System and method for multi-level vacuum generation and storage

A method for generating a vacuum with a dual-action piston cylinder vacuum generation system, comprising, completing at least one cycle of a vacuum generation operation with a dual-action piston cylinder vacuum generation system, wherein the one complete cycle includes:

• (a) switching a steam distribution valve to a side A of a cylinder to allow flow of steam from the steam distribution valve into a chamber A of the cylinder, wherein steam pressure pushes a piston to move towards an end of a side B of the cylinder, and piston movement increases volume of the chamber A and fills the chamber A with the steam, while simultaneously the piston movement decreases volume of a chamber B, and compresses content of the chamber B and increases pressure inside the chamber B;
• and wherein when pressure inside the chamber B reaches an ambient pressure, an air and condensate exit valve is opened to allow air and condensate inside the chamber B to exit, and when the piston reaches to the end of side B, the air and condensate exit valve closes, and the chamber A is filled with the steam;
• (b) opening a cold water supply valve to allow flow of cold water into a plurality of cylinder wall channels to induce condensation of steam inside the chamber A;
• wherein a continued condensation of steam reduces pressure inside the chamber A into a vacuum state;
• and once a vacuum level in the Chamber A reaches a predetermined level, the cold water supply valve is closed to stop flow of the cold water into the cylinder wall channels, and the chamber A is filled with a vacuum;
• (c) switching an air valve to the side A of the cylinder, and switching a steam/air switch valve to allow air flow from an application volume into the cylinder, thereby allowing air to now enter into chamber A of the cylinder and increase the pressure inside chamber A, wherein when pressure inside the chamber A reaches a predetermined level, both the air valve and the steam/air switch valve will close;
• and the chamber A is filled with the air;
• (d) switching the steam distribution valve to the side B of the cylinder and the steam/air switch valve to allow flow of steam from the steam distribution valve into the chamber A of the cylinder, wherein the steam pressure pushes the piston to move towards the end of the side A, and the piston movement increases the volume of chamber B and fills the chamber B with steam;
• and simultaneously the piston movement decreases the volume of chamber A, which compresses the chamber A content and increases the pressure inside chamber A;
• and when the pressure inside the chamber A reaches the ambient pressure, the air and condensate exit valve is opened to allow air and condensate inside the chamber A to exit;
• and when the piston reaches to the end of side A, the air and condensate exit valve closes, and the steam distribution valve and steam/air switch valve closes, and chamber B is filled with steam;
• (e) opening the cold water supply valve to allow flow of the cold water into the cylinder wall channels to induce condensation of steam inside the chamber B, wherein the continued condensation of steam reduces pressure inside the chamber into a vacuum state;
• and once the predetermined vacuum level is reached, the cold water supply valve is closed to stop flow of cold water into the cylinder wall channels;
• and the chamber B is vacuum filled;
• (f) switching the air valve to the side B of the cylinder, and switching the steam/air switch valve to allow flow of air from the application volume into the cylinder;
• wherein air is now entering into the chamber B of the cylinder and increases the pressure inside chamber B, and when pressure inside the chamber B reaches the predetermined level, both the air valve and the steam/air switch valve closes;
• and chamber B is filled with air;
• and
• removing steps (c), (d) and (f), when similar vacuum generation operation is used to create a prime mover or an actuator due to the vacuum in the cylinder is no longer used to evacuate the application directly.