Apparatus and Method for Compressing a Cryogenic Media

Abstract

An apparatus and method for compressing a cryogenic media is disclosed. The apparatus includes a compressor compartment surrounded by a cylinder wall, a compressor piston being moved linearly in the compartment, an intake valve, and a compression valve, both valves being arranged in the area of the lower end position of the compressor piston. The compression valve is arranged laterally on the cylinder wall in the area of the lower end position of the compressor piston, and the head of the compressor piston has a conical shape.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . A compressor for cryogenic media, comprising a compressor compartment surrounded by a cylinder wall in which a compressor piston moves linearly, an intake valve, and a compression valve, wherein both valves are arranged in an area of a lower end position of the compressor piston, and wherein the compression valve is arranged laterally on the cylinder wall in the area of the lower end position of the compressor piston and a head of the compressor piston has a conical shape. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus for compressing a cryogenic media, comprising:
 a cylinder defined by a cylinder side wall and a cylinder bottom wall;   a piston linearly moveable within the cylinder;   an intake valve disposed in the bottom wall of the cylinder; and   a compression valve disposed in the cylinder side wall.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the compression valve is disposed in the cylinder side wall at a lowest end of a stroke by the piston in the cylinder. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein a head of the piston has a conical portion. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein when the piston is at a lowest end of a stroke by the piston, the conical portion of the piston head is located adjacent to the compression valve. 
   
   
       7 . A method for compressing a cryogenic media in a cylinder defined by a cylinder side wall and a cylinder bottom wall, comprising the steps of:
 providing the cryogenic media to the cylinder through an intake valve disposed in the bottom wall of the cylinder;   compressing the cryogenic media in the cylinder by moving a piston within the cylinder from a top-most position in the cylinder to a lowest-most position in the cylinder; and   forcing the compressed cryogenic media out of the cylinder through a compression valve disposed in the cylinder side wall.   
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the cryogenic media is liquid hydrogen. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the step of forcing the compressed cryogenic media out of the cylinder through the compression valve disposed in the cylinder side wall includes the step of discharging the compressed cryogenic media from a dead space containing the cryogenic media in a gas form through the compression valve. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein when the piston is at the lowest-most position in the cylinder, a head of the piston is located adjacent to the compression valve. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein a head of the piston has a conical portion. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein when the piston is at the lowest-most position in the cylinder, the conical portion of the piston head is located adjacent to the compression valve. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising the step of reducing an amount of gas present in the cylinder by the step of forcing the compressed cryogenic media out of the cylinder through the compression valve disposed in the cylinder side wall. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein when the piston is at the lowest-most position in the cylinder, a quantity of compressed cryogenic media in a liquid form remains at the bottom wall of the cylinder.