EA044860B1 - COOLING SYSTEM, AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND RELATED METHODS - Google Patents

Description

Field of technology

The invention relates generally to the field of cooling an initially gaseous component to liquefaction, more precisely to a very low temperature, in particular cryogenic temperature.

The invention therefore relates to a cooling system.

The invention also relates to an air conditioning system, a motor unit and a corresponding adaptation method, a cooling method and an oxygen combustion method.

State of the art

Traditionally, controlled use, transportation and storage of a gaseous component requires concentration of the gaseous component, for example, through a compressor. The concentration step may also be performed by liquefying the starting gaseous component.

To liquefy the gaseous component, as is known, cooling systems and compression systems are used.

These systems for liquefying gas, although generally satisfactory in use, do have some disadvantages.

Thus, known refrigeration systems designed for gas liquefaction suffer from high energy costs, low efficiency at best, complex implementation and considerable size with a relatively small amount of liquefied gas produced per unit of time.

Conventional compression systems, particularly those designed for gas liquefaction, also suffer from high energy costs, especially since they additionally suffer from significant caloric losses due to gas compression and the friction inherent in the movement of their compression element, such as a piston in the case of a reciprocating compressor. . This configuration in practice limits the compression rate of each stage, particularly when high pressures need to be achieved. Compressors may therefore require cooling at each of their stages, resulting in even more energy consumption. Finally, known compression systems are subject to significant safety risks associated with the storage of compressed gas, and are generally not themselves capable of liquefying certain gases, in particular the liquefaction of gaseous components of air.

Consequently, even if gas liquefaction systems are known and marketable as such, the above-mentioned disadvantages show that they are not adapted to the simple, effective and completely safe implementation of gas concentration, especially gas liquefaction.

Ultimately, known gas liquefaction systems, in particular refrigeration or compression liquefaction systems, are particularly expensive, energy-intensive and bulky and pose a high risk in terms of product and human safety. They are difficult to use outside of an industrial installation, which is not very modulated and is relatively inefficient.

Disclosure of the invention

Thus, the objects of the present invention are aimed at eliminating the various disadvantages listed above and providing a new cooling system which, while being particularly efficient, is particularly easy to implement, inexpensive and compact.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new cooling system whose operation is particularly easy to adapt to different applications.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new cooling system with a robust design that is easy to use and has excellent energy efficiency.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new cooling system that is both reliable and economically competitive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new cooling system with reduced maintenance costs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new cooling system that is particularly wear-resistant and has substantially constant time efficiency even when subjected to long-term and/or consistent use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new cooling system having optimized performance while being able to select the most precise dimensions according to its use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new cooling system that is particularly efficient, compact and easily adaptable for use on different scales.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new cooling system that is particularly useful in the field of motor vehicles, especially with regard to fuel efficiency and pollution control.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new cooling system that operates under optimal safety conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new cooling system that has little or no environmental impact and has an excellent carbon footprint.

- 1 044860

Another object of the invention is to provide a new air conditioning system having, in particular, high energy efficiency as well as excellent air conditioning performance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new motor assembly that is particularly environmentally friendly, easy to implement and highly energy efficient.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new, easy-to-implement method for adapting an internal combustion engine to improve the overall performance of the engine, in particular with regard to energy efficiency and emission control.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new cooling method that is particularly energy efficient, easy to implement and adaptable to a wide range of applications.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new oxygen combustion process which is particularly efficient, controllable, very low polluting and has excellent overall energy efficiency.

The problems posed by the invention are solved by a cooling system containing at least a Stirling heat pump adapted for cooling the incoming gas to a cryogenic temperature in order to form a cryogenic liquid, a primary electric motor designed to ensure the operation of the specified Stirling heat pump, a primary pump designed for circulating said cryogenic liquid under pressure, and a cooling means for cooling said primary electric motor by means of a cryogenic liquid supplied from said primary pump.

The objectives of the invention are also achieved by a high-power air conditioning system, characterized in that it comprises a cooling system as described above and below, wherein the cooling energy of the high-power air conditioning system is supplied through an evaporator.

The problems posed by the invention are also solved by a motor unit, characterized in that it contains at least a cooling system as described above and below, said cooling system adapted for the production of liquefied dioxygen, and an internal combustion engine located downstream from of said cooling system and containing a combustion chamber, wherein the cooling system is connected to said internal combustion engine to enable said liquefied dioxygen to be injected into said combustion chamber.

The objectives of the invention are also achieved by a method for adapting an internal combustion engine comprising at least an intake manifold and a combustion chamber, said adaptation method being characterized in that it comprises at least the step of closing or removing said engine intake manifold, a step installation in which a cooling system as described above is further connected to said internal combustion engine, on said closed or remote intake manifold and thus upstream of said combustion chamber, allowing liquefied dioxygen produced by said system to be injected into the latter cooling.

The problems posed by the invention are solved by a cooling method comprising at least a step of cooling the incoming gas by means of at least one Stirling heat pump to form a cryogenic liquid, wherein said Stirling heat pump is driven by a primary electric motor, a pumping step for circulating said cryogenic liquid liquid under pressure, and a cooling step in which said prime mover is cooled by means of a cryogenic liquid coming from said pumping step.

