ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING DIVERSION OF GAS AND/OR FLUID FROM OPERATION OF A RECIPROCATING COMPRESSOR

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/683,263, filed Aug. 15, 2024, titled “ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING DIVERSION OF GAS AND/OR FLUID FROM OPERATION OF A RECIPROCATING COMPRESSOR,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to assemblies and methods for enhancing diversion of fluid, including gas and/or liquid, from operation of a reciprocating compressor and, more particularly, to assemblies and methods for enhancing diversion fluid, including gas and/or liquid, from operation of a reciprocating compressor using pressure from the compressor.

BACKGROUND

A desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has resulted in many industrial operations seeking to reduce unintended greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the petroleum industry is seeking a reduction of unintended emissions that occur as a result of operation of compressors associated with, for example, petroleum production, petroleum transportation, and/or petroleum refining. The use of such compressors may result in unintended emission of gaseous fluids such as natural gas and/or ethane. For example, Applicant has recognized that unintended emission of fugitive gaseous fluids may result from unintended fluid leakage, for example, around and/or through compressor seals. Because the fugitive gaseous fluids may result from passage through existing seals intended to prevent such passage, capturing or otherwise mitigating such emissions may be impracticable and/or inefficient, often involving acquisition and operation of additional equipment and/or implementation of procedures that provide unsatisfactory results.

Accordingly, Applicant has recognized a need for enhancing diversion of fluid, including gas and/or liquid, resulting from operation of compressors that may result in relatively more efficient and/or relatively more reliable prevention of unintended emission of gaseous fluids. The present disclosure may address one or more of the above-referenced considerations, as well as other possible considerations.

SUMMARY

As referenced above, Applicant has recognized that it may be difficult or inefficient to capture or otherwise mitigate emissions of fluid resulting from operation of compressors. Capturing or otherwise mitigating such emissions may be impracticable and/or inefficient, often involving acquisition and operation of additional equipment or implementation of procedures that provide unsatisfactory results.

The present disclosure is generally directed to assemblies and methods for enhancing diversion of fluid, including gas and/or liquid, resulting from operation of a compressor that may result in more efficient capture and/or mitigation of fluid emissions from compressors. For example, in some embodiments, assemblies and methods may use operation of the compressor to divert unintended emissions for capture and/or use in the compressor. For example, in some embodiments, unintended emissions may be diverted to an intake of the compressor, thereby to prevent, reduce, and/or mitigate unintended emissions resulting from operation of the compressor. In some embodiments, the assemblies and methods described herein may render it unnecessary to acquire and/or operate additional equipment, or to implement additional procedures, in order to reduce or eliminate emissions resulting from operation of compressors.

In some embodiments, a gas diversion assembly to enhance diversion of gas passing from a cylinder of a compressor to an interior cavity of the compressor, may include a diversion passage positioned to extend at least partially through a packing assembly providing an at least partial seal between a cylinder of the compressor and an interior cavity of the compressor. The diversion passage may be positioned to provide a flow path for a gas at a first pressure from the cylinder, thereby to divert leakage gas from the cylinder to an intake of the compressor during operation. The gas diversion assembly further may include a valve associated with the diversion passage and positioned to control pressure in the diversion passage, thereby to enhance diversion of the leakage gas to one or more of the intake of the compressor or a collection apparatus.

In some embodiments, a fluid diversion assembly to enhance diversion of fluid passing from a cylinder of a compressor to an interior cavity of the compressor, may include a diversion passage positioned to extend at least partially through a packing assembly providing an at least partial fluid seal between a cylinder of the compressor and an interior cavity of the compressor. The diversion passage may be positioned to provide a flow path for fluid at a first pressure from the cylinder, thereby to divert leakage fluid from the cylinder to one or more of (a) an intake of the compressor during operation or a collection apparatus. The diversion assembly further may include a valve associated with the diversion passage and positioned to control pressure in the diversion passage, thereby to enhance diversion of the leakage fluid to the one or more of the intake of the compressor or the collection apparatus.

