Apparatus for manufacturing high pressure inert gas

Patent · Tue May 18 04:00:00 EDT 1971

OSTI ID:5824220

Gower, G H

At the present time, one of the biggest usages of inert gas is in the petroleum industry, wherein such gas is utilized in the recovery of petroleum. An apparatus is described for manufacturing high pressure inert gas utilizing hydrocarbon fuel. The gas is produced by the burning of hydrocarbon fuel in an internal combustion engine, the exhaust gases therefrom being conveyed through a catalytic converter whereby substantially inert gas is derived. Means of controllably recycling such inert gas through engine-driven compressor stages vary the loading on the engine and thereby vary the inert gas output in response to the demand. Means also are described which maintain a positive pressure in all portions of the system, including the engine exhaust manifold and catalytic converter, so that any inadvertent leak in the system will not result in air being drawn into the system. (5 claims)

• Assignee: Inert Gas Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 3579308
• OSTI ID: 5824220
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
CATALYTIC CONVERTERS
COMPRESSORS
ENGINES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EQUIPMENT
EXHAUST GASES
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FUELS
GAS INJECTION
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
INERT ATMOSPHERE
MANUFACTURING
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
RECOVERY
RECYCLING
WASTES
WELLS