Energy recovery-recycling turbine integrated with a capillary tube gas compressor
AssigneeCarnot Compression Inc.
InventorsMark A. Cherry, Robert A. Alderman, Danil Hans Shillinger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A centrifugal gas compressor with rotating hollow housing and an independently rotating, turbine compresses gas bubbles in capillary tubes and recovers energy from the liquid drain (sometimes a liquid recycler). The housing rotatably retains an internal spool having the turbine. Gas-liquid emulsion fed to the capillaries generates compressed gas-liquid emulsion at a radially distal annular region in an annular lake within the spool. Compressed gas leaves the lake and is ported away. A turbine blade edge in spilt over liquid drives the turbine, converting angular velocity/momentum into shaft torque as recovered energy. Blade captured liquid is recycled to capillary inputs.
Claims10
An energy recovery system for a gas compressor having an input axle rotated by a prime mover, comprising:
- the gas compressor including a substantially hollow cylindrical housing rotatably driven by the prime mover, the rotating hollow cylindrical housing having an inboard surface distal to an axis of rotation and proximate to an annular chamber formed within the hollow cylindrical housing;
- a turbine rotatably positioned inside the annular chamber and rotating independent of the rotating hollow cylindrical housing, the turbine having an output axle;
- the annular chamber defining an annular compressed gas chamber and containing an annular lake of liquid and compressed gas formed by the gas compressor;
- the turbine being configured to capture the liquid from the annular lake to return the liquid to an inlet of the gas compressor and to convert one or both of an angular velocity and an angular momentum of the liquid in the annular lake into turbine shaft torque applied to the output axle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.