In some embodiments, a reciprocating compressor may include a cylinder, a piston rod having a first end connected to a crankshaft, and a piston connected to a second end of the piston rod and being positioned to reciprocate in the cylinder, via rotation of the crankshaft, from a first position to a second position during a suction stroke, and from the second position to the first position during a discharge stroke. The reciprocating compressor further may include a packing assembly through which the piston rod passes between the crankshaft and the cylinder. The packing assembly may provide an at least partial fluid seal between the cylinder and an interior cavity of the compressor. The reciprocating compressor also may include a diversion passage extending between the cylinder and the interior cavity of the reciprocating compressor. The diversion passage may provide a flow path for fluid at a first pressure from the cylinder to one or more of (a) an intake of the reciprocating compressor or (b) a collection apparatus, thereby to divert leakage fluid from the cylinder to the one or more of the intake of the reciprocating compressor during operation or the collection apparatus. The reciprocating compressor further may include a valve associated with the diversion passage and positioned to control pressure in the diversion passage, thereby to enhance diversion of the leakage fluid to the one or more of the intake of the reciprocating compressor of the collection apparatus.

In some embodiments, a packing assembly to enhance diversion of leakage fluid from a cylinder of a reciprocating compressor to one or more of (a) an intake of the reciprocating compressor or (b) a collection apparatus, may include a packing gland having a gland body and at least partially defining: (i) a gland aperture extending axially through the gland body and positioned to receive a piston rod of the reciprocating compressor therethrough, and (ii) a diversion aperture extending axially through the gland body and partially defining a diversion passage positioned to receive fluid flow at a first pressure. The packing assembly further may include a plurality of packing rings axially extending from a cylinder end to a gland end and connected to the packing gland via the gland end. One or more of the plurality of packing rings may have a respective ring body and may at least partially define a respective ring aperture extending axially through the respective ring body. The respective ring aperture of each of the one or more packing rings may at least partially define a packing cylinder passage positioned to received therethrough the piston rod of the reciprocating compressor. The one or more packing rings further may at least partially define a diversion passage positioned to extend between the cylinder and an interior cavity of the reciprocating compressor. The diversion passage may provide a flow path for fluid at the first pressure from the cylinder to the one or more of the intake of the reciprocating compressor or the collection apparatus, via the diversion aperture of the packing gland, thereby to divert leakage fluid from the cylinder to the one or more of the intake of the reciprocating compressor during operation or the collection apparatus.

In some embodiments, a method for enhancing diversion of leakage fluid during operation of a reciprocating compressor, may include diverting leakage fluid, via a diversion passage extending between a cylinder of the reciprocating compressor and one or more of (a) an intake of the reciprocating compressor or (b) a collection apparatus, the leakage fluid having passed at least partially through a packing assembly associated with a cylinder of the reciprocating compressor and a piston rod of the reciprocating compressor. The method further may include controlling pressure in the diversion passage via operation of a valve associated with the diversion passage, thereby to divert the leakage fluid from the cylinder to the one or more of the intake of the reciprocating compressor or the collection apparatus.

Still other aspects and advantages of these exemplary embodiments and other embodiments, are discussed in detail herein. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing information and the following detailed description merely provide illustrative examples of various aspects and embodiments, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claimed aspects and embodiments. Accordingly, these and other objects, along with advantages and features of the present disclosure, will become apparent through reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and may exist in various combinations and permutations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure, and together with the detailed description, serve to explain principles of the embodiments discussed herein. No attempt is made to show structural details of this disclosure in more detail than can be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the embodiments discussed herein and the various ways in which they may be practiced. According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an example compressor and an example fluid diversion assembly, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic partial side section view an example compressor including an example packing assembly, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic partial side section view an example compressor including an example packing assembly, and an example fluid diversion assembly, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic partial side section view an example compressor including an example packing assembly and an example fluid diversion assembly having an example eductor, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side section view of an example packing assembly and an example fluid diversion assembly, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The drawings include like numerals to indicate like parts throughout the several views, the following description is provided as an enabling teaching of exemplary embodiments, and those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that many changes may be made to the embodiments described. It also will be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the embodiments described may be obtained by selecting some of the features of the embodiments without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the embodiments described are possible and may even be desirable in certain circumstances. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the embodiments and not in limitation thereof.

