US 12,442,725 B2
Automated vacuum sampling system and methods related thereto
Ahmad Mohammad Al-Ahdal, Dhahran (SA); Hadi A. Al-Shehri, Dhahran (SA); Majed I. Al-Sulaiman, Dhahran (SA); Abdultif A. Alzuraiq, Dhahran (SA); and Obaid Halban Al-Otaibi, Dhahran (SA)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Apr. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/296,274.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/477,498, filed on Dec. 28, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0219270 A1, Jul. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. G01N 1/14 (2006.01); G01N 1/22 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 1/14 (2013.01) [G01N 1/2247 (2013.01); G01N 2001/1418 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated vacuum sampling system comprising:
a compressor in fluid communication with an upstream process line through an upstream tubing line that connects the upstream processing line to the compressor;
downstream of the compressor, an inlet control valve;
downstream of the inlet control valve, a sampling cylinder that includes an inlet quick-fitting valve and an outlet quick-fitting valve at either end of the cylinder, wherein an inlet quick-fitting valve is in fluid communication with the inlet control valve and the outlet quick-fitting valve is in fluid communication with an outlet control valve;
a downstream tubing line fluidly connects the outlet control valve to a downstream process line;
a control system communicably coupled to and programmed to operate the compressor, the inlet control valve, and the outlet control valve;
wherein, once the sampling cylinder is in place, the control system first opens the inlet control valve, then opens the outlet control valve, then starts the compressor, then closes the outlet control valve, and then stops the compressor and closes the inlet control valve.