Hydraulic Gas Compressors and Applications Thereof

Abstract

An compressor utilizing a flow of fluid down a vertical column to entrain air, or other gas, and compress it under the head of the flow. Compressed air is then separated from the flow in an air separation chamber at the bottom of the vertical column. In one application, the compressed gas is used to cool a deep underground mine. In another application, the system is used to separate chemical compounds from gaseous mixtures, such as the exhaust gases of fossil fuelled power plants. In a further application, the system is integrated into a domestic or commercial air conditioning system. The system can also be used as part of a minimum work vapour compression refrigerator.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method for cooling an underground mine, comprising supplying compressed gas from a hydraulic gas compressor to an airstream of an air intake ventilation shaft of an underground mine to lower the temperature of the airstream. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the hydraulic gas compressor comprises a down-comer shaft, a gas-liquid separator in communication with an outlet of the down-comer shaft and an inlet of an outlet shaft that transports compressed gas to the air intake ventilation shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the compressed gas is transported through a network of conduit prior to entering the air intake ventilation shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the compressed gas enters the air intake ventilation shaft through a nozzle. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the nozzle resembles a venturi jet pump. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the diameter of the air intake ventilation shaft is reduced in a collar section with a gradual angling of the air intake ventilation shaft walls towards the collar section and a more gradual angling of the walls away from the collar section at the point where the compressed air is introduced into the airstream of the ventilation shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the gas is air, methane, refrigerants, or a combination of any of these. 
     
     
         15 . A system for cooling an underground mine, comprising:
 an air intake ventilation shaft for delivering an airstream to an underground mine; and   an hydraulic gas compressor for supplying compressed gas to the airstream of the ventilation shaft,   whereby mixing the compressed gas with the airstream decreases the overall temperature of the airstream.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the hydraulic gas compressor comprises a down-comer shaft, a gas-liquid separator in communication with an outlet of the down-comer shaft and an inlet of an outlet shaft that transports compressed gas to the air intake ventilation shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the compressed gas is transported through a network of conduit prior to entering the air intake ventilation shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the compressed gas enters the air intake ventilation shaft through a nozzle. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the nozzle resembles a venturi jet pump. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the diameter of the air intake ventilation shaft is reduced in a collar section with a gradual angling of the air intake ventilation shaft walls towards the collar section and a more gradual angling of the walls away from the collar section at the point where the compressed air is introduced into the airstream of the ventilation shaft. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the gas is air. 
     
     
         22 . A system for cooling an underground mine, comprising:
 an hydraulic gas compressor positioned at a depth greater than about 100 m underground;   an air inlet for introducing atmospheric air into liquid prior to or once the liquid enters a down-comer shaft;   a first gas-liquid separator at the outlet of the down-comer shaft for exhausting a first compressed gas into an air intake ventilation shaft or drift of a mine;   a riser shaft for transporting liquid from the first gas-liquid separator to a second gas-liquid separator, wherein oxygen is exhausted at the second gas-liquid separator into the air intake ventilation shaft of the mine.   
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein the first gas-liquid separator is a high pressure separator and/or the second gas-liquid separator is a low pressure separator. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein the first and second gas-liquid separator are individually forced centrifugal separators or separation galleries. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the forced centrifugal separator is a cyclone, hydrocyclone, cyclonic chamber or funnel. 
     
     
         27 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein a co-solute is added to the liquid in the down-comer shaft. 
     
     
         32 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a second hydraulic gas compressor;   a second air inlet connected to the second gas-liquid separator for introducing gas into liquid prior to or once the liquid enters a second down-comer shaft;   a third gas-liquid separator at the outlet of the second down-comer shaft for exhausting a second compressed gas into an air intake ventilation shaft or drift of a mine;   a second riser shaft for transporting liquid from the third gas-liquid separator to a fourth gas-liquid separator, wherein oxygen is exhausted at the fourth gas-liquid separator into the air intake ventilation shaft of the mine.   
     
     
         36 - 49 . (canceled)