The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As used herein, the term “plurality” refers to two or more items or components. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” and “involving,” whether in the written description or the claims and the like, are open-ended terms, in particular, to mean “including but not limited to,” unless otherwise stated. Thus, the use of such terms is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter, and equivalents thereof, as well as additional items. The transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of,” if present, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, with respect to any claims. Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” and the like in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish claim elements.

The present disclosure generally is directed to assemblies and methods for enhancing diversion of fluid resulting from operation of a compressor that may result in more efficient capture and/or mitigation of fluid emissions from compressors. For example, in some embodiments, the assemblies and methods described herein may use operation of the compressor to divert unintended emissions for capture and/or use in the compressor. For example, in some embodiments, unintended emissions may be diverted to an intake of the compressor, thereby to prevent, reduce, and/or mitigate unintended emissions resulting from operation of the compressor. In some embodiments, the assemblies and methods described herein may render it unnecessary to acquire and/or operate additional equipment, or to implement additional procedures, in order to reduce or eliminate emissions resulting from operation of compressors. For example, in some embodiments, a diversion assembly to enhance diversion of fluid passing from a cylinder of a compressor to an interior cavity of the compressor may leverage relatively higher fluid pressure associated with a discharge stoke of a compressor to divert unintended emissions passing through a packing assembly of the compressor to an intake of the compressor for compression by the compressor.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an example compressor 10 and an example fluid diversion assembly 12, according to embodiments of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the fluid diversion assembly 12 may include a gas diversion assembly configured to divert fluid, including a gas, a liquid, or a gas and a liquid, for example, a gas stream including a gas and a liquid. The example compressor 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a reciprocating compressor, although other types of compressors and pumps are contemplated. In embodiments consistent with FIG. 1, the compressor 10 may include a crankshaft 14, which may be connected to a connecting rod 16. The connecting rod 16 may include a proximal end 18 connected to the crankshaft 14 and a remote end 20 connected to a crosshead 22. The crosshead 22 may be connected to a piston rod 24. The piston rod 24 may include a proximal end 26 connected to the crosshead 22 and a distal end 28 connected to a piston 30, which reciprocates relative to (e.g., within) a cylinder 32 of the compressor 10.

In at least some embodiments, as the crankshaft 14 rotates, driven by a prime mover, such as an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, and/or other types of prime movers, a crankpin 33 of the crankshaft 14 rotates, thereby driving the connecting rod 16 and causing the crosshead 22 to reciprocate linearly. The piston rod 24, attached to the crosshead 22, also reciprocates linearly, thereby causing the piston 30 to reciprocate linearly relative to the cylinder 32 (e.g., to the left and right, as shown in FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the piston rod 24 passes through a packing assembly 34 positioned and configured to provide a seal between the cylinder 32 in which the piston 30 reciprocates and an interior of a housing 36 at least partially containing the packing assembly 34. During operation, as the piston 30 reciprocates in the cylinder 32, valves operate in a coordinated manner to allow fluid (e.g., in gaseous form and/or liquid form) being compressed by the compressor 10 to be drawn into the cylinder 32 via suction through a compressor intake 38 as the piston 30 moves in a first direction (e.g., during a suction stroke or intake stroke), for example, as shown via arrow A, and to be compressed and discharged via a compressor discharge 40 as the piston 30 moves in the opposite direction (e.g., during a compression stroke or discharge stroke), for example, as shown via arrow B. During the suction stroke or intake stroke, the pressure in the cylinder 32 decreases and draws fluid into the cylinder 32 via the compressor intake 38, and during the compression stroke or discharge stroke, the pressure in the cylinder 32 increases.

