Device for thermal compression of a gaseous fluid

A compression device for compressing a gaseous fluid, comprising:

• an inlet for the gaseous fluid to be compressed and an outlet for the gaseous fluid in compressed form,
• a work enclosure containing the gaseous fluid,
• a first chamber, thermally coupled with a heat source adapted to provide heat to the gaseous fluid,
• a second chamber, thermally coupled with a cold source in order to transfer heat from the gaseous fluid to the cold source,
• a piston mounted so as to be movable along an axial direction within a cylindrical sleeve and separating the first chamber and second chamber, the piston being movable by a piston rod connected to the piston, in an axial reciprocating motion,
• a regenerative heat exchanger placing the first and second chambers in fluid communication,
• an auxiliary chamber, and
• a self-driving device acting on one end of the piston rod and comprising:
• a connecting rod coupled to the piston rod, a flywheel connected to the connecting rod, and a resilient double-acting return means coupled to the rod and having a neutral point corresponding to a position at or near a mid-stroke of the piston, wherein the connecting rod, flywheel, and resilient double-acting return means are positioned in the auxiliary chamber.