The objects of the present invention are also achieved by an oxy-combustion method including a cooling method as described above, wherein the oxy-combustion method further includes the step of injecting dioxygen liquefied during the cooling method into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine.

Brief description of the figures

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from a reading of the description given below with reference to the drawings annexed by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting examples, in which:

fig. 1 is a simplified schematic illustration of the general principle of a cooling system according to the invention;

- 2 044860 fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a specific embodiment of a helium-cooled cooling system according to the present invention;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of another specific embodiment of a cooling system according to the present invention, with a separator, fully integrated into an example motor assembly according to the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic representation of another specific embodiment of a cooling system according to the present invention, with water electrolysis and methanation, fully integrated into another example of a motor assembly according to the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of the separator of FIG. 3;

fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of an enlarged detail of FIG. 5;

fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of a portion of the separator of FIG. 3;

fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view along plane B of the separator of FIG. 7;

fig. 9 is a detailed schematic illustration of an example of the operating principle of a magnetic separator in accordance with the present invention;

fig. 10 is a schematic view of the engine of FIG. 3.

Carrying out the invention

As illustrated in the figures, the invention relates, in accordance with the first aspect illustrated in the figures, to a cooling system 1 comprising at least a Stirling heat pump 2 adapted for cooling the incoming gas _Ge to a cryogenic temperature to form a cryogenic liquid L a primary electric motor 3 designed to ensure the operation of the specified Stirling heat pump 2.

Thus, the cooling system 1 according to the present invention is preferably adapted to cool said incoming gas Ge until it liquefies and, more precisely, to reach a cryogenic temperature (also called cryotemperature) to form said cryogenic liquid L. Of course, said incoming gas Ge _is preferably formed of at least one component capable of reaching cryogenic, that is, fairly low, temperatures in liquid form. Said cryogenic liquid L and references to cryogenicity generally preferably refer to temperatures below -50°C, more preferably -100°C, even more preferably 150°C or also -153.15°C (ie 120 K). In other words, said cryogenic temperature is preferably below -50°C, more preferably -100°C, even more preferably -150°C or even more preferably -153.15°C (ie 120 K). For example, the cryogenic temperature to which the cryogenic liquid L is thus preferably brought by said Stirling heat pump 2 is -150° C. to -270° C., more preferably -170° C. to -250° C. and more preferably from -196°С to -210°С.

Said Stirling heat pump 2 is preferably a refrigeration machine and is thus preferably adapted to generate cold (sometimes called “Stirling cold”) in accordance with the Stirling cycle, but in the opposite direction of the Stirling engine, since the Stirling cycle is reversible. Preferably, said Stirling heat pump 2 thus requires, for the purpose of producing cold, a mechanical drive provided by said primary electric motor 3. Thus, said Stirling heat pump 2 is preferably designed so that, alone or in combination with possible other cooling devices, , cool said incoming gas G _e at least until it liquefies and preferably until it solidifies, more specifically to said cryogenic temperature.

The invention also relates, as such, according to the second aspect illustrated in the figures, to a cooling method comprising at least one step of cooling an incoming Ge gas by means of at least one Streeling heat pump 2 to form a cryogenic liquid L, said Streeling heat pump 2 driven by the primary electric motor 3. The cooling method is, of course, preferably implemented by means of the cooling system 1 mentioned above and described in more detail below. Therefore, it is preferable that the following and previous description of the cooling system 1 thus also applies to the cooling method according to the present invention and vice versa.

According to the invention, the cooling system 1 further comprises at least a primary pump 4 for circulating said cryogenic liquid L under pressure, and a coolant 5 for cooling said primary electric motor 3 by means of a cryogenic liquid L supplied from said primary pump 4.

According to the invention, the cooling method further includes:

a pumping step for circulating said cryogenic liquid L under pressure, and a cooling step in which said primary motor 3 is cooled by the cryogenic liquid L coming from said pumping step.

Naturally, said pumping step is preferably carried out by means of

- 3 044860 of the specified primary pump 4. Of course, said cooling step is preferably carried out by means of said cooling means 5, which may, for example, comprise a heat exchanger (not shown) surrounding the primary electric motor 3. Said cooling means 5 additionally preferably comprises recirculation means, for example a pipe adapted for collecting cryogenic liquid L at the output of the Stirling heat pump 2 and for pumping it into said heat exchanger. Said primary pump 4 is preferably a high pressure pump capable of pumping said cryogenic liquid L at a pressure of more than 40 bar, preferably more than 70 bar, more preferably more than 100 bar and, for example, from 100 to 3000 bar. Thus, said pumping step is preferably a high pressure pumping step to bring the cryogenic liquid L to one of the above pressure ranges. Optionally, the coolant 5 is also adapted to cool said Stirling heat pump 2 by means of said cryogenic liquid L supplied from said primary pump 4, thereby accelerating the condensation of the cryogenic liquid L in said Stirling heat pump 2 and allowing the latter to minimize losses (for example, by heating ).

