Grouped mechanical liquid piston heat pump

Abstract

The grouped mechanical liquid piston heat pump (1) comprises a blind liquid cylinder (8) of compressors in which a double-acting hydraulic piston (10) of compressors translates to form a first and a second compressor hydraulic variable volume (12, 134), and a blind liquid cylinder (30) of expanders in which a double-acting hydraulic piston (39) of expanders translates to form a first and a second expander hydraulic variable volume (44, 46), said hydraulic variable volumes (12, 134, 44, 46) communicating with compressor and expander gas and liquid reservoirs (14, 29, 50, 55) in which compressor and expander heat exchange and accumulation means (16, 59, 139, 70) are housed, this to form a compressor (3) and an expander (4).

1 . A grouped mechanical liquid piston heat pump ( 1 ) comprising at least a compressor ( 3 ) in which a compressor pneumatic variable volume ( 2 ) is formed, and at least an expander ( 4 ) in which a expander pneumatic variable volume ( 136 ) is formed, each said volume ( 2 ,  136 ) comprising, on the one hand, an inlet port ( 6 ) through which a working gas ( 5 ) can enter and, on the other hand, an outlet port ( 7 ) through which said gas ( 5 ) can exit, characterised in that it comprises:
 At least one blind liquid cylinder ( 8 ) of compressors which is directly or indirectly secured to a static frame ( 40 ), each end of which is closed by a sealed compressor cylinder termination ( 135 ), and in which at least one double-acting hydraulic piston ( 10 ) of compressors can translate in a sealed manner which has, on the one hand, at least one first axial compressor piston face ( 132 ) which forms with said cylinder ( 8 ) and one of the sealed compressor cylinder terminations ( 135 ) a first variable hydraulic compressor volume ( 12 ), and on the other hand, at least one second axial compressor piston face ( 133 ) which forms with said cylinder ( 8 ) and the other sealed compressor cylinder termination ( 135 ) a second compressor variable hydraulic volume ( 134 ), both said variable hydraulic volumes ( 12 ,  134 ) being wholly or partly filled with a working liquid ( 13 );   At least one compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 14 ) which is connected to the first compressor hydraulic variable volume ( 12 ) by a communication duct ( 15 ), such that said reservoir ( 14 ) is mainly or totally filled with working liquid ( 13 ) when the first compressor hydraulic variable volume ( 12 ) is minimum, said reservoir ( 14 ) being totally or partially filled with working gas ( 5 ) when the first compressor hydraulic variable volume ( 12 ) is maximum, the variation of volume of the working gas ( 5 ) contained in the compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 14 ) defining on the one hand, a compressor pneumatic variable volume ( 2 ), and being on the other hand, approximately equal to the variation of volume of the working liquid ( 13 ) contained in the first compressor hydraulic variable volume ( 12 );   At least one compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ) which is connected to the second compressor hydraulic variable volume ( 134 ) by a communication duct ( 15 ), such that said reservoir ( 29 ) is mainly or totally filled with working liquid ( 13 ) when the second compressor hydraulic variable volume ( 134 ) is minimum, said reservoir ( 29 ) being totally or partially filled with working gas ( 5 ) when the second compressor hydraulic variable volume ( 134 ) is maximum, the variation of volume of the working gas ( 5 ) contained in the compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ) defining on the one hand, a compressor pneumatic variable volume ( 2 ), and being on the other hand, approximately equal to the variation of volume of the working liquid ( 13 ) contained in the second compressor hydraulic variable volume ( 134 );   At least one blind liquid cylinder ( 30 ) of expanders which is directly or indirectly secured to the static frame ( 40 ), the ends of which are closed by a sealed expander cylinder termination ( 78 ), and in which at least one double-acting hydraulic piston ( 39 ) of expanders can translate in a sealed manner, said piston ( 39 ) having, on the one hand, at least one first expander piston axial face ( 43 ) which forms with said cylinder ( 30 ) and one of the sealed expander cylinder terminations ( 78 ) a first expander variable hydraulic volume ( 44 ), and on the other hand, at least one