NOISE SUPPRESSOR

• US 3,851,726 A
• Filed: 04/16/1974
• Issued: 12/03/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ronald D. Grose
• Original Assignee: Ronald D. Grose
• Inventors: Grose, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilkinson, Richard B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzales, John F.
• Application Number:
  US05/461,304
• Time in Patent Office: 231 Days
• Field of Search: 181/37,50,53,56,57,58,66,67 55/276,321,326,337,416,462,464
• US Class Current: 181/225
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 1/10 in combination with sound-absorbing materials F01N1/125 takes precedence

Abstract

A noise suppressor for use in blowing natural gas storage field wells and capable of handling multiphase fluid flow is formed of a vertically-aligned elongated cylindrical housing with an inlet at its bottom end and an outlet at its top end. The housing is coated along its inside wall with a sound insulating material and has a deflecting baffle therein opposite and spaced from the inlet to prevent water, ice and/or hydrates from moving into the upper part of the housing. Above and spaced from the deflecting baffle is an annular baffle extending radially inwardly from the inside wall of the housing to block acoustic waves therein. Above and spaced from the annular baffle is a second deflecting baffle which also blocks acoustic waves. Again, above and spaced from this second deflecting baffle is a plurality of inclined vanes extending radially inwardly from the inside wall of the housing to assist in acoustic wave blockage. Also to block acoustic waves there is a turbulence-dampening grid formed of truck radiator core material above and in close proximity to the vanes. Finally, longitudinally-aligned hollow tubes formed of a sound insulating material may be attached to the housing above the turbulencedampening grid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for attenuating noises which result when fluid escapes through an exhaust passage at high velocity, said apparatus comprising:

a. an elongated cylindrical housing lined along its inside wall with a sound-insulating material and having an outlet at one end and an inlet at the other end, said inlet having a diameter substantially smaller than the inside diameter of said cylindrical housing and adaptable to be connected to a fluid exhaust passage;

b. an upstream impact baffle located within and attached to said cylindrical housing, and positioned between and spaced from said inlet and said outlet to deflect the flow of fluid entering said inlet, said baffle having a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said cylindrical housing and greater than the diameter of said inlet;

c. a plurality of inclined vanes attached to and extending radially inwardly from said inside wall of said cylindrical housing such that fluid flow openings are defined between said vanes, said vanes positioned between and spaced from said upstream baffle and said outlet; and

d. a fluid-permeable turbulence-dampening grid attached to and positioned across the entire inside cross-section of said cylindrical housing between saiD vanes and said outlet, said turbulence-dampening grid being located in close proximity to said vanes and spaced from said outlet.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized in that an annular baffle is attached to said housing and positioned therein between and spaced from said upstream baffle and said vanes, said annular baffle extending radially inwardly from said inside wall of said cylindrical housing and defining a fluid flow passage with a diameter smaller than the diameter of said upstream baffle.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that a downstream baffle is located within and attached to said cylindrical housing, and is positioned between and spaced from said annular baffle and said vanes such that fluid flowing through said fluid flow passage defined by said annular baffle is deflected by said downstream baffle, said downstream baffle having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said cylindrical housing and greater than the diameter of said fluid flow passage defined by said annular baffle.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 and further characterized in that at least one hollow acoustic cylindrical tube formed of said sound-insulating material is removably attached to said housing in longitudinal alignment therewith to provide additional exposed acoustically-lined surface area, said tube positioned downstream of said grid.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further characterized in that a nongaseous material removal system is included within said housing, said system comprising:

a. a hollow cylindrical separation drum of which said upstream baffle forms the downstream end and which is open at its upstream end to allow fluid from said inlet to flow into and out of said drum;

b. an annularly-shaped inwardly-extending downstream-facing gutter at the upstream end of said drum for skimming said nongaseous material from the fluid flowing therein and for collecting said nongaseous material; and

c. a plurality of drains attached to said housing and extending from said gutter to support said drum within said housing and to convey said nongaseous material from said drum to facilitate removal of said nongaseous material from said housing.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 and further characterized in that said drains are attached to and extend through an annular supporting baffle which is attached to said housing and is positioned therein upstream of said drum, said supporting baffle defining an opening through which said inlet extends without actually contacting said supporting baffle.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 and characterized further in that said inlet is supported in said housing by a reinforced rubber gasket which prevents the vibrations of said inlet from being transferred to said housing, said gasket being the only point of contact between said inlet and said housing.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 and characterized further in that at least one pair of symmetrically aligned blowout doors are formed in the side wall of said housing to provide emergency pressure relief, said pair of doors are held in place by pairs of attached rods which are designed to release said doors at a desired pressure, at least two stop means are attached to said housing, said rods positioned for reciprocal movement through apertures in said stop means, and said rods have springs and crumpable sleeves mounted thereon to contact said stop means, absorb the kinetic energy of said doors, and halt the outward movement of said doors.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 and characterized further in that said housing has an end cap mounted thereon at the outlet thereof, to allow fluid flow between said end cap and said housing, said end cap having an inside diameter substantially larger than the outside diameter of said housing.