One of the advantages of the cooling configuration provided by the invention is that cryogenic liquids often have very low viscosity, so that the viscosity of liquefied air (forming, for example, said cryogenic liquid L), for example, is about 20 times lower than the viscosity of liquid water. Thus, thanks to the cooling system 1 and the cooling method according to the invention, it is possible to easily pump the cryogenic liquid L using said primary pump 4, and this at a controlled energy cost, not only due to the low viscosity of the realized cryogenic liquids, but also the operating temperatures of the primary pump 4, which are preferably very low and allow said primary pump 4 to be implemented under superconductivity constraints, thanks to the cooling of said primary pump 4 itself by said cryogenic liquid L.

Another advantage of the cooling configuration provided by the invention is that the injection (preferably at high pressure) of the cryogenic liquid L, which can thus be carried out practically without loss (in particular of electrical energy) by said primary pump 4, allows maximizing the efficiency of use of the specified cryogenic liquid L in a wide range of applications. One of the advantages of such injection of cryogenic liquid L is that it allows the latter to quickly cool said primary electric motor 3.

Said primary pump 4 comprises, for example, pumping means, which can in particular be centrifugal, positive displacement or vacuum. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the primary pump 4 comprises a secondary electric motor (not shown), and the cooling system 1 is adapted to cool said secondary electric motor by means of a cryogenic liquid L supplied from said Stirling heat pump 2. Thus, preferably in the cooling step, cryogenic liquid L supplied from said Stirling heat pump 2 cools said secondary motor.

According to this configuration, in the cooling system 1, the cryogenic liquid L preferably enables the primary motor 3, and preferably also the secondary motor, to operate at cryogenic temperatures. Said electric motor(s) are thus preferably operated under near-superconducting conditions due to their low operating temperature, and this configuration significantly reduces magnetic circuit losses (called iron losses) and Joule effect losses (called copper losses, due to the electrical resistance) of the electric motor(s) 3. Thus, from an energy point of view, the cooling system 1 operates with almost no losses other than frictional losses, which are otherwise very low in the primary pump 4 and even in the heat pump 2 Stirling, when said cryogenic liquid L has a low viscosity. Thus, the cooling system 1 and the cooling method can be implemented with minimal electrical energy without significant losses of the latter.

Said primary motor 3 and secondary motor are preferably different from each other to provide better control of the cooling system and cooling method, but alternatively they can be formed by the same single motor which performs two functions: driving said Stirling heat pump 2 and commissioning of said primary pump 4 or, more precisely, its pumping means.

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, the cooling system 1 also includes a device for generating electrical energy from a renewable energy source (not shown), wherein said primary motor 3 and/or said primary pump 4 are adapted to power (thus electrical energy) said device , generating energy. Said energy generating device relates, for example, to intermittent generation devices and may in particular comprise one or more wind turbines, as well as one or more solar panels (in particular photovoltaic). Thus, in relation

- 4 044860 According to this particular embodiment, the cooling method includes the step of generating electrical energy from a renewable energy source, for example, an intermittent one such as a wind or solar energy source, to power (thus with electrical energy) said prime mover 3 and /or to ensure the specified pumping step. Naturally, said power generation step is preferably carried out by said power generation device. This configuration is particularly advantageous as it provides an optimized carbon footprint, low overall heating and therefore an optimized environmental impact, i.e. reduced or even almost zero or zero impact.

Particularly preferably, the cooling system 1 further comprises an evaporator 6 for evaporating at least a portion of said pressurized cryogenic liquid L supplied from said primary motor 3 to produce an output gas Gs and to collect cooling energy. Said evaporator 6 may be formed by a single block or a plurality of blocks, each block preferably forming a specific heat exchanger. Said evaporator 6 can be considered as a general heat exchanger, one of the main functions of which is to heat said cryogenic liquid L to evaporate it into said output gas G _s . Said evaporator 6 may also be adapted to transfer cooling energy from said outlet gas G _s (which remains relatively cold in evaporator 6, for example -10 to -120° C.) to another component or, in other words, transfer heat from that other component to said outlet gas Gs.

In accordance with certain specific embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, said evaporator 6 comprises at least one primary heat exchanger 7 designed to collect, on the one hand, said incoming gas _Ge for cooling it before it enters said Streeling heat pump 2, and, on the other hand, at least least part of said cryogenic liquid L coming from said primary electric motor 3 to heat it. Preferably, said evaporator 6 further comprises at least one secondary heat exchanger 8 for heating said outlet gas G _s or at least a portion of said cryogenic liquid L supplied from said primary heat exchanger 7 by means of a heat source Q.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the cooling system 1 includes a module 9 for powering said heat source Q. Particularly preferably, said power module 9 is formed by a solar power generation device 10, a combustion heat recovery system 51, for example from an internal combustion engine 50, or a waste heat recovery system from cooling system 1 or from another system.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the cooling system 1 contains a helium liquefaction device 30, which contains at least a heat exchanger (31) designed to collect, on the one hand, helium gas, not to cool it to a cryotemperature, for example, 120 K or less (or another already said cryogenic temperature), and, on the other hand, cryogenic liquid L under pressure coming from the primary electric motor (3), for heating it, an isenthalpic expansion module 32 designed to carry out isenthalpic expansion of the cooled helium gas He coming from the heat exchanger 31, for liquefaction of said helium gas He.

