System and method for handling fluid using a manifold
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A manifold assembly, comprising:
- a unitary manifold body including at least two component ports and an integral channel system connecting the component ports in series; and
at least two fluid-treating components directly connected to the component ports in a substantially gas-tight manner, wherein the fluid-treating components include a coalescer configured to remove oil from a fluid.
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Abstract
A manifold assembly including a unitary manifold body including at least two component ports and an integral channel system connecting the component ports in series, and at least two fluid-treating components directly connected to the component ports in a substantially gas-tight manner. The fluid-treating components can include at least one of a coalescer, an adsorber, an absorber, a strainer, and a filter. At least one of the component ports includes an inner port section and an outer port section, the outer port section including a flow distributor arranged around and concentric to the inner port section.
53 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A manifold assembly, comprising:
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a unitary manifold body including at least two component ports and an integral channel system connecting the component ports in series; and
at least two fluid-treating components directly connected to the component ports in a substantially gas-tight manner, wherein the fluid-treating components include a coalescer configured to remove oil from a fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
the integral channel system is substantially arranged in a plane, and each of the component ports is arranged such that a flow of fluid between the component port and an interfaced fluid-treating component is substantially orthogonal to the plane. -
8. The manifold assembly of claim 1, wherein,
the component ports are arranged on a first side of the manifold body, and a second side of the manifold body is disposed opposite from the first side. -
9. The manifold assembly of claim 8, further comprising:
at least one of a thermocouple, a pressure gage, and a high pressure switch disposed on the second side.
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10. The manifold assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the component ports includes an inner port section and an outer port section, the outer port section including a flow distributor arranged around and concentric to the inner port section.
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12. The manifold assembly of claim 1, wherein the fluid-treating components include three filter beds each configured to remove sulfur-containing molecules from a fluid.
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4. A manifold assembly, comprising:
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a unitary manifold body including at least two component ports and an integral channel system connecting the component ports in series;
at least two fluid-treating components directly connected to the component ports in a substantially gas-tight manner; and
a heat exchanger directly connected to an inlet port of the manifold body in a substantially gas-tight manner. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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11. A manifold assembly, comprising:
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a unitary manifold body including at least two component ports and an integral channel system connecting the component ports in series; and
at least two fluid-treating components directly connected to the component ports in a substantially gas-tight manner, wherein, at least one of the component ports includes an inner port section and an outer port section, the outer port section including a flow distributor arranged around and concentric to the inner port section, and the flow distributor is arranged as a helical ramp.
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13. A fluid manifold comprising:
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a manifold body having;
a first side including a plurality of component ports, each of which is adapted to directly attach to a fluid-treating component in a substantially gas-tight manner, and an integral channel system connecting each of the component ports in series, wherein the integral channel system is substantially arranged in a plane, wherein, at least one of the component ports includes an inner port section and an outer port section, the outer port section including a flow distributor arranged around and concentric to the inner port section, and the flow distributor is arranged as a helical ramp. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of handling fluid, comprising the steps of:
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connecting at least two fluid-treating components directly to a manifold body, the manifold body having;
a first side including at least two component ports configured to directly attach to the fluid-treating components in a substantially gas-tight manner, and an integral channel system connecting each of the component ports in series;
directing a fluid through each of the fluid-treating components in series via the integral channel system; and
cooling the fluid before the fluid enters the manifold body. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 35, 37, 38, 43)
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26. A method of handling fluid, comprising:
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connecting at least two fluid-treating components directly to a manifold body, the manifold body having;
a first side including at least two component ports configured to directly attach to the fluid-treating components in a substantially gas-tight manner, and an integral channel system connecting each of the component ports in series; and
directing a fluid through each of the fluid-treating components in series via the integral channel system, wherein the directing step includes removing oil from the fluid to create an oil-free fluid. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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31. A method of handling fluid, comprising:
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connecting at least two fluid-treating components directly to a manifold body, the manifold body having;
a first side including at least two component ports configured to directly attach to the fluid-treating components in a substantially gas-tight manner, and an integral channel system connecting each of the component ports in series;
directing a fluid through each of the fluid-treating components in series via the integral channel system; and
connecting a heat exchanger to an inlet port of the manifold body in a substantially gas-tight manner.
