A compressor fuel gas conditioner for a natural gas well having a
compressor which utilizes natural gas from the well as a fuel. The
conditioner includes a vortex tube having an inlet to receive compressed
natural gas from the compressor, a warm gas outlet for gas which has been
heated by circular motion in the vortex tube, and a cool gas outlet for
cool gas exiting the vortex tube after passing through the tube wherein
the warm gas is returned to an inlet side of the compressor. A salt dryer
includes a dryer inlet to receive the cool gas exiting the cool gas
outlet of the vortex tube and a dryer outlet to deliver gas from the salt
dryer as fuel gas to the compressor.