Thus, said heat exchanger 31 is part of said evaporator 6 and may be formed, for example, by said primary heat exchanger 7 or said secondary heat exchanger 8, or be a separate unit. In other words, said evaporator (6) contains said heat exchanger (31).

Preferably, said helium liquefaction device 30 further comprises at least one or more of the following:

a circuit 33 for cooling a magnetic element 34, such as a medical imaging magnet, using liquefied helium He supplied from said isenthalpic expansion module such that the liquefied helium cannot be heated enough to evaporate into gaseous helium He, a secondary compressor 36 designed for compressing helium gas coming from said cooling circuit 33 and for directing it to said heat exchanger 31, and a secondary turbine 35 located upstream of said isenthalpic expansion module 32 and designed to recover mechanical energy from the cooled helium gas entering from heat exchanger 31, wherein said secondary turbine 35 drives (at least partially) said secondary compressor 36 (with mechanical energy, directly, or with electrical energy, indirectly, for example, through an electric generator).

In accordance with the embodiments of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the cooling system 1 includes a mechanical energy recovery device 12 for recovering fur

- 5 044860 nic energy produced by displacing said outlet gas Gs. Preferably, the cooling method thus includes, downstream of said cooling step, the step of recovering the mechanical energy produced by displacing said outlet gas Gs. Preferably, said displacement of the outlet gas Gs is caused by the passage of at least a portion of said cryogenic liquid L into a gaseous state as said outlet gas Gs and/or heating and/or expansion of said second component of the outlet gas Gs. Thus, the displacement of said outlet gas G _s is preferably a source of mechanical work operated by said mechanical energy recovery device 12.

This configuration makes it possible to obtain a particularly favorable energy balance, i.e. with little waste and losses and maximum energy efficiency. For example, said main pump 4 is at least partially driven by said mechanical energy recovery device 12. Therefore, according to the last example, said pumping step is at least partially carried out by energy recovered from the mechanical energy recovery step.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, said mechanical energy recovery device 12 comprises at least one electrical generator 13. Said mechanical energy recovery device 12 further comprises, for example, a primary turbine 14 connected to said electrical generator 13, the primary turbine 14 being rotated by said output gas Gs. Alternatively, the mechanical energy recovered by said mechanical energy recovery device 12 is reused in mechanical form. Thus, said mechanical energy recovery device 12, or more precisely, said electrical generator 13, is preferably adapted to produce electrical energy E _e from the recovered mechanical energy.

Preferably, the cooling system 1 comprises, upstream of said Stirling heat pump 2, a primary compressor 15 adapted to compress said input gas _Ge , as shown in FIG. 1-4. This compressor 35 preferably makes it possible to facilitate the flow of incoming gas _Ge , for example air, into the cooling system 1 to produce said cryogenic liquid L. Preferably, said primary compressor 15 is at least partially controlled by said mechanical energy recovery device 12, for example by transmission of mechanical and/or electrical energy Em/ _e . Thus, preferably, the cooling method includes, upstream of said cooling step, a compression step in which said incoming Ge gas is compressed, wherein said compression step is more preferably at least partially carried out by energy recovered from said mechanical recovery step. energy. Thus, the energy balance and overall efficiency of the cooling system 1 are further improved.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the cooling system further comprises a module 16 for electrolyzing water H ₂ O into dihydrogen H ₂ and dioxygen O ₂ driven by at least said electric generator 13. Thus, said electric generator 13 supplies the generated electrical energy E _e to the module The electrolysis module 16 is preferably continuous, which saves significant amounts of energy because it is no longer necessary to power said electrolysis module 16 completely independently. This configuration is particularly preferred since electrolysis of water is very expensive in terms of electrical energy.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the cooling system 1 preferably includes a heat exchange module 17 adapted to cool at least until the dioxygen O2 supplied from the electrolysis module 16 is liquefied to form liquefied dioxygen O2, and heat the output gas Gs supplied from the mechanical energy recovery device 12.

Also in accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the cooling system 1 also includes a methane reforming unit 18 adapted to react carbon dioxide CO2 with dihydrogen _H2 coming from said aqueous electrolysis module 16 to form methane _CH4 and water _H2O . The methane _CH4 thus formed can preferably injected into the internal combustion engine 50 as a fuel, while liquefied dioxygen O ₂ may be injected into the internal combustion engine 50 as an oxidizer.

The invention also applies as such, in accordance with the third aspect illustrated by the examples in FIGS. 3 and 4, to a motor assembly 60 comprising at least a cooling system 1 as described above and optionally hereinafter, said cooling system 1 adapted to produce liquefied dioxygen O2, and an internal combustion engine 50 located downstream of said system. 1 cooling and containing a combustion chamber 25.