Applicant has recognized that emissions of gaseous fluid and/or liquid fluid may undesirably pass into the packing assembly of a compressor and be released to the environment as a result of operation of the compressor. For example, as a result of operation of the compressor to compress, for example, natural gas or other gaseous fluids, subsequent to ceasing operation of the compressor, gaseous fluid remaining in the cylinder may bleed past packing rings of the packing assembly and be released into the environment exterior to the compressor. Applicant has recognized that such bleeding past the packing rings may result from the sealing components of the packing rings becoming unenergized (or relaxed), and thus, relatively less effective in preventing passage of the gaseous fluid from the cylinder therethrough, for example, as operation the compressor slows and ceases.

FIG. 2 is a schematic partial side section view an example compressor 10 including an example packing assembly 34, according to embodiments of the disclosure. As noted above, during operation of the compressor 10, a small amount of fluid (e.g., in gaseous and/or liquid form) may leak from the cylinder 32 into the packing assembly 34. For example, the packing assembly 34 may include a packing gland 42 and a plurality of packing rings 44. The leakage fluid (e.g., the leaked fluid, which may include one or more gases, one or more liquids, or one or more gases and one or more liquids) may leak into and among the packing rings 44. In some embodiments, to mitigate the effects of such leakage fluid, the compressor 10 may include one or more packing vent passages 46 in fluid communication with the packing assembly 34, for example, as shown in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the packing vent passage(s) 46 may provide a flow passage between the packing assembly 46 (e.g., a location between opposite ends of the packing assembly 46) and an interior of the housing 36 of the compressor 10. A vent port 50 may be provided at respective remote ends 52 of the packing vent passage(s) 46 to permit removal of the fluid leakage from the packing vent passage(s) 46 and/or the interior of the housing 36, for example, in order to prevent build-up of the leakage fluid in the housing 36.

FIG. 3 is a schematic partial side section view an example compressor 10 including an example fluid diversion assembly 12 and an example packing assembly 34, according to embodiments of the disclosure. In at least some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the fluid diversion assembly 12 may serve to enhance diversion of fluid passing from the cylinder 32 of the compressor 10 to an interior cavity 54 of the compressor 10, for example, of the housing 36 of the compressor 10. In some embodiments, for example, as shown, the fluid diversion assembly 12 may include a diversion passage 56 positioned to extend at least partially (e.g., fully) through the packing assembly 34, which may provide an at least partial fluid seal between the cylinder 32 of the compressor 10 and the interior cavity 54 of the compressor 10. The diversion passage 56 may be positioned to provide a flow path for fluid at a first pressure from the cylinder 32, thereby to divert leakage fluid from the cylinder 32 to the compressor intake 38 of the compressor 10 during operation and/or to a collection apparatus 57, such as, for example, a receptacle and/or another collection apparatus), for example, as shown via arrows C. In some embodiments, the fluid diversion assembly 12 further may include a valve 58 associated with the diversion passage 56 and positioned to control pressure in the diversion passage 56, thereby to enhance diversion of the leakage fluid to the compressor intake 38 of the compressor 10. In some embodiments, the leakage fluid may be diverted for collection in the collection apparatus 57, either as an alternative to the compressor intake 38 or in addition to the compressor intake 38, for example, via a receptacle or another collection apparatus and/or collection procedure. In some embodiments, the diversion assembly 12 may include one or more flow control devices, such as one or more valves, and/or one or more associated conduits to selectively provide flow to the compressor intake 38, the collection apparatus 57, or both the compressor intake 38 and the collection apparatus 57.