second expander piston axial face ( 45 ) which forms with said cylinder ( 30 ) and the other expander cylinder sealed termination ( 78 ) a second expander variable hydraulic volume ( 46 ), both said hydraulic variable volumes ( 44 ,  46 ) being wholly or partly filled with a working liquid ( 13 );   At least one first expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 50 ) which is connected to the first expander hydraulic variable volume ( 44 ) by a communication duct ( 15 ), such that said reservoir ( 50 ) is mainly or totally filled with working liquid ( 13 ) when said first expander hydraulic variable volume ( 44 ) is minimum, said reservoir ( 50 ) being totally or partially filled with working gas ( 5 ) when said first compressor hydraulic variable volume ( 44 ) is maximum, the variation of volume of the working gas ( 5 ) contained in the expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 50 ) defining on the one hand, a expander pneumatic variable volume ( 136 ), and being on the other hand, approximately equal to the variation of volume of the working liquid ( 13 ) contained in the first compressor hydraulic variable volume ( 44 );   At least one second expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 55 ) which is connected to the second expander hydraulic variable volume ( 46 ) by a communication duct ( 15 ), such that said reservoir ( 55 ) is mainly or totally filled with working liquid ( 13 ) when the second expander hydraulic variable volume ( 46 ) is minimum, said reservoir ( 29 ) being totally or partially filled with working gas ( 5 ) when the second expander hydraulic variable volume ( 46 ) is maximum, the variation of volume of the working gas ( 5 ) contained in the expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ) defining on the one hand, a expander pneumatic variable volume ( 136 ), and being on the other hand, approximately equal to the variation of volume of the working liquid ( 13 ) contained in the second expander hydraulic variable volume ( 46 );   First compressor heat exchange and accumulation means ( 16 ) that are housed in the first compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 14 ) and second compressor heat exchange and accumulation means ( 59 ) that are housed in the second compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ), said means ( 16 ,  59 ), each of which can mainly take heat from the working gas ( 5 ) contained in the reservoir ( 14 ,  29 ), in which they are housed, and temporarily store said heat, before giving the latter to the working liquid ( 13 ) also contained in said reservoir ( 14 ,  29 );   First expander heat exchange and accumulation means ( 139 ) which are housed in the first expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 50 ) and second expander heat exchange and accumulation means ( 70 ) which are housed in the second expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 55 ) said means ( 139 ,  70 ) each being able mainly to take heat from the working liquid ( 13 ) contained in the reservoir ( 50 ,  55 ) in which they are housed, and temporarily store said heat, before giving the latter to the working gas ( 5 ) also contained in said reservoirs ( 50 ,  55 );   First heat export means ( 17 ) housed inside and/or outside the first compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 14 ) and second heat export means ( 73 ) housed inside and/or outside the second compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ), said means ( 17 ,  73 ) directly or indirectly taking heat respectively from the first compressor heat exchange and accumulation means ( 16 ) and the second compressor heat exchange and accumulation means ( 59 ), on the one hand, and/or from the working liquid ( 13 ) and/or from the working gas ( 5 ) contained in whole or in part in said reservoirs ( 14 ,  29 ), respectively, said heat then being transferred to heating means ( 18 ) external to said reservoirs ( 14 ,  29 );   First heat import means ( 138 ) housed inside and/or outside the first expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 50 ) and second heat import means ( 74 ) housed inside and/or outside the second expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 55 ), said means ( 138 ,  74 ) directly or indirectly supplying heat respectively to the first expander heat exchange and accumulation means ( 139 ) and to the second expander heat exchange and accumulation means ( 70 ), on the one hand, and/or to the working liquid ( 