Patent ID: 9625097
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: F17C,Y10T

Claim:
1. A system for reducing a pressure of a gas, comprising: a first regulator valve; at least one vortex regulator connected to the first regulator valve, the at least one vortex regulator comprising a vortex tube and having at least one inlet to receive natural gas and at least one outlet for releasing the natural gas at a substantially decreased pressure and temperature; a first heat exchange device configured to receive the natural gas from the at least one vortex regulator and to increase the temperature of the natural gas; a second regulator valve, the second regulator valve comprising a pressure-reducing regulator in fluid communication with the first heat exchange device and configured for further reducing the pressure of the natural gas and communication with the natural gas; a second heat exchange device configured to receive the natural gas from the second regulator valve and to increase the temperature of the natural gas; and a bypass line connected upstream of the at least one vortex regulator and downstream of the at least one vortex regulator to allow natural gas to the at least one vortex regulator.