For example, in some embodiments, the valve 58 may be positioned and/or configured to open during a discharge stroke or compression stroke of the compressor 10 and close during a suction stroke of the compressor 10. For example, during the discharge stroke or compression stroke, for example, as the piston 30 moves toward the crankshaft 14, the piston 30 increases pressure in the cylinder 32 in the space 60 between the piston 30 and the packing assembly 34. During this time period, during which the pressure has increased in the space 60 in the cylinder 30, the valve 58 may be opened (and/or remain open), thereby to permit the flow of a fluid (e.g., gaseous fluid and/or liquid fluid) at a first pressure into and through the diversion passage 56. Conversely, during the suction stroke or intake stroke, for example, as the piston 30 moves away from the crankshaft 14 toward a space 62 (FIG. 1) in the cylinder 32 opposite the space 60 relative to the piston 30, the piston 30 decreases pressure in the cylinder 32 in the space 60 in the cylinder 32. During the time period during which the pressure has decreased in the space 60 in the cylinder 30, the valve 58 may be closed (and/or remain closed), thereby to prevent suction of fluid out of the diversion passage 56 and back into the space 60 of the cylinder 32. In some embodiments, the valve 58 may include a one-way valve, a pressure-differential-actuated valve, a check valve, and/or an electronically actuated valve. Other types of valves are contemplated. In some embodiments, the valve 58 may be associated with the packing assembly 34 (e.g., connected to the packing assembly 34), for example, on an end of the packing assembly 34 adjacent the cylinder 32. Other locations for the valve 58 are contemplated.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the diversion passage 56 may be configured to be connected to the packing vent passage 46, for example, via a conduit connector 64 (e.g., a conduit joint), for example, such that fluid (e.g., at the first pressure) flowing through the diversion passage 56 to the conduit connector 64 is merged with fluid in the packing vent passage 46, thereby resulting in fluid downstream of the conduit connector 64 flowing together in a return passage 66. For example, the leakage fluid in the packing vent passage 46 may be at a second pressure lower than the first pressure. As shown, in at least some embodiments, the return passage 66 may be in fluid communication with the compressor intake 38, and thus, the merged fluid flowing in the return passage 66 may be supplied to the compressor intake 38 for compression via compressor 10. According to some embodiments, due at least in part to the fluid in the diversion passage 56 being at a first pressure (e.g., a relatively greater pressure than fluid in the packing vent passage 46) greater than the pressure of the fluid in the packing vent passage 46, the fluid from the diversion passage 56 may cause the fluid from the packing vent passage 46 (e.g., the leakage fluid) to be conveyed under pressure (in relative terms) to the compressor intake 38, thereby mitigating or preventing the emission of the fluid in the packing vent passage 46 into the surrounding environment, for example, without the need to use additional equipment (e.g., a re-compressor and/or other equipment) and/or additional procedures to mitigate or capture the emissions. In some embodiments, the return passage 66 may divert or supply the merged fluid to, for example, a collection apparatus 57, such as, for example, one or more receptacles and/or another collection apparatus and/or according to another collection procedure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic partial side section view an example compressor 10 including an example fluid diversion assembly 12 having an example eductor 68, according to embodiments of the disclosure. For example, in some embodiments, the fluid diversion assembly 12 may further include an eductor 68 associated with the diversion passage 56, thereby to draw-in the leakage fluid from the packing vent passage 46, thereby to provide a flow path from an interior of the packing assembly 34 to the interior cavity 54 of the compressor 10. In some embodiments, the eductor 68 may include a first inlet connected to the diversion passage and positioned to receive a first fluid flowing through the diversion passage 56 at a relatively higher pressure as compared a second fluid in the packing vent