13 ) and/or to the working gas ( 5 ) contained in whole or in part in said reservoirs ( 50 ,  55 ), on the other hand, said heat having been previously taken from cooling means ( 19 ) external to said reservoirs ( 50 ,  55 );   Compressor filling means ( 20 ) which enable or prohibit the passage of working gas ( 5 ) from a compressor intake plenum ( 21 ) to the first compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 14 ) via at least one inlet port ( 6 ) while other compressor filling means ( 20 ) enable or prohibit the passage of working gas ( 5 ) from said plenum ( 21 ) or from another compressor intake plenum ( 21 ) to the second compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ) via at least one other inlet port ( 6 );   Compressor draining means ( 22 ) which enable or prohibit the passage of working gas ( 5 ) from the first compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 14 ) to a compressor discharge plenum ( 62 ) via at least one outlet port ( 7 ) while other compressor draining means ( 22 ) enable or prohibit the passage of working gas ( 5 ) from the second compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ) to said plenum ( 62 ) or to another compressor discharge plenum ( 62 ) via at least one other outlet port ( 7 );   Expander filling means ( 140 ) which enable or prohibit the passage of working gas ( 5 ) from an expander intake plenum ( 142 ) to the first expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 50 ) via at least one inlet port ( 6 ) while other expander filling means ( 140 ) enable or prohibit the passage of working gas ( 5 ) from said plenum ( 142 ) or from another expander intake plenum ( 142 ) to the second expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 55 ) via at least one other inlet port ( 6 );   Expander draining means ( 141 ) which enable or prohibit the passage of working gas ( 5 ) from the first expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 50 ) to an expander discharge plenum ( 143 ) via at least one outlet port ( 7 ) while other expander draining means ( 141 ) enable or prohibit the passage of working gas ( 5 ) from the second expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 55 ) to said plenum ( 143 ) or to another expander discharge plenum ( 143 ) via at least one other outlet port ( 7 );   A connecting rod ( 11 ) of compressors which is secured to the double-acting hydraulic piston ( 10 ) of compressors, which sealingly passes through one of the sealed compressor cylinder terminations ( 135 ) and which is approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of said piston ( 10 ) and of the blind liquid cylinder ( 8 ) of compressors;   A connecting rod ( 75 ) of expanders which is secured to the double-acting hydraulic piston ( 39 ) of expanders, which sealingly passes through one of the sealed expander cylinder terminations ( 78 ), and which is approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of said piston ( 39 ) and of the blind liquid cylinder ( 30 ) of expanders;   Piston guiding means ( 23 ) of compressors which maintain the double-acting hydraulic piston ( 10 ) of compressors and the connecting rod ( 11 ) of compressors parallel to said blind liquid cylinder ( 8 ) of compressors, whatever the position of said piston ( 10 ) in said cylinder ( 8 );   Piston guiding means ( 77 ) of expanders which maintain the double acting hydraulic piston ( 39 ) of expanders and the connecting rod ( 75 ) of expanders parallel to said blind liquid cylinder ( 30 ) of expanders, whatever the position of said piston ( 39 ) in said cylinder ( 30 );   Connecting rod actuating means ( 144 ) by means of which at least one drive motor ( 27 ) imparts, on the one hand, to the connecting rod ( 11 ) of compressors a reciprocating movement of longitudinal translation parallel to the axis of the blind liquid cylinder ( 8 ) of compressors, and on the other hand, to the connecting rod ( 75 ) a of expanders a reciprocating movement of longitudinal translation parallel to the axis of the blind liquid cylinder ( 30 ) of expanders;   Mechanical energy storage means ( 28 ) which are directly or indirectly connected to the connecting rod actuating means ( 144 ) or which are directly or indirectly connected to the connecting rod ( 75 ) of expanders or to the connecting rod ( 11 ) of compressors, said storage means ( 28 ) being able to alternately take and transfer mechanical energy to said actuating means ( 144 ) or to said rods ( 75 ,  11 ).   
     
