Abstract: A balance piston seal assembly for a balance piston of a compressor is provided. The balance piston seal assembly may include a balance piston seal configured to be disposed about the balance piston such that an inner radial surface of the balance piston seal and an outer radial surface of the balance piston define a radial clearance therebetween. The balance piston seal assembly may also include a plurality of heaters in thermal communication with the balance piston seal and configured to heat and thermally expand the balance piston seal and thereby increase a radial length of the radial clearance.

Abstract: A cooling system for a rotating machine, such as a centrifugal compressor. Specifically, the cooling system may be configured to cool radial and axial magnetic bearings in the rotating machine and the bearing control system that controls said bearings. The cooling system includes canned magnetic radial bearings on each end of the rotor and a canned bearing control system. The canned bearings and canned bearing control system may be filled with a dielectric cooling fluid and in fluid communication with each other via sealed conduits. Accordingly, the radial magnetic bearings and the bearing control system may be entirely immersed in the dielectric cooling fluid to regulate heat generation. An axial magnetic bearing may also be canned and fluidly coupled to the cooling system to immerse the axial magnetic bearing in the dielectric cooling fluid.

Abstract: A non-contacting seal is provided, including a first sealing face formed on an end of a primary ring and a second sealing face formed on an end of a mating ring. Grooves may be formed in at least one of the first and second sealing faces, such that the grooves extend from one edge of the respective sealing face to an intermediate radius of the respective sealing face. At least one groove may include an entrance edge along the one edge of the respective sealing face and a dam wall opposite the entrance edge. The at least one groove may also include two symmetric side walls extending from the entrance edge to the dam wall. The two symmetric side walls may include a first convex curve extending from the entrance edge to a transition point and a second concave curve extending from the transition point to the dam wall.

Abstract: A separator method and apparatus that includes a rotatable drum defining an annular passageway therein, a plurality of blades coupled to the rotatable drum and located in the annular passageway, each of the plurality of blades including a leading section, a trailing section, a concave surface, and a convex surface, the concave and convex surfaces extending from the leading section to the trailing section, each of the plurality of blades disposed circumferentially adjacent to at least another one of the plurality of blades so as to define blade flowpaths therebetween, and a housing at least partially surrounding the rotatable drum and defining a fluid collection chamber fluidly communicating with the annular passageway.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for a compressed air energy storage (CAES) system. The system and method may include compressing a process gas with a compressor train to produce a compressed process gas. The compressed process gas may be directed to a compressed gas storage unit and stored therein. The compressed process gas from the compressed gas storage unit may be released to a heat recovery unit via a feed line. The heat recovery unit may heat the compressed process gas and direct the heated compressed process gas to an expansion assembly to generate a power output. Feed water from a feed water source may be heated in the heat recovery unit to produce steam for injection into a combustion turbine assembly. The combustion turbine assembly may heat the heat recovery unit via an exhaust line.

Abstract: A method for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) is provided. The method may include feeding natural gas from a high-pressure natural gas source to a separator and removing a non-hydrocarbon from the natural gas. A portion of the natural gas from the separator may be precooled, and the precooled natural gas may be cooled in a first heat exchanger with a first refrigeration stream. A first portion of the cooled natural gas may be expanded in a turbo-expander to generate the first refrigeration stream. A second portion of the cooled natural gas may be cooled in a second heat exchanger with the first refrigeration stream and expanded in an expansion valve to produce a two-phase fluid containing the LNG and a vapor phase. The LNG may be separated from the vapor phase in a liquid separator and stored in a storage tank.

Abstract: A piston plug includes a cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and an outer cylindrical surface. The outer cylindrical surface extends longitudinally between a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The outer cylindrical surface defines a hole extending radially inward. The hole has a central axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body. A first channel and a second channel are defined by cylindrical body. The first channel is in fluidic communication with the first surface and the hole. The second channel is in fluidic communication with the second surface and the hole. The first channel, the second channel, and at least a portion of the hole form a non-collinear flowpath. The piston plug is disposed in a plug hole in a piston and is retained in the plug hole via an interference fit between the piston plug and the plug hole.

Abstract: A balance piston for a compressor is provided. The balance piston may include an annular body and a seal extending from an axial surface of the annular body. The annular body may be configured to be disposed about and coupled with a rotary shaft of the compressor. The seal may be configured to form a sealing engagement with at least one component of the compressor to prevent a flow of a process fluid from an impeller of the compressor to a seal cavity of the compressor.

Abstract: A collection apparatus for a separator. The collection apparatus including a housing at least partially encircling a flow separation passage and defining a chamber and a cutout, the chamber being in fluid communication with the flow separation passage to receive a separated flow therefrom, and the cutout extending outward from the chamber to at least partially deflect the separated flow.

Abstract: A sealing system for process gas leakage from a turbomachine casing is provided. The sealing system may include a seal assembly housing coupled to or integral with the turbomachine casing. The seal assembly housing defines a bore configured to receive a rotary shaft and a sealing assembly. The sealing assembly includes a plurality of carbon rings mounted circumferentially about the rotary shaft. The plurality of carbon rings may include an inboard carbon ring configured to prevent flow of a separation gas inboard of the barrier seal, an outboard carbon ring configured to prevent flow of contaminates into the seal assembly housing, and an intermediate carbon ring interposed between the inboard carbon ring and outboard carbon ring. A pressure differential is maintained across the inboard carbon ring, such that the separation gas is prevented from flowing inboard across the inboard carbon ring by a residual portion of a seal gas.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for compressing a process fluid are provided. The system includes a sealed housing configured to be submerged in a body of water, and a compressor disposed in the sealed housing and including a compressor casing, the compressor being configured to compress a process fluid. The system also includes a motor operably coupled to the compressor and disposed in the sealed housing, the motor being configured to drive the compressor. The system further includes a source of hydrogen, such as a hydrogen generator, disposed in the sealed housing or submerged and disposed proximate thereto, the source of hydrogen being fluidly coupled with the compressor and configured to provide the hydrogen gas thereto.