passage 46. For example, during the discharge stroke or compression stroke of the piston 30, the pressure in the space 60 of the cylinder 32 is increased, and the first fluid may be supplied to the first inlet of the eductor 68 via opening of the valve 58. The eductor 68 further may include a nozzle (e.g., having a decreasing cross-sectional area in the direction of flow) through which the first fluid supplied via the first inlet passes. After flowing through the nozzle, the first fluid may pass through a discharge outlet having a relatively greater cross-sectional area than the nozzle. In some embodiments, the first inlet, the nozzle, and the discharge outlet may each include longitudinal axes, and one or more of the longitudinal axes may be substantially aligned and/or substantially parallel to one another. In some embodiments, the eductor 68 also may include a second inlet connected to the packing vent line 46 in which the second fluid (e.g., the leakage fluid) is present. In some embodiments, the second inlet may have a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axis of the second inlet may be transverse and/or perpendicular with respect to one or more of the longitudinal axes of the first inlet, the nozzle, and or discharge outlet. In some embodiments, as the first fluid flows through the first inlet and the nozzle, the eductor 68 may create suction at the second inlet, thereby to draw the second fluid in the packing vent line 46 into the eductor 68 downstream of the nozzle, thereby resulting in the first fluid and the second fluid merging in the eductor 68 prior to passing through the discharge outlet of the eductor 68. In some embodiments, this may result in (a) drawing the second fluid out of the packing vent passage 46, and (b) increasing the pressure of the second fluid, so that the second fluid may be combined with the flow of the first fluid and supplied to the compressor intake 38 for compression by the compressor 10, and/or may be supplied to a collection apparatus 57, such as, for example, one or more receptacles and/or another collection apparatus and/or according to another collection procedure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side section view of an example packing assembly 34 and an example fluid diversion assembly 12, according to embodiments of the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the packing assembly 34 may include a packing gland 42 having a gland body 70. The packing gland 42 may at least partially define a gland aperture 72 extending axially through the gland body 70 and positioned to receive a piston rod 24 of the compressor 10 (e.g., a reciprocating compressor) therethrough. The packing gland 42 further may at least partially define a diversion aperture 74 extending axially through the gland body 70 and partially defining a diversion passage 56 positioned to receive fluid flow at a first pressure. As shown in FIG. 5, the packing assembly 34 further may include a plurality of packing rings 44 axially extending from a cylinder end 76 to a gland end 78 and connected to the packing gland 42 via, for example, the gland end 78. In some embodiments, one or more of the plurality of packing rings 44 may have a respective ring body 80 and may at least partially define a respective ring aperture 82 extending axially through the respective ring body 80. The respective ring aperture 82 of each of the one or more packing rings 44 may at least partially define a packing cylinder passage 84 positioned to received therethrough the piston rod 24 of the compressor 10. One or more of the packing rings 44 may include an annular seal configured and/or positioned to provide an at least partial fluid seal between the piston rod 24 and the interior cavity 54 of the housing 36 of the compressor 10. One or more of the packing rings 44 further may at least partially define a diversion passage 56 positioned to extend between the cylinder 32 and an interior cavity 54 of the compressor 10. The diversion passage 56 may be configured and/or positioned to provide a flow path for fluid at a first pressure from the cylinder 32 to the compressor intake 38 of the compressor 10 via the diversion aperture 74 of the packing gland 42, thereby to divert leakage fluid from the cylinder 32 to the compressor intake 38 of the compressor 10 during operation. As described herein, the leakage fluid may be diverted for collection, for example, via a receptacle and/or another collection apparatus.