     
         2 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the connecting rod actuating means ( 144 ) consist of a crankshaft ( 24 ) which can rotate in at least one shaft bearing ( 25 ) which is directly or indirectly secured to the static frame ( 40 ), said crankshaft ( 24 ) having at least one crank ( 26 ) around which a rod head ( 145 ) of an actuating connecting rod ( 165 ) is articulated, the latter also comprising a rod foot ( 146 ) which is articulated, depending on the case, either with the connecting rod ( 11 ) of compressors or with the connecting rod ( 75 ) of expanders. 
     
     
         3 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the crankshaft ( 24 ) has two cranks ( 26 ), the first of said cranks ( 26 ) being connected by a first actuating rod ( 165 ) to the connecting rod ( 11 ) of compressors while the second of said cranks ( 26 ) is connected by a second actuating rod ( 165 ) to the connecting rod ( 75 ) of expanders. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the rod foot ( 146 ) is articulated, depending on the case, with the connecting rod ( 11 ) of compressors or with the connecting rod ( 75 ) of expanders by means of a connecting crosshead ( 147 ) which is secured to said rod ( 11 ). 
     
     
         5 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the connecting crosshead ( 147 ) comprises a crosshead yoke ( 148 ) which is traversed by a crosshead axis ( 155 ) which is perpendicular, depending on the case, to the connecting rod ( 11 ) of compressors or to the connecting rods ( 75 ) of expanders and about which are articulated, on the one hand, a rod foot bearing ( 149 ) which the rod foot ( 146 ) comprises, and at least one crosshead roller ( 150 ) which rolls on at least one crosshead raceway ( 41 ) which is parallel, depending on the case, to the blind liquid cylinder ( 8 ) of compressors or to the blind liquid cylinder ( 30 ) of expanders, and which is directly or indirectly secured to said cylinder ( 8 ,  30 ). 
     
     
         6 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the first compressor heat exchange and accumulation means ( 16 ) and/or the second compressor heat exchange and accumulation means ( 59 ) and/or the first expansion valve heat exchange and accumulation means ( 139 ) and/or the second expansion valve heat exchange and accumulation means ( 70 ) consist of a porous medium ( 32 ) which has porosities ( 33 ) into which and from which the working liquid ( 13 ) and working gas ( 5 ) alternately enter and exit. 
     
     
         7 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the first heat export means ( 17 ) are constituted of a circulating part of the working liquid ( 13 ) which exits from the first hydraulic variable compressor volume ( 12 ) and/or the first compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 14 ) via a liquid outlet conduit ( 34 ), said circulating part then returning to said first volume ( 12 ) and/or to said first reservoir ( 14 ) via a liquid inlet duct ( 35 ), this after having directly or indirectly given heat to the heating means ( 18 ). 
     
     
         8 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the second heat export means ( 73 ) are constituted of of a circulating part of the working liquid ( 13 ) which exits from the second variable hydraulic compressor volume ( 134 ) and/or the second compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ) via a liquid outlet duct ( 34 ), said circulating part then returning to said second volume ( 134 ) and/or to said second reservoir ( 29 ) via a liquid inlet conduit ( 35 ), this after having directly or indirectly given off heat to the heating means ( 18 ). 
     
     
         9 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the circulating part of the working liquid ( 13 ) gives heat to the heating means ( 18 ) via at least one heating secondary heat exchanger ( 153 ). 
     
     
         10 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the heat import means ( 138 ) are constituted of a circulating part of the working liquid ( 13 ), which exits from the expander hydraulic variable volume ( 44 ) and/or the expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 50 ) via a liquid outlet duct ( 34 ) and then returns to said volume ( 44 ) and/or to said reservoir ( 50 ) via a liquid inlet duct ( 35 ), this after having directly or indirectly taken heat from the cooling means ( 19 ). 
     
     
         11 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the second heat import means ( 74 ) are constituted of a circulating part of the working liquid ( 13 ), which exits from the second expander hydraulic variable volume ( 46 ) and/or second the expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 55 ) via a liquid outlet duct ( 34 ) and then returns to said volume ( 46 ) and/or to said reservoir ( 55 ) via a liquid inlet duct ( 35 ), this after having directly or indirectly taken heat from the cooling means ( 19 ). 
     
     
         12 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the circulating part of the working liquid ( 13 ) takes heat from the cooling means ( 19 ) by means of a cooling secondary heat exchanger ( 154 ). 
     
     
         13 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the first heat export means ( 17 ) are constituted of at least one heat exchanger duct ( 36 ) housed in the first compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 14 ) and in which a heat-transfer fluid ( 37 ) flows, which exports heat taken from the compressor heat exchange and accumulation means ( 16 ), on the one hand, and/or from the working liquid ( 13 ) and/or from the working gas ( 5 ) contained in the compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 14 ), on the other hand, to the heating means ( 18 ) via heat transport ducts ( 38 ). 
     
