US RE37,603 E1 · Gas compressor

Abstract

A gas compressor is provided comprising a chamber (9) to contain gas to be compressed, a piston (12) and the chamber (9) and an apparatus to drive the piston into the chamber (9) to compress the gas. The compressor also comprises another apparatus (5) to form a spray of liquid in the chamber (9) to cool the gas on compression therein, so that the gas may be compressed approximately isothermally. Valve (17) are provided to allow compressed gas to be drawn from the chamber. The apparatus to drive the piston (12) comprises another apparatus to deliver driving energy stored in the fluid directly to the piston. In one embodiment, the driving energy is provided by a combustible fuel. The heat of compression is rejected at the lowest temperatures and the hot exhaust gas from the combustion process may be used to preheat the isothermally compressed gas.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A gas compressor comprising:

a compression chamber to contain gas to be compressed;
a first piston to compress the gas by movement of the first piston into said compression chamber;
a sprayer to form a spray of liquid in said compression chamber to cool the gas during compression;
a first valve to allow compressed gas to be drawn from said compression chamber;
an expansion chamber;
a second piston arranged to drive said first piston;
a feeder to feed compressed gas from said compression chamber to said expansion chamber;
a second valve to allow expanded gas to be drawn from said expansion chamber;
a heat exchanger arranged to pre-heat the compressed gas from said compression chamber with expanded gas from said expansion chamber;
a heater to add heat to the pre-heated compressed gas from said heat exchanger for expansion in said expansion chamber;
a turbine;
and
a feeder to feed pre-heated compressed gas from said heat exchanger directly to said turbine for expansion therein.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gas compressor

Life of this patent

Gas compressor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8