Patent ID: 8613201

Claim:
A system for reducing a pressure of compressed natural gas with varying flow conditions at a steady rate, comprising: a first regulator configured to receive compressed natural gas at a varying flow rate and a pressure of less than about 4,000 PSIG and to reduce the pressure of the natural gas while regulating the varying flow rate of the natural gas; a vortex regulator comprising a vortex tube and having an inlet configured to receive the natural gas from the first regulator at a varying flow rate and at least one outlet configured to release the natural gas as a single stream at a substantially reduced pressure and temperature; a first heat exchange device configured to receive the single stream of natural gas from the vortex regulator and to increase the temperature of the natural gas; a second regulator configured to receive the natural gas from the first heat exchange device and to further reduce the pressure of the natural gas; a second heat exchange device configured to receive the natural gas from the second regulator and to increase the temperature of the natural gas; and a static pressure regulator configured maintain a constant pressure to control an outlet pressure of the natural gas out of the second regulator such that the system generates a depressurized gas flow at a constant flow rate from the natural gas at the varying flow rate to enable direct delivery of the natural gas to an end-user; and a bypass line configured to direct the natural gas directly before the first regulator to the second regulator circumventing the vortex regulator.