The motor unit 60 is, of course, preferably implemented by means of the cooling system 1 mentioned above and described in more detail below. Therefore, it is preferable

- 6 044860 above (and optionally the following) the description of the cooling system 1 and the cooling method is thus also applicable to the motor assembly 60 according to the present invention, and vice versa.

According to this third aspect of the invention, the cooling system 1 is connected to said internal combustion engine 50 to be able to inject said liquefied dioxygen O2 into said combustion chamber 25.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3, liquefied dioxygen O ₂ is supplied from the aqueous electrolysis module 16.

Preferably, the cooling system 1 is also adapted to inject said CH4 methane into said combustion chamber 25.

For example, the internal combustion engine 50 is a four-stroke engine, a two-stroke engine, a rotary piston engine (as illustrated), a gas turbine, or a Stirling engine. Thus, said internal combustion engine 50 is preferably designed to supply oxidizer and fuel, either of which may be supplied from said cooling system 1.

According to a specific embodiment, an example of which is illustrated in FIG. 3, compatible in particular with the third aspect of the invention and/or only with the first and second aspects, said cryogenic liquid L coming from said primary electric motor 3 is formed of at least a first component C ₁ and a second component C ₂ . different from each other and in a liquid state.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, the cooling system 1 further comprises a separator 19 adapted to separate, by magnetism, said first and second components C1, C2 in a liquid state, wherein one of said first and second components C1, C2 in a liquid state is much more paramagnetic than the other said first and second components C1, C2. Thus, according to this latter embodiment, the cooling method further includes the step of separating, by magnetism, said first and second components C1, C2 in a liquid state. Of course, said separation step is preferably carried out by means of said separator 19.

According to the first example, as shown in FIG. 3, said inlet gas Ge _is formed by air, and said first component C1 is formed mainly by dioxygen O ₂ , while said second component C ₂ is formed mainly by dinitrogen N2. Preferably, said second component C ₂ thus further contains argon Ar and/or carbon dioxide CO 2 , both of which are present in the air in a proportion significantly lower than that of dinitrogen N 2 . According to a second example, said inlet gas G _e is primarily formed from natural gas or biomethane (i.e., from an essentially biological methane production process), said first component C1 being predominantly formed from methane CH4, while said second component C2, in in particular, in a liquid state, formed from natural gas or biomethane effluents, said effluents in this case being predominantly formed from the liquid fraction of natural gas or biomethane released by treating the incoming gas G _e (cooling to liquefaction), purified of its main valuable product , i.e. in this case methane CH4. Indeed, natural gas and biomethane are usually formed from a mixture of several chemical compounds, among which methane CH ₄ usually predominates.

Said separator 19 preferably further comprises an induction pump 20, for example single-phase or three-phase, adapted to displace from the separator 19 said most paramagnetic component of said first and second components C1, C2, preferably while being pressurized. Preferably, said separator 19 comprises a magnetic trap 21 adapted to emit a magnetic field 100 to retain the most paramagnetic component of said first and second components C1, C2 substantially within a trap portion 22 of said separator 19. Preferably, said separating step thus , comprises a magnetic trapping step in which a magnetic field 100 is emitted so as to retain the most paramagnetic component of said first and second components C1, C2 substantially in a trapping region 23 that is preferably formed or surrounded by said trapping portion 22. Naturally, said magnetic trapping step is preferably implemented by said magnetic trap 21. Preferably, said separator 19 comprises means 24 for settling said cryogenic liquid L, with a portion of at least said settling means 24 forming said trap part 22. Thus, the cooling method preferably includes the step of settling said cryogenic liquid L, said settling step being preferably carried out by means of said settling means 24, which comprises, for example, a settling chamber. Preferably, said precipitation and trapping steps are at least partially concomitant. Preferably, said magnetic trap 21 and said induction pump 20 are used in combination, said induction pump 20 being located downstream of the magnetic trap 21 and allowing the step of separating said first and second components C1, C2 to be completed. According to the operation example given

