operably connected to said fuel collector that eliminates moisture from the gas;

a venturi operably connected to the heated dryer that provides for initial dehydration of the gas;

an engine that is at least partially fueled by the gas;

a means for regulating atmospheric air flow to said engine;

a sensor that generates a sensor data related to operating conditions of said engine; and

an electronic control component that records said sensor data.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said sensor data is recorded for use in determining greenhouse gas destruction.

16. A method for managing removal of gas from a source, comprising:

drawing an air stream from the source;

collecting the gas contained within said air stream to generate a collected gas;

fueling an engine at least in part using said collected gas;

obtaining a sensor data indicative of quality of the gas; and

shutting down said engine based at least in part upon said quality of the gas.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

sampling said sensor data to obtain sampled sensor data; and

comparing said sampled sensor data to a predetermined range of values;

wherein said shutting down said engine is based at least in part upon outcome of said comparing.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

restarting said engine;

obtaining additional sensor data; and

shutting down said engine based at least in part upon said additional sensor data.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising coordinating with a managed gas removal system located at a geographically distinct source.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising coordinating with a managed gas removal system located at the source.