A methane retention system is provided for reducing the amount of natural gas that is vented into the atmosphere during depressurization and maintenance of a natural gas compressor unit. Also provided are a method of depressurizing a natural gas compressor unit and a natural gas system, both of which include the methane retention system.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to reciprocating compressors. In one example embodiment, a reciprocating compressor is disclosed including a cylinder, a piston, at least one suction valve, at least one pressure valve, at least one connection chamber, a sequence valve, a sequence valve control unit, and an unloader. The piston moves back and forth in the cylinder in order to form a compression chamber in the cylinder. The at least one suction valve and the at least one pressure valve are provided on the compression chamber. The at least one connection chamber having a connection chamber volume, which is connected to the compression chamber via at least one overflow opening. The sequence valve opens and closes the at least one overflow opening, and the sequence valve control unit controls the sequence valve. The unloader is actuated by an electrically controllable actuator.

An air compressor system includes a motor operably connected to an air compressor, a separator tank fluidly connected to the air compressor by a supply line, a compressed air line coupled to the separator tank, a service valve connected to the compressed air line and positioned downstream of the separator tank, and a controller in operable communication with the motor, wherein in response to the controller detecting the motor operating at an idle speed, the controller reduces the motor speed to a low idle speed and reduces pressure in the separator tank, the low idle speed being slower than the idle speed.

A hydraulic pump includes a work port, a high-flow piston, multiple high-pressure pistons, and an unloading valve. The work port couples to a fluid supply line of a hydraulic tool. The high-flow piston supplies fluid along a first flow path to the work port. The high-pressure pistons supply fluid along a second flow path to the work port. The unloading valve is fluidly coupled to the first flow path and the second flow path, and actuatable between an open state and a closed state. The unloading valve is configured to (i) permit fluid to flow from the high-flow piston to the work port in the open state, (ii) inhibit fluid from flowing from the high-flow piston to the work port in the closed state, and (iii) actuate from the open state to the closed state when a pressure of the fluid in the second flow path exceeds a threshold pressure.

A method for evacuating a process space by initially evacuating the process space to a pressure limit value using two compressors operated in parallel, and on reaching or undershooting the pressure limit value, the process space is subsequently evacuated using the two compressors operated in series.

An air system and method includes an air compressor, a temperature sensors, a valve, and a controller. The air compressor is configured to receive filtered air. The temperature sensor is positioned at or near an outlet of the air compressor and configured to sense a temperature at or near the outlet of the air compressor. The valve is operatively connected to an outlet of the air compressor and external to the air compressor. The controller is configured to monitor the sensed temperature at the outlet of the air compressor and control the valve to permit air to flow from the outlet of the air compressor through the valve to unload the air compressor if the sensed temperature exceeds a threshold temperature.

A variable displacement swash plate compressor includes a displacement control valve that is configured to change crank chamber pressure, and an opening adjusting valve that adjusts an amount of refrigerant sucked into a suction chamber. The opening adjusting valve includes a valve case, a first valve element, a second valve element, and an urging spring. The valve case has a valve seat on which the second valve element is seated. The valve seat regulates movement of the second valve element toward the first valve element. A sealing member is provided between an inner peripheral surface of the valve case that defines a second valve chamber and an outer peripheral surface of the second valve element to prevent refrigerant in the second valve chamber so that leakage between a bleed passage and a control passage is prevented.

A methane retention system is provided for reducing the amount of natural gas that is vented into the atmosphere during depressurization and maintenance of a natural gas compressor unit. Also provided are a method of depressurizing a natural gas compressor unit and a natural gas system, both of which include the methane retention system.

A method for operating a plurality of geographically distributed compressors, wherein the outputs of the geographically distributed compressors are coupled to a compressed air distribution system within an industrial automation environment, is provided. The method includes receiving performance data from the plurality of compressors, and receiving current environment data from a plurality of sensors within the industrial automation environment, including at least some sensors within the compressed air distribution system. The method also includes assigning a guide vane weight to each compressor based at least in part on a capacity of each compressor, identifying a target system air pressure, and processing the performance data, current environment data, guide vane weights, and target system air pressure to determine control settings for each of the plurality of compressors.

A hydraulic pressure intensifier (1) is described comprising a housing (2) having a low pressure chamber (3) and a high pressure chamber (4), force transmitting means (5) between the low pressure chamber (3) and the high pressure chamber (4), and a switching valve (8) connecting the low pressure chamber (3) to a first pressure or to a second pressure different from the first pressure. It is intended to have a large volume on the high pressure side of the pressure intensifier. To this end the switching valve (8) is controlled by a pilot valve 18.