- 7 044860 by way of illustrative and non-limiting example only, to complete this separation, the first component C ₁ in liquid state (liquid dioxygen O2 in the case where the incoming gas _Ge is air) is sucked into the magnetic trap 21 by means of an induction pump 20, magnetic the field of which, due to the phase shift, generates a magnetic wave which moves along the drain pipe, forming an outlet for the said first component C ₁ in the liquid state, thereby attracting the first component C ₁ in the liquid state (formed, for example, by liquid dioxygen O ₂ ) beyond the settling medium 24, thereby creating pressure. The speed of movement of the first component C ₁ in the liquid state is preferably proportional to the frequency of the current supplying the induction pump 20 and to Lorentz forces.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the magnetic trap 21, or more specifically said trap portion 22, preferably comprises a magnetic network of small magnets 26 which form small three-dimensional cells and provide radiation of said magnetic field 100. The array of said magnets 17 may form a cube, a cylinder or a cone, the cells become smaller as they approach the bottom. This configuration is similar to a magnetic filter with decreasing grids. In fig. 9, the subscripts P+ and P- preferably represent partial pressure gradients due to the concentration of liquid dioxygen O ₂ (or, more generally, the first component C ₁ ) and liquid dinitrogen N ₂ (or, more generally, said second component C ₂ ), respectively, in the magnetic trap 21, while the horizontal arrows from the symbols O ₂ and N2 represent the corresponding hydraulic velocities of liquid dioxygen O ₂ and liquid dinitrogen N ₂ , with the curve on the left representing the distribution of velocities of the first and second components C ₁ , C ₂ , mixed in a liquid state immediately before their magnetic separation. Preferably, under the influence of the magnetic field 100, said liquid dioxygen O2 (or, more generally, said first component C1) approaches the first wall 27 of the magnetic trap 21, behind which said magnets 26 are located, while dinitrogen N2 (or, more generally sense, the second component C ₂ ) approaches the second wall 28 of the magnetic trap 21, opposite the first wall 27 and not having a magnet, and the magnetic field 100 exerts a magnetic force Fm only on the paramagnetic dioxygen molecules O ₂ (or, more generally, on the most paramagnetic from said first and second components C ₁ , C ₂ , preferably said first component C ₁ ), and not on dinitrogen molecules N2. Thus, in accordance with this alternative embodiment with a magnetic separator 19, the separation step and/or separator 19 according to the invention uses the paramagnetic capacity of liquid dioxygen O ₂ (and, more generally, said first component C ₁ in liquid state), which, therefore held between the magnetic poles and/or attracted by the magnetic field 11 to separate it from the dinitrogen N2 and argon Ar (and, more generally, from said second component _C2 in the liquid state). Indeed, liquid argon Ar and liquid dinitrogen N2, being essentially non-magnetic, are preferably not confined by the magnetic field 100.

Said induction pump 20 comprises, in accordance with the preferred example illustrated in FIG. 7, a three-phase wire winding 70 for collecting said first component C ₁ in the deposition means 6 and, downstream of this winding 70, one or more three-phase coils 71, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Such a configuration preferably allows both to improve the final separation of said first and second components C ₁ , C ₂ and to increase the pressure, that is, to a significant extent, wherein said first liquid component C ₁ is finally separated from said second liquid component C ₂ .

This particular configuration with separator 19 operating by magnetism is particularly advantageous since the operating temperatures of magnetic separator 19 and, in particular, said magnetic trap 21 and said induction pump 20 are very low (cryotemperatures). Thus, the conductive parts of the separator 19, in particular in the case of magnets and more particularly electromagnets, are within the natural superconductivity of copper or aluminum, so that electric currents of any magnitude can be used, generating high magnetic forces with little heating and therefore , small electrical and thermal losses.

According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the motor assembly 60 is configured such that the cooling system 1 can introduce into said combustion chamber 25 a first component C ₁ in a liquid state coming from the separator 19, said first component C ₁ in a liquid state preferably forming said liquefied dioxygen O ₂ . Preferably, said first injected component C ₁ is thus intended to be used as an oxidizer in the internal combustion engine 50.

Thus, said separator 19 is configured to inject said second component C2 in a liquid state into said evaporator 6 and not inject said first component C1 in a liquid state into the evaporator 6. For example, the motor assembly 60 is configured such that the second component C2 is formed ( mainly) said liquid dinitrogen N2 and is introduced into the evaporator 6, while the first component C1 is formed by said liquid dioxygen O2 and is directly injected into said internal combustion engine 50 to carry out combustion in an oxygen environment, as shown in FIG. 3.

- 8 044860

Therefore, a specific alternative embodiment of the third aspect of the invention relates to a motor assembly 60 comprising:

a cooling system 1 and an internal combustion engine 50 located downstream of said cooling system 1 and comprising a combustion chamber 25, the cooling system 1 connected to said engine 26 so as to be able to inject said first component C ₁ into said combustion chamber 25. The latter, of course, is preferentially formed by dioxygen O ₂ .

Preferably, said engine 50 includes an exhaust outlet 42 adapted to discharge at least one exhaust component C _e in a gaseous state from said combustion chamber 25. Even more preferably, downstream of said exhaust outlet (42), said evaporator (6) is configured to cool said exhaust component (C _e ) coming from said exhaust outlet (42) and heat said second component (C2) , coming from the specified separator (19). Thus, said exhaust outlet 42 preferably forms a part of said combustion heat recovery device 51 .

The fuel of the internal combustion engine 50 may be, in particular, a hydrocarbon, for example methane CH ₄ or dihydrogen H2. When the fuel is a hydrocarbon and, in particular, methane CH4, the exhaust component C _e in the gaseous state, which contains the combustion products of the engine 26, will be formed mainly from water and carbon dioxide CO2. When the fuel is dihydrogen H ₂ , the exhaust component C _e in the gaseous state will be mainly or almost exclusively water. The absence of dinitrogen N2 in the combustion chamber, due to the direct injection of pure liquid (or potentially gaseous) dioxygen O2, is one of the advantages of the motor assembly 60 according to the invention (two specific versions of which are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4), in particular with regard to the reduction of pollution , bound to nitric oxide, also called _NOx . Indeed, the internal combustion engine 50 of the motor assembly 60, in the absence of nitrogen in the combustion chamber 25, produces little or no NOx.

