Patent ID: 7950214

Claim:
Auxiliary apparatus for augmenting the pressure head of a gas flowing in a pipeline that may be provided by at least one gas turbine running a first pressure augmenting means, said auxiliary apparatus comprising: a) a vapor turbine operatively connected to a second pressure augmenting means; b) first connection means for providing fluid communication between said pipeline and said second pressure augmenting means; c) second connection means for providing fluid communication between said first pressure augmenting means and said second pressure augmenting means; d) heating means for vaporizing a working fluid of said vapor turbine; e) bypass means for said pipeline having a bypass conduit and shut-off valve system for connecting said first pressure augmenting means to a portion of said pipeline downstream of said first pressure augmenting means via a bypass conduit; and f) a disengageable coupling coupled to electricity generating means operated by said vapor turbine and to said second pressure augmenting means, wherein said disengageable coupling selectively disengages said second pressure augmenting means from said electricity generating means, and further including means for operating said disengageable coupling so that said second pressure augmenting means is disengaged when gas flow in the pipeline is low and for permitting the gas to flow via said bypass conduit of said bypass means using said shut off valve system.