Abstract: A balance piston seal assembly for a balance piston of a compressor is provided. The balance piston seal assembly may include a balance piston seal, a stationary support, and a gripping assembly disposed between the balance piston seal and the stationary support. The balance piston seal may be configured to be disposed about the balance piston such that an inner radial surface of the balance piston seal and an outer radial surface of the balance piston define a radial clearance therebetween. The stationary support may be configured to be coupled or integral with a casing of the compressor. The gripping assembly may be configured to secure the balance piston seal with the stationary support and to maintain concentricity between the balance piston seal and the balance piston during thermal radial expansion of the balance piston seal relative to the balance piston.

Abstract: An inlet guide vane assembly for a compressor is provided. The inlet guide vane assembly may include a hub configured to be disposed in an inlet of the compressor, and an inlet guide vane extending from the hub. The inlet guide vane may include a stationary section configured to be coupled with the inlet and a mobile section disposed adjacent the stationary section. The mobile section may include a rod configured to extend through an opening formed in the inlet. The inlet guide vane assembly may also include at least one biasing member disposed about the rod and configured to exert a biasing force on the mobile section to urge the mobile section radially outward.

Abstract: A supersonic compressor including an inlet configured to receive and flow therethrough a process fluid. The supersonic compressor may further include a rotary shaft and a centrifugal impeller coupled therewith. The centrifugal impeller may be configured to impart energy to the process fluid received and to discharge the process fluid therefrom in at least a partially radial direction at an exit absolute Mach number of about one or greater. The supersonic compressor may further include a static diffuser circumferentially disposed about the centrifugal impeller and configured to receive the process fluid therefrom and convert the energy imparted. The supersonic compressor may further include a collector fluidly coupled to and configured to collect the process fluid exiting the diffuser, such that the supersonic compressor is configured to provide a compression ratio of at least about 8:1.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for assembling a bundle of a compressor is provided. The mounting assembly may include a plurality of biasing members and a mechanical fastener. The plurality of biasing members may be disposed in a recess formed in a first annular body of the bundle, and may be configured to apply a biasing force to a second annular body of the bundle. The mechanical fastener may extend through a mounting flange of the second annular body and the plurality of biasing members. The mechanical fastener may be configured to couple the first annular body with the second annular body such that the first annular body and the second annular body define an axial gap therebetween.

Abstract: An impeller includes a hub mountable to a rotary shaft and configured to rotate about a center axis. The impeller may include a plurality of main blades and splitter blades arranged equidistantly and circumferentially about the center axis. A splitter blade having a leading edge and a trailing edge may be positioned between first and second adjacent main blades and canted such that the leading edge is displaced from a blade position equidistant the first and second adjacent main blades a first percentage amount of one half an angular distance between the first and second adjacent main blades. The trailing edge may be displaced from the blade position equidistant the first and second adjacent main blades a second percentage amount of one half the angular distance between the first and second adjacent main blades. The second percentage amount may be greater or less than the first percentage amount.

Abstract: A compressor may include a casing defining a discharge cavity and a seal cavity. A rotary shaft may be disposed in the casing, and a shaft seal assembly may be disposed in the seal cavity and about the rotary shaft. An impeller may be coupled with and configured to be driven by the rotary shaft. A balance piston may be integral with the impeller and may define the discharge cavity and the seal cavity. A balance piston seal may be disposed about the balance piston such that the balance piston seal and the balance piston define a radial clearance therebetween. The radial clearance may be configured to provide fluid communication from the impeller to the discharge cavity. A heat shield may be disposed in the discharge cavity, and may be configured to prevent the conduction of heat from the discharge cavity to the seal cavity via the casing.

Abstract: A solenoid valve for a pre-chamber of an internal combustion engine is provided. The solenoid valve may include a valve body defining an inlet port fluidly coupled with a fuel line, an outlet port fluidly coupled with the pre-chamber, and a passage fluidly coupling the inlet port with the outlet port. A valve stem may be slidably disposed in the passage between a first position and a second position. The valve stem may be configured to engage the outlet port in the first position to thereby prevent fluid communication therethrough. A biasing member may be disposed in the passage and configured to actuate the valve stem to the first position. A solenoid may be coupled with the valve body and configured to actuate the valve stem to the second position to thereby allow fluid communication therethrough.

Abstract: A closure device for monitoring leakage of a process fluid through a bore of a compressor casing is provided. The closure device may include a body configured to be detachably coupled with the compressor casing about the bore of the compressor. The body may define a fluid passage and a plurality of grooves. The plurality of grooves may be defined about an outer circumferential surface of the body and may be axially spaced from one another. The closure device may also include a plurality of seals at least partially disposed in respective grooves of the plurality of grooves. The plurality of seals may be configured to engage an inner surface of the compressor casing such that adjacent seals of the plurality of seals at least partially define an annular gap therebetween fluidly coupled with the fluid passage and configured to contain the leakage of the process fluid.

Abstract: An interface for transmitting electrical power to a motor of a motor-compressor is provided. The interface may include a receptacle having a first end portion coupled with a stator of the motor and a second end portion defining a hole at least partially extending therethrough. The interface may also include a plug configured to be detachably coupled with the receptacle. The plug may include a rigid, conductive rod having a first end portion configured to be coupled with a penetrator of the motor-compressor, and a second end portion configured to be at least partially disposed in the hole of the receptacle and detachably coupled therewith. The rigid, conductive rod may be configured to electrically couple the penetrator with the receptacle, and the receptacle may be configured to transmit the electrical power to the stator.