US 4,311,025 AGranted

Gas compression system

AssigneeNatural Energy Systems

InventorWarren Rice

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Abstract

A multiple disk compressor has a through flow of a two-phase medium consisting of gas bubbles entrained in a non-miscible liquid carrier and causes an almost isothermal compression of the gaseous phase of the medium. Because of the larger density at a given tip speed, much higher pressure ratio is obtained in a single stage than can be obtained in a conventional compressor having a throughflow of gas only. The liquid carrier, after separation from the compressed gaseous medium, provides heat to a heat exchanger before being reduced in pressure and returned to the compressor. The separated gaseous medium under pressure is withdrawn as the useful product. Where the compressor is a part of a refrigeration system and the gaseous medium is a refrigerant, the compressed gaseous medium, which is transformed to a liquid state by the compressor, flows through an expansion valve to reduce its pressure and temperature, an evaporator to cool a medium, such as air, and is returned to the compressor for re-entrainment in the liquid carrier.

Claims6

Dependent claims

Apparatus for compressing a gaseous medium, said apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a source of the gaseous medium;
(b) a liquid medium for entraining the gaseous medium, said liquid medium being non-miscible with the gaseous medium;
(c) a sparger for distributing the gaseous medium within said liquid medium to entrain the gaseous medium in said liquid medium;
(d) a multiple disc compressor for compressing said liquid medium and the entrained gaseous medium, said compressor including an inlet in communication with said sparger for receiving said liquid medium and the entrained gaseous medium and an outlet for discharging said pressurized liquid medium and the entrained gaseous medium, said compressor including:
(i) means for applying power to said compressor to rotate said compressor;
(ii) means for varying the compression of said liquid medium and entrained gas medium and regulating the speed of rotation of said compressor;
and
(iii) means for varying the ratio of the gaseous medium to said liquid medium;
(e) a separator in fluid communication with said outlet for separating the pressurized gaseous medium from said liquid medium;
(f) means for withdrawing heat from said liquid medium;
and
(g) means for reducing the pressure of said liquid medium and for returning said liquid medium to said sparger.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.