In some embodiments, the packing assembly 34 further may include a valve 58 associated with the diversion passage 56 and positioned to control pressure in the diversion passage 56, thereby to enhance diversion of the leakage fluid to the compressor intake 38 of the compressor 10. As described herein, the valve 58 may include one or more of a check-valve, a pressure-differential-actuated valve, a check-valve, or an electronically actuated valve.

As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments of the packing assembly 34, the packing gland 42 further may at least partially define a vent aperture 86 extending axially through the gland body 70. In some embodiments, the one or more packing rings 44 further may at least partially define a packing vent passage 88 extending from (a) the vent aperture 86 of the gland body 70 to (b) a position between the cylinder end 76 and the gland end 78 of the plurality of packing rings 44. In some embodiments, the vent aperture 86 and the packing vent passage 88 may be positioned to receive the leakage fluid from the cylinder 32 of the compressor 10.

In some embodiments, a method for enhancing diversion of leakage fluid during operation of a reciprocating compressor 10 may include providing an at least partial fluid seal (e.g., packing assembly 34) between a cylinder 32 of the reciprocating compressor 10 and an interior cavity 54 of the reciprocating compressor 10, the leakage fluid passing at least partially through the at least partial fluid seal 34 (see, e.g., FIGS. 1, 3, and 4). The method further may include providing a diversion passage 56 through the at least partial fluid seal 34, for example, as described herein. In some embodiments, the diversion passage 56 may extend between the cylinder 32 and an intake 38 of the reciprocating compressor 10, for example, from the cylinder 32 to the intake 38 and/or a collection apparatus 57. The method also may include controlling pressure in the diversion passage 56 via operation of a valve 58 associated with the diversion passage 56, thereby to divert the leakage fluid from the cylinder 32 to the intake 38 of the reciprocating compressor 10 and/or to the collection apparatus 57, for example, as described herein and shown via arrows C in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4.

In some embodiments, the reciprocating compressor 10 may include a piston 30 positioned in the cylinder 32 to reciprocate from a first position to a second position during a suction stroke (e.g., as schematically shown via arrow A in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4) and from the second position to the first position during a discharge stroke (e.g., as schematically shown via arrow B in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4), for example, as described herein. The controlling of the pressure in the diversion passage 56 may include opening the valve 58 during the discharge stroke and closing the valve during the suction stroke. In some embodiments, the method further may include increasing pressure in a packing vent passage 46 extending from the at least partial fluid seal 34 to a vent port 50 positioned to remove the leakage fluid from the at least partial fluid seal 34, for example, as described herein. In some embodiments, the increasing of the pressure in the packing vent passage 46 may include passing fluid from the diversion passage 56 through an eductor 68 (see, e.g., FIG. 4) in fluid communication with the packing vent passage 46, for example, as described herein.

In some embodiments, a method for enhancing diversion of leakage fluid during operation of a reciprocating compressor 10 may include diverting leakage fluid, via a diversion passage 56 extending between a cylinder 32 of the reciprocating compressor 10 and one or more of (a) an intake 38 of the reciprocating compressor 10 or (b) a collection apparatus 57, for example, as described herein (see, e.g., arrows C in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4). The leakage fluid may result from passage of the leakage fluid at least partially through a packing assembly 34 associated with the cylinder 32 of the reciprocating compressor 10 and a piston rod 24 of the reciprocating compressor 10. The method further may include controlling pressure in the diversion passage 56 via operation of a valve 58 associated with the diversion passage 56, thereby to divert the leakage fluid from the cylinder 32 to the one or more of the intake 38 of the reciprocating compressor 10 or the collection apparatus 57, for example, as described herein. In some embodiments, the reciprocating compressor may include a piston 30 positioned in the cylinder 32 to reciprocate from a first position to a second position during a suction stroke (e.g., as schematically shown via arrow A in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4) and from the second position to the first position during a discharge stroke (e.g., as schematically shown via arrow B in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4) In some embodiments of the method, the controlling of the pressure in the diversion passage 56 may include opening the valve 58 during the discharge stroke and closing the valve 58 during the suction stroke. In some embodiments, the method further may include increasing pressure in a packing vent passage 46 extending from an interior of the packing assembly 34 to the diversion passage 56, for example, as described herein. In some embodiments, the increasing of the pressure in the packing vent passage 46 may include passing fluid from the diversion passage 56 through an eductor 68 (see, e.g., FIG. 4) in fluid communication with the packing vent passage 46, for example, as described herein.

Having now described some illustrative embodiments of the disclosure, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing is merely illustrative and not limiting, having been presented by way of example only. Numerous modifications and other embodiments are within the scope of one of ordinary skill in the art and are contemplated as falling within the scope of the disclosure. In particular, although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the parameters and configurations described herein are exemplary and that actual parameters and/or configurations will depend on the specific application in which the systems, methods, and/or aspects or techniques of the disclosure are used. Those skilled in the art should also recognize or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, equivalents to the specific embodiments of the disclosure. It is, therefore, to be understood that the embodiments described herein are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of any appended claims and equivalents thereto, the disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described.

Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure shall be construed to cover various modifications, combinations, additions, alterations, etc., above and to the above-described embodiments, which shall be considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, various features and characteristics as discussed herein may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments, and numerous variations, modifications, and additions further may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.