Preferably, the motor assembly 60 includes a combustion heat recovery device 51, preferably as described above, for recovering combustion heat of the exhaust component C _e coming from said combustion chamber 25 .

Preferably, the motor assembly 60 is configured in such a way that the evaporator 6 cools said exhaust component C _e at least until the primary part of the latter liquefies, as shown in FIG. 3 and 4. Preferably, the motor assembly 60 is adapted to use said liquefied primary portion to liquefy a secondary portion of said exhaust component Ce, said primary and secondary portions being different from each other. Said primary part is predominantly formed mainly from carbon dioxide CO2, while said secondary part is mainly formed from water, as shown in FIG. 3 and 4. Even more preferably, said one combustion heat recovery device 51 comprises a re-injection device (not illustrated) adapted to sweep said combustion chamber 25 with said primary portion and/or secondary portion (in a liquid or alternatively gaseous state) to removing said exhaust component C _e from the combustion chamber 25. This configuration improves the performance of the internal combustion engine 50 by effectively lengthening the exhaust component C _e from the latter. For example, particularly when the fuel is a hydrocarbon, said reinjection device is adapted to inject a liquid primary formed from carbon dioxide into said combustion chamber 25 to optimize cleaning of the latter, i.e. to remove all gases burned during combustion and forming the exhaust component Ce in a gaseous state.

The invention also relates as such, according to a fourth aspect, to a method of adapting an internal combustion engine 50 comprising at least an intake manifold and a combustion chamber 25, said adaptation method including at least the step of closing or removing said intake manifold of the engine 26 , an installation step in which the cooling system 1 as described above is connected to said internal combustion engine 50, on said closed or remote intake manifold and thus upstream of said combustion chamber 25, allowing liquefied dioxygen O to be injected into the latter ₂ produced by said cooling system 1.

Preferably, at the end of said installation step, said internal combustion engine 50 and cooling system 1 form a motor assembly 60 as described above.

For example, said liquefied dioxygen O2 may be formed by said first component C1 coming from the separator 19, as shown in FIG. 3, or dioxygen O ₂ formed by the water hydrolysis module 16 and liquefied by said heat exchange module 17, or a combination of both components. Of course, the following and previous description of the cooling system 1, the motor unit 60 and the cooling method are therefore also applicable to the adaptation method according to the present invention, and vice versa.

The invention also relates as such, according to a fifth aspect, to a combustion method in an oxygen environment, including a cooling method as described above, wherein the combustion method in an acidic environment

- 9 044860 native environment further includes the step of injecting dioxygen O2, liquefied during the cooling method, into the combustion chamber 25 of the internal combustion engine 50. Of course, the following and previous description of the cooling system 1, the motor unit 60, the cooling method and even the adaptation method are thus also applicable to the oxygen combustion method according to the present invention, and vice versa. For example, said inlet gas Ge _is formed by air, said first component C ₁ is formed mainly by dioxygen O ₂ , and during said injection step, the first component C ₁ is injected into said combustion chamber 25 .

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the internal combustion engine 50 has a rotating piston 44 (having the shape of a Reuleaux triangle). The internal combustion engine 50 with a rotating piston 44 of the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 10 comprises two opposed spark plugs 39, two also opposed common fuel and oxidizer injections 40, 41, and two also opposed exhaust outlets 42 adapted to discharge the exhaust component C _e in a gaseous state, as described above. Said oxidizing agent is preferably formed by liquid dioxygen O ₂ formed, for example, by said first component C ₁ . Oxygen combustion in this case overcomes the recurring low compression problems of conventional rotary piston engines, in particular by adapting the rotation speed of the rotating piston 44.

The cooling system 1 is also adapted to produce small quantities of said liquefied first component C ₁ or, after returning the latter to a gaseous state, to produce small quantities of said liquefied first component C ₁ in a gaseous state but compressed (ie at a relatively high pressure).

The invention also relates, as such, in accordance with a fifth aspect not illustrated herein, to a high power air conditioning system comprising the above-described refrigeration system, wherein the cooling energy of the high power air conditioning system is supplied through said evaporator 6.

Conventionally, purely by way of indication and without limitation, the signs (g) and (liq) are used in the figures to indicate the gaseous and liquid states, respectively, of the various components. In the figures, arrows located on either side of continuous lines preferably indicate the direction of flow, for example, the flow of He( _g ), that is, the flow of helium He in the gaseous state.

Terms such as first, second, third, fourth, fifth, primary, secondary, tertiary as used herein are preferably used for distinction only and not to indicate rank or indicate a serial number. For example, a second element may be introduced without necessarily also introducing a first element of the same nature or its implicit presence.

Industrial applicability

To summarize, the invention relates to the problems of liquefied gas production, pollution control and energy efficiency of internal combustion engines, and more generally to energy conservation, and a possible application is the production of cryogenic liquid with optimized energy consumption.

