Apparatus for isochoric gas compression

Abstract

An apparatus for gas compression comprising: a container containing the gas to be compressed; a first heat exchanger exchanging heat between a high temperature thermal source and the gas, to introduce heat into the gas; a second heat exchanger exchanging heat between a low temperature thermal source and the gas, to extract heat from the gas; supply means of the gas at a supply pressure and delivery means of the gas at a delivery pressure greater than the supply pressure); gas permeable means configured to accumulate and transfer heat to the gas, and gas permeable or gas impermeable movable means dividing the container into a first section in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger and in a second section in thermal communication with the second heat exchanger and in fluid communication with said supply means and said gas delivery means.

1 . An apparatus ( 1 ) for gas compression comprising:
 a container ( 2 ) containing the gas to be compressed;   a first heat exchanger ( 3 ) exchanging heat between a high temperature thermal source and the gas, to introduce heat into the gas;   a second heat exchanger ( 4 ) exchanging heat between a low temperature thermal source and the gas to extract heat from the gas;   supply means ( 5 ) of the gas to a supply pressure (Pin) and delivery means ( 6 ) of the gas at a delivery pressure (Pout) greater than the supply pressure (Pin);   gas permeable means ( 7 ,  7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c ,  7   d ,  7   e ,  7   e ′,  7   e ″) configured to accumulate and transfer heat to the gas, and   gas permeable ( 7 ) or gas impermeable ( 8 ) movable means dividing the container ( 2 ) into a first section ( 2   a ) in heat communication with the first heat exchanger ( 3 ) and in a second section ( 2   b ) in thermal communication with the second heat exchanger ( 4 ) and in fluid communication with said supply means ( 5 ) and said gas delivery means ( 6 );
 the apparatus ( 1 ) being characterized in that said first heat exchanger ( 3 ) and second heat exchanger ( 4 ), said gas permeable means ( 7 ,  7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c ,  7   d ,  7   e ,  7   e ′,  7   e ″) and said movable means ( 7 ,  8 ) cooperate to heat and cool the gas, causing it to cyclically flow between the first section ( 2   a ) and the second section ( 2   b ), to obtain the compression effect of the gas, which is introduced into the container, from a value equal to the supply pressure (Pin) up to a value equal to the discharge pressure (Pout). 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said gas permeable means ( 7 ,  7   e ,  7   e ′,  7   e ″) are internal to the container ( 2 ). 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said gas-permeable means ( 7   a ) are external to the container ( 2 ) and in fluid-dynamic communication with both the sections ( 2   a ,  2   b ) of the container. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first heat exchanger ( 3 ) and the second heat exchanger ( 4 ) are internal to the container ( 2 ). 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to one of  claim 1  wherein said first heat exchanger ( 3 ) and the second heat exchanger ( 4 ) are outside the container ( 2 ). 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fan ( 9 ) which moves said movable means ( 7 ,  8 ). 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one recirculating duct (R 1 , R 2 ) provided with a correspondent fan ( 9   a ,  9   b ,  9   c ). 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an additional gas permeable means ( 7   b ), which is allocated fluid-dynamically in parallel with respect to the first heat exchanger ( 3 ). 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an additional gas permeable means ( 7   d ), which is allocated fluid-dynamically in parallel with respect to the second heat exchanger ( 4 ). 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said container ( 2 ) has a shape corresponding to a solid of rotation and said movable means ( 8 ) rotates inside the container ( 2 ). 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said container ( 2 ) contains heat exchange tubes, arranged inside and parallel to its axis. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first exchanger ( 3 ) extends for a first fraction (x) of the passage surface crossed by the gases and a second fraction ( 1 - x ) comprises an additional gas permeable means ( 7   e ′). 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second exchanger ( 4 ) extends for a first fraction (y) of the passage surface crossed by the gases and a second fraction ( 1 - y ) comprises a further gas permeable means ( 7   e ′″). 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising at least two collectors ( 11 ,  12 ) extending through a base flange (FB) to allow easy removal of the cap of the container ( 2 ). 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising a double movable means ( 8 ,  8 ′) which is impermeable to the gases and heat exchangers ( 3 ,  4 ) symmetrical to each other and gas permeable means ( 7   e ) symmetrical between them. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a one-way valve (VNR,  100 ) which hinders to passage of the gas in the first heat exchanger ( 3 ) during the gas cooling phase, at a greater degree than during the gas heating phase. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , in that it comprising an exchange volume having a front surface, wherein rotating movable means ( 8 ), heat exchangers ( 3 ,  4 ), and gas permeable means ( 7   e ), are helical shaped. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said heat exchangers ( 3 ,  4 ) and the gas permeable means ( 7   e ) are fixed to a base flange or to the cap, while the helical movable means ( 8 ) are fixed to a rotating hub. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , having an average peripheral velocity at the farthest point from the axis, between 1 and 7 m/s. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said gas permeable means ( 7 ,  7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c ,  7   d ,  7   e ,  7   e ′,  7   e ″) comprise a porous matrix or a set of wires or strips or even dense metal meshes, said elements being welded or pressed together and externally crossed by the gas. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first heat exchanger ( 3 ) is supplied with a carrier fluid having an inlet temperature between 200° C. and 450° C.