West Virginia Patent of the Month – April 2022

Mustang Sampling, LLC are experts and innovators in gas sampling technologies. The accurate and reliable sampling of gasses, like natural gas, is essential in numerous applications. Natural gas is used for power generation in residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Sampling is used to ensure the correct amount of gas is being delivered, the correct bill is being charged, and the functionality of the pipeline that is delivering it.

Because of the value in properly sampling gas, Mustang Sampling is constantly striving to improve or create new methods for improved accuracy, reliability, and ease of use. This work has led to the recent development of their gas sample and conditioning system.

This system utilizes multiple input lines to better differentiate between variance in gas characteristics. Natural gas from different sources can have different characteristics, showing different results in any chromatograph and resulting in different measurements. By introducing multiple gas sample input lines allows sampling from more than one pipeline take-off probe. If any of these probes fail, sampling can continue. In addition, one input line is always set to provide natural gas to the system so that if the system experiences any pressure drops, it may be used to balance it out.

Their system automates the switching between inputs to reduce the need for manual oversight and increase the reliability of the system. If the system was not automated, any failure or discrepancy would first have to be noticed or alerted to an operator who would then have to purposefully or even manually switch the input line. The automation of this process ensures any response is much more rapid. This automation is achieved using pressure switches which respond to a sudden drop or increase in pressure.

Furthermore, their design solves the problem of hydrocarbon liquid condensation from Joule-Thomson cooling in natural gas analysis systems. High pressure natural gas samples are transported at a temperature well above the expected hydrocarbon dew point, which is maintained throughout the pressure reduction process, delivering a representative sample to the analyzers.

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

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