A method for compressing gas comprising:
- providing an apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of elliptically-shaped combustion chambers sequentially numbered i in a series 1 . . . n, where 1≤i≤n, n being an integer, each having a first focus and a second focus, the plurality of elliptically-shaped chambers including:
- a first chamber numbered 1 having a first outlet adjacent the second focus of the first chamber, and a first inlet;
- and
- a last chamber numbered n having an nth inlet adjacent the first focus of the last chamber, and an nth outlet adjacent the second focus of the last chamber;
- a low pressure plenum;
- and
- a high pressure plenum;
- wherein the outlet of any lower-numbered chamber in the series 1 . . . n is in communication with the inlet of the next-highest-numbered chamber in the series 1 . . . n, the first inlet is in communication with the low pressure plenum, and the nth outlet is in communication with the high pressure plenum, to define a flow pathway that extends from the low pressure plenum to the high pressure plenum;
- continually introducing gas at a first pressure from the low pressure plenum into the first chamber;
- injecting fuel into the gas in an alternating and periodic manner at the foci of the first chamber, and causing the injected fuel to be ignited, thereby producing alternating pulses of compression and zones of rarefaction within the gas in the first chamber,
- such that, wherever the outlet of a lower-numbered chamber in the series 1 . . . n communicates with the inlet of the next-highest-numbered chamber in the series 1 . . . n, each periodic pulse of compression at the second focus of the lower-numbered chamber reaches a maximized pressure that drives portions of the gas into the next-highest-numbered chamber, and
- such that portions of the gas are continually advanced along the flow pathway from the first chamber to the last chamber;
- injecting fuel into the gas in an alternating and periodic manner at the foci of the last chamber, and causing the injected fuel to be ignited, on a schedule synchronized with ignition in the first chamber, thereby producing alternating pulses of compression and zones of rarefaction within the gas in the last chamber,
- such that each periodic pulse of compression at the second focus of the last chamber reaches a maximized pressure that drives portions of the gas into the high pressure plenum, and
- such that portions of the gas are continually advanced along the flow pathway from the last chamber to the high pressure plenum;
- wherein the gas continually travels along the flow pathway from the low pressure plenum to the high pressure plenum;
- and
- wherein the gas is continually raised from a first pressure in the low pressure plenum to a second pressure in the high pressure plenum, the second pressure being higher than the first pressure.