Natural gas filter

Claim 2

The gas filter system comprising: an elongated, cylindrical, horizontally disposed shell, quick-disconnect closure means closing the ends of the shell, a pair of spaced gas inlets in the cylindrical shell, one disposed adjacent each end of the shell, a main gas outlet in the cylindrical shell located between the inlets, and a pair of filter assemblies, one disposed between the main gas outlet and each of the inlets, each filter assembly including a pressure bulkhead haviNg apertures and replaceable tubular filter elements mounted on the bulkhead at said apertures in flow communication therewith, the replaceable filter elements being located upstream of the bulkhead and adjacent the respective closure means.

Claim 3

The gas filter system of claim 1 wherein: the filter elements are tubular and the gas flows from the outside to the inside of each of the elements and then through the bulkhead.

Claim 4

The gas filter system of claim 1 wherein each filter assembly comprises: a plurality of perforated tubes extending upstream from the bulkhead, the interior of each tube being in fluid communication with the downstream side of the bulkhead, and a tubular filter element disposed around each perforated tube such that gas can pass into the interior of the tube only after having passed through the filter element.

Claim 5

The gas filter system comprising: first and second gas filter means having separate gas inlets and a common main gas outlet having approximately twice the flow capacity as each of the inlets, the first and second gas filter means being formed as a common elongated shell with the gas inlets adjacent the ends of the shell and the common gas outlet near the center of the shell, each gas filter means including a pressure bulkhead disposed in the shell between the respective gas inlet and the main gas outlet, a plurality of tubular replaceable filter elements extending upstream from the bulkhead, the interior of each filter element being in fluid communication with the downstream side of the pressure bulkhead such that gas flows through the filter element from the outside to the inside, manifold means including first and second valve means for selectively controlling the flow of gas from a source through the inlets of the first and second filter means, respectively, first and second blowdown outlets for the first and second gas filter means, respectively, for venting gas and particulate matter when the respective first and second valve means is closed and gas is passed in the forward direction through the other gas filter means and then in the reverse direction through the respective gas filter means, each of the blowdown outlets having a flow capacity substantially less than the flow capacity of each of the gas inlets, and third and fourth valve means for selectively controlling the flow of gas through the first and second blowdown outlets, respectively.

Claim 6

The gas filter system comprising: first and second gas filter means having separate gas inlets and a common main gas outlet having approximately twice the flow capacity as each of the inlets, the first and second gas filter means being formed as a common elongated shell with the gas inlets adjacent the ends of the shell and the common gas outlet near the center of the shell, each gas filter means including a pressure bulkhead disposed in the shell between the respective gas inlet and the main gas outlet, a plurality of tubular replaceable filter elements extending upstream from the bulkhead, the interior of each filter element being in fluid communication with the downstream side of the pressure bulkhead such that gas flows through the filter element from the outside to the inside, manifold means including first and second valve means for selectively controlling the flow of gas from a source through the inlets of the first and second filter means, respectively, first and second blowdown outlets for the first and second gas filter means, respectively, for venting gas and particulate matter when the respective first and second valve means is closed and gas is passed in the forward direction through the other gas filter means and then in the reverse direction through the respective gas filter means, each of the blowdown outlets having a flow capacity substantially less than the flow capacity of each of the gas inlets, and third and fourth valve means for selectively controlling the flow of gas through the first and second blowdown outlets, respectively.

Claim 7

The gas filter system defined in claim 4 further characterized by: a removable end closure over each end of the shell to permit replacement of the filter elements when removed.

Claim 8

A gas filter system comprising: an elongated generally tubular shell having closed ends, first and second gas inlets in the shell, one at each end of the shell, means for directing a gas stream to the first and second gas inlets, a main gas outlet in the shell located between the inlets, first and second filter assemblies disposed within the shell between the main gas outlet and the first and second gas inlets, respectively, each filter assembly including a pressure bulkhead means having apertures and supporting a plurality of tubular porous filter elements in flow communication with the apertures for separating particulate material from the gas as the gas passes from the respective gas inlet to the main gas outlet, first and second blowdown gas outlets adjacent each inlet for removing gas and particulate material flushed from the respective filter assembly by gas passed in through the gas inlet at the other end of the shell, through the other filter assembly in the forward direction, and then through the respective filter assembly in the reverse direction, first and second valve means for selectively controlling the flow of gas through the first and second gas inlets, respectively, and third and fourth valve means for selectively controlling the flow of gas through the first and second blowdown gas outlets.

Claim 9

A gas filter system comprising: an elongated generally tubular shell having closed ends, first and second gas inlets in the shell, one at each end of the shell, means for directing a gas stream to the first and second gas inlets, a main gas outlet in the shell located between the inlets, first and second filter assemblies disposed within the shell between the main gas outlet and the first and second gas inlets, respectively, each filter assembly including a pressure bulkhead means having apertures and supporting a plurality of tubular porous filter elements in flow communication with the apertures for separating particulate material from the gas as the gas passes from the respective gas inlet to the main gas outlet, first and second blowdown gas outlets adjacent each inlet for removing gas and particulate material flushed from the respective filter assembly by gas passed in through the gas inlet at the other end of the shell, through the other filter assembly in the forward direction, and then through the respective filter assembly in the reverse direction, first and second valve means for selectively controlling the flow of gas through the first and second gas inlets, respectively, and third and fourth valve means for selectively controlling the flow of gas through the first and second blowdown gas outlets.