     
         14 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the second heat export means ( 73 ) are constituted of at least one heat exchanger duct ( 36 ) housed in the second compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ) and in which a heat transfer fluid ( 37 ) flows, which exports heat taken from the second compressor heat exchange and accumulation means ( 59 ) and/or from the working liquid ( 13 ) and/or from the working gas ( 5 ) contained in the second compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ), and on the other hand, to the heating means ( 18 ) via heat transport ducts ( 38 ). 
     
     
         15 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the first heat import means ( 138 ) are constituted of at least one heat exchanger duct ( 36 ) housed in the first expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 50 ) and in which a heat-transfer fluid ( 37 ) flows, which imports heat from the cooling means ( 19 ) to the first expander heat exchange and accumulation means ( 139 ) and/or to the working liquid ( 13 ) and/or to the working gas ( 5 ) contained in the first compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 50 ), on the other hand, via heat transport ducts ( 38 ). 
     
     
         16 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the second heat import means ( 74 ) are constituted of at least one heat exchanger duct ( 36 ) housed in the second expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 55 ) and in which a heat-transfer fluid ( 37 ) flows, which imports heat from the cooling means ( 19 ) to the second expander heat exchange and accumulation means ( 70 ) and/or to the working liquid ( 13 ) and/or to the working gas ( 5 ) contained in the second compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 55 ), on the other hand, via heat transport ducts 
     
     
       ( 38 ) . 
     
     
         17 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the first compressor heat exchange and accumulation means ( 16 ) and/or the second compressor heat exchange and accumulation means ( 59 ) are constituted of at least one liquid spray nozzle ( 71 ) supplied by a liquid spray pump ( 72 ), said nozzle ( 71 ) being able, as the case may be, to atomize the working liquid ( 13 ) into fine droplets in the internal volume of the first compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 14 ) or in the internal volume of the second compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ). 
     
     
         18 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the first expander heat exchange and accumulation means ( 139 ) and/or the second expander heat exchange and accumulation means ( 70 ) are constituted of at least one liquid spray nozzle ( 71 ) supplied by a liquid spray pump ( 72 ), said nozzle ( 71 ) being able, as the case may be, to atomize the working liquid ( 13 ) into fine droplets in the internal volume of the first expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 50 ) or in the internal volume of the second expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 55 ). 
     
     
         19 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the first compressor heat exchange and accumulation means ( 16 ) and/or the second compressor heat exchange and accumulation means ( 59 ) are constituted of a rotary liquid atomizer ( 158 ) which comprises a rotary atomizing cylinder ( 159 ) pierced with radial atomizing orifices ( 160 ), an atomizer motor ( 161 ) driving said cylinder ( 159 ) in rotation fast enough for the latter to suck in working liquid ( 13 ) at its axial end by centrifugation effect and/or by means of a pumping turbine ( 162 ), and radially rejects said liquid ( 13 ) in the form of fine droplets into the internal volume of the first compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 14 ) if said atomizer ( 158 ) is housed in said first reservoir ( 14 ), or into the internal volume of the second compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ) if said atomizer ( 158 ) is housed in said second reservoir ( 29 ), via the radial atomizing orifices ( 160 ). 
     
     
         20 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the first expander heat exchange and accumulation means ( 139 ) and/or the second expander heat exchange and accumulation means ( 70 ) consist of a rotary liquid atomizer ( 158 ) which comprises a rotary atomizing cylinder ( 159 ) pierced with radial atomizing orifices ( 160 ), an atomizer motor ( 161 ) driving said cylinder ( 159 ) in rotation fast enough for the latter to suck in working liquid ( 13 ) at its axial end by centrifugation effect and/or by means of a pumping turbine ( 162 ), and radially rejects said liquid ( 13 ) in the form of fine droplets into the internal volume of the first expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 50 ) if said atomizer ( 158 ) is housed in said first reservoir ( 50 ), or into the internal volume of the second expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 55 ) if said atomizer ( 158 ) is housed in said second reservoir ( 55 ), via the radial atomizing orifices ( 160 ). 
     