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32. A method of handling fluid, comprising:
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connecting at least two fluid-treating components directly to a manifold body, the manifold body having;
a first side including at least two component ports configured to directly attach to the fluid-treating components in a substantially gas-tight manner, and an integral channel system connecting each of the component ports in series;
directing a fluid through each of the fluid-treating components in series via the integral channel system;
introducing a fluid into an inlet port of the manifold body;
directing the fluid through the integral channel system to a first fluid-treating component;
coalescing at least one of oil and water from the cooled fluid in the first fluid-treating component to create a filtered fluid;
directing the filtered fluid from the first fluid-treating component through, the integral channel system to a second fluid-treating component; and
removing at least one of adsorbable and absorbable constituents from the filtered fluid in the second fluid-treating component. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A method of handling fluid, comprising:
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connecting at least two fluid-treating components directly to a manifold body, the manifold body having;
a first side including at least two component ports configured to directly attach to the fluid-treating components in a substantially gas-tight manner, and an integral channel system connecting each of the component ports in series; and
directing a fluid through each of the fluid-treating components in series via the integral channel system, wherein natural gas is used as the fluid.
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36. A method of handling fluid, comprising:
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connecting at least two fluid-treating components directly to a manifold body, the manifold body having;
a first side including at least two component ports configured to directly attach to the fluid-treating components in a substantially gas-tight manner, and an integral channel system connecting each of the component ports in series;
directing a fluid through each of the fluid-treating components in series via the integral channel system; and
connecting a coalescer configured to remove oil from the fluid.
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39. A method of handling fluid, comprising:
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connecting at least two fluid-treating components directly to a manifold body, the manifold body having;
a first side including at least two component ports configured to directly attach to the fluid-treating components in a substantially gas-tight manner, and an integral channel system connecting each of the component ports in series;
directing a fluid through each of the fluid-treating components in series via the integral channel system;
connecting first, second, and third filter beds to first, second, and third bed ports of the component ports; and
optimizing usage of the filter beds by changing a location of at least one of the filter beds. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
the fluid is directed through the manifold body in order of the first, second, and third bed ports, and the optimizing step includes: detaching the first filter bed from the first bed port, attaching the second filter bed to the first bed port, attaching the third filter bed to the second bed port, replacing at least one of an adsorbent material and an absorbent material from the first filter bed with a fresh material, and attaching the first filter bed with the fresh material to the third bed port.
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41. The method of claim 40, wherein the detaching step is performed after a determination that the first filter bed has substantially reached full usage.
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42. A method of handling fluid, comprising:
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connecting a heat exchanger and at least two fluid-treating components directly to a manifold body, the manifold body having;
a first side including at least two component ports configured to directly attach to the fluid-treating components in a substantially gas-tight manner, and an integral channel system connecting each of the component ports in series;
directing a fluid through each of the fluid-treating components in series via the integral channel system; and
directly attaching the fluid-treating components to the component ports such that longitudinal axes of the heat exchanger and the fluid-treating components are substantially parallel to one another.
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44. A method of handling fluid, comprising:
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connecting at least two fluid-treating components directly to a manifold body, the manifold body having;
a first side including at least two component ports configured to directly attach to the fluid-treating components in a substantially gas-tight manner, and an integral channel system connecting each of the component ports in series; and
directing a fluid through each of the fluid-treating components in series via the integral channel system, wherein;
at least one of the component ports includes an inner port section and an outer port section, the outer port section including a flow distributor arranged around and concentric to the inner port section, and the flow distributor is arranged as a helical ramp.
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Specification