Claims (30)

1. A cooling system (1) comprising at least a Stirling heat pump (2) adapted to cool the incoming gas (Ge) to a cryogenic temperature in order to form a cryogenic liquid (L), a primary electric motor (3) designed to provide operation of said Stirling heat pump (2), a primary pump (4) for circulating said cryogenic liquid (L) under pressure, and a coolant (5) for cooling said primary electric motor (3) by means of the cryogenic liquid (L), coming from said primary pump (4). 2. Cooling system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the primary pump (4) contains a secondary electric motor, wherein the cooling system (1) is adapted to cool said secondary electric motor by means of a cryogenic liquid (L) supplied from said heat pump ( 2) Stirling. 3. Cooling system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it contains a helium liquefaction device (30), which contains at least a heat exchanger (31) designed to collect, on the one hand, helium gas for its cooling to a cryogenic temperature, for example, 120 K or less, and, on the other hand, cryogenic liquid (L) under pressure coming from the primary electric motor (3), for heating it, an isenthalpic expansion module (32) designed to carry out isenthalpic expansion of the cooled helium gas (He) supplied from the heat exchanger (31) to liquefy said helium gas (He). - 10 044860 4. Cooling system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said helium liquefaction device (30) further comprises a circuit (33) for cooling a magnetic element (34), such as a medical imaging magnet, using liquefied helium (He), isenthalpic expansion coming from said module (32), so that liquefied helium (He) is heated enough to evaporate into helium gas (He), a secondary compressor (36) designed to compress the helium gas (He) coming from said circuit (30) cooling, and for directing it to the specified heat exchanger (31), and a secondary turbine (35) located upstream of the specified isenthalpic expansion module (32) and designed to recover mechanical energy from the cooled helium gas (He) coming from the heat exchanger ( 31), wherein said secondary turbine (35) drives said secondary compressor (36). 5. Cooling system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it contains an evaporator (6) designed to evaporate at least part of the specified cryogenic liquid (L) under pressure coming from the specified primary electric motor (3 ), to form an outlet gas (G _s ) and to collect cooling energy. 6. Cooling system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said evaporator (6) contains at least one primary heat exchanger (7) designed to collect, on the one hand, said incoming gas (G _e ) for cooling it before it enters said Stirling heat pump (2), and, on the other hand, at least part of said cryogenic liquid (L) coming from said primary electric motor (3) to heat it. 7. Cooling system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said evaporator (6) additionally contains at least one secondary heat exchanger (8) designed to heat said output gas (G _s ) or at least part of said cryogenic liquid (L) coming from said primary heat exchanger (7) via a heat source (Q). 8. Cooling system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that it contains a module (9) for powering said heat source (Q), wherein said power module (9) is formed by a solar energy production device (10), system (51) for recovery of combustion heat or a device for recovery of waste heat from the cooling system (1) or from another system. 9. Cooling system (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that it contains a mechanical energy recovery device (12) for recovering the mechanical energy produced by displacing said outlet gas (G _s ). 10. The cooling system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises, located upstream of said Stirling heat pump (2), a primary compressor (15) adapted to compress said incoming gas (Ge), wherein said primary compressor ( 15), is at least partially controlled by said mechanical energy recovery device (12). 11. Cooling system (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said mechanical energy recovery device (34) contains at least one electric generator (13), and the cooling system (1) additionally contains an electrolysis module (16) water into dinitrogen (H ₂ ) and dioxygen (O ₂ ), driven by at least the specified electric generator (13). 12. Cooling system (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that it additionally contains a heat exchange module (17) adapted for cooling at least until the dioxygen (O2) supplied from the electrolysis module (16) is liquefied to form a liquefied dioxygen (O2), and heating the output gas (G _s ) coming from the mechanical energy recovery device (12). 13. Cooling system (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that it additionally contains a methane reforming unit (18) adapted to ensure the reaction of carbon dioxide (CO2) with dihydrogen (H2) coming from said module (16) electrolysis of water, to form methane (CH ₄ ) and water (H ₂ O). 14. Cooling system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that said cryogenic liquid (L) coming from said primary electric motor (3) is formed from at least a first component (C1) and a second components (C ₂ ), different from each other and in a liquid state, and the cooling system (1) additionally contains a separator (19) adapted for separating, by means of magnetism, said first and second components (C1, C ₂ ) in a liquid state, while one of said first and second components (C1, C ₂ ) in the liquid state is much more paramagnetic than the other of said first and second components (C1, C ₂ ). 15. Cooling system (1) according to claims 5 and 14, characterized in that said separator (19) is configured to inject said second component (C2) in a liquid state into said evaporator (6) and not inject said first component (C1 ) in a liquid state into the evaporator (6). 16. Cooling system (1) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that said separator (19) additionally contains an induction pump (20), for example, single-phase or three-phase, device - 11 044860 for removing from the separator (19) the most paramagnetic component of said first and second components (C1, C2), preferably by increasing its pressure. 17. Cooling system (1) according to any one of claims 14-16, characterized in that said separator (19) contains a magnetic trap (21) adapted to emit a magnetic field (100) to retain the