     
         21 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the piston guiding means ( 23 ) of compressors and/or the piston guiding means ( 77 ) of expanders are constituted of at least one sliding pivot connection ( 47 ) formed on the one hand, between an external cylindrical surface ( 48 ) that the connecting rod ( 11 ) of compressors and the connecting rod ( 75 ) of expanders have, and on the other hand, a guiding orifice ( 49 ) arranged in the sealed compressor cylinder termination(s) ( 135 ) that the connecting rod ( 11 ) of compressors passes through in the case of the latter ( 11 ), or a guiding orifice ( 49 ) arranged in the sealed expander cylinder termination(s) ( 78 ) that the connecting rod ( 75 ) of expanders passes through in the case of said connecting rod ( 75 ) of expanders. 
     
     
         22 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 21 , characterised in that the sliding pivot connection ( 47 ) comprises an connecting articulated tube ( 9 ) which has, at one of its ends, a sealed rod ball joint connection ( 79 ) which is articulated, as the case may be, around the connecting rod ( 11 ) of compressors or around the connecting rod ( 75 ) of expanders, said articulated tube ( 9 ) having, at its other end, a sealed termination ball joint connection ( 80 ) which is articulated, as the case may be, with the sealed compressor cylinder termination ( 135 ) or with the corresponding sealed expander cylinder termination ( 78 ). 
     
     
         23 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said piston guiding means ( 23 ) of compressors and/or said piston guiding means ( 77 ) of expanders are constituted of a guiding skirt ( 57 ) provided at the periphery of said double-acting hydraulic piston ( 10 ) of compressors or at the periphery of said double-acting hydraulic piston ( 39 ) of expanders, said skirt ( 57 ) being able to translate at a low clearance into said blind liquid cylinder ( 8 ) of compressors or into said corresponding blind liquid cylinder ( 30 ) of expanders. 
     
     
         24 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the compressor filling means ( 20 ) and/or the compressor draining means ( 22 ) are constituted of at least one compressor flap ( 52 ) and/or of at least one controlled compressor valve ( 53 ). 
     
     
         25 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the expander filling means ( 140 ) and/or the expander draining means ( 141 ) are constituted of at least one controlled expander valve ( 54 ). 
     
     
         26 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the compressor discharge plenum ( 62 ) is connected to the expander intake plenum ( 142 ) by a high-pressure gas duct ( 56 ) so that the working gas ( 5 ) exiting from the compressor pneumatic variable volumes ( 2 ) via said compressor discharge plenum ( 62 ) is introduced into the expander pneumatic variable volumes ( 136 ) via said expander intake plenum ( 142 ), while the expander discharge plenum ( 143 ) is connected to the compressor intake plenum ( 21 ) by a low-pressure gas duct ( 61 ) so that the working gas ( 5 ) exiting from the expander pneumatic variable volumes ( 136 ) via said expander discharge plenum ( 143 ) is introduced into the compressor pneumatic variable volumes ( 2 ) via said compressor intake plenum ( 21 ). 
     
     
         27 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 26 , characterised in that the high-pressure gas duct ( 56 ) is connected to at least one high-pressure gas reservoir ( 58 ). 
     
     
         28 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 26 , characterised in that the high-pressure gas duct ( 61 ) is connected to at least one high-pressure gas reservoir ( 60 ). 
     
     
         29 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 26 , characterised in that the working gas ( 5 ) which flows in the high-pressure gas duct ( 56 ) gives its heat to the working gas ( 5 ) which flows in the low-pressure gas duct ( 61 ) by means of a regeneration heat exchanger ( 152 ). 
     
     
         30 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the compressor intake plenum ( 21 ) and the compressor discharge plenum ( 62 ) are part of a compressor cylinder head ( 110 ) which caps the upper part of the first compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 14 ) and the second compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ), the latter ( 14 ,  29 ) being themselves positioned mainly above the blind liquid cylinder ( 8 ) of compressors, so that, under the effect of the Earth's gravity, the working gas ( 5 ) is always the first to exit said reservoirs ( 14 ,  29 ) via said discharge plenum ( 62 ) while the working liquid ( 13 ) is always the first to enter said reservoirs ( 14 ,  29 ) via said intake plenum ( 21 ). 
     
     
         31 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the expander intake plenum ( 142 ) and the expander discharge plenum ( 143 ) are part of a cylinder head ( 111 ) of expanders which caps the upper part of the first expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 50 ) and the second expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 55 ), the latter ( 50 ,  55 ) being themselves positioned mainly above the blind liquid cylinder ( 30 ) of expanders, so that, under the effect of the Earth's gravity, the working gas ( 5 ) is always first to exit said reservoirs ( 50 ,  55 ) via said discharge plenum ( 143 ), while the working liquid ( 13 ) is always first to enter said reservoirs ( 50 ,  55 ) via said intake plenum ( 142 ). 
     
     
         32 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the mechanical energy storage means ( 28 ) are constituted of an inertia flywheel ( 66 ) made secured in rotation to the crankshaft ( 24 ) by a transmission multiplier ( 156 ). 
     
     
         33 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the crankshaft ( 24 ) comprises a ring gear ( 67 ) which the drive motor ( 27 ) drives in rotation by means of at least one ring drive pinion ( 68 ), the primitive diameter of which is smaller than that of said ring ( 67 ), the latter ( 67 ) and said pinion ( 68 ) forming a multiplication gear system ( 69 ). 
     
     
         34 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the outlet ports ( 7 ) which open into the compressor discharge plenum ( 62 ) or those ( 7 ) which open into the expander discharge plenum ( 143 ) each form an overflow tank ( 113 ) in which working liquid ( 13 ) can be stored, said tank ( 113 ) being arranged such that when the compressor draining means ( 22 ) or, as the case may be, the expander draining means ( 141 ), allow the passage of working gas ( 5 ) via said ports ( 7 ), said gas ( 5 ) having to pass through said tank ( 113 ) before opening, as the case may be, into the compressor discharge plenum ( 62 ) or into the expander discharge plenum ( 143 ). 
     
     
         35 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 34 , characterised in that the overflow tanks ( 113 ) formed by the outlet ports ( 7 ) of the first compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 14 ) and those ( 7 ) of the second compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ) open into the same compressor discharge plenum ( 62 ) but are separated by a levelling dike ( 114 ) which tends to equalise the levels of working liquid ( 13 ) in said tanks ( 113 ) when the compressor draining means ( 22 ) associated with said reservoirs ( 14 ,  29 ) prohibit the passage of working gas ( 5 ). 
     
     
         36 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 34 , characterised in that the overflow tanks ( 113 ) formed by the outlet ports ( 7 ) of the first expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 50 ) and those ( 7 ) of the second expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 55 ) open into the same expander discharge plenum ( 143 ) but are separated by a levelling dike ( 114 ) which tends to equalise the working liquid levels ( 13 ) in said tanks ( 113 ) when the expander draining means ( 141 ) associated with said reservoirs ( 50 ,  55 ) prohibit the passage of working gas ( 5 ). 
     
     
         37 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that a working liquid level equalization valve ( 115 ) can connect the first compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 14 ) or the second compressor gas and liquid reservoir ( 29 ) with the first expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 50 ) or the second expander gas and liquid reservoir ( 55 ). 
     
     
         38 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 1 , characterised in that a defrosting heat reservoir ( 116 ) is heated by the first heat export means ( 17 ) and/or the second heat export means ( 73 ) and can give its heat to the cooling means ( 19 ). 
     
     
         39 . The mechanical liquid piston heat pump according to  claim 15 , characterised in that the defrosting heat reservoir ( 116 ) is formed of a heat transfer fluid reserve ( 123 ) connected in bypass of the heat transport duct ( 38 ) which transports the heat transfer fluid ( 37 ) to the cooling means ( 19 ), said fluid ( 37 ) being able either to pass through said reserve ( 123 ) before joining the cooling means ( 19 ) to heat the latter, or to bypass said reserve ( 123 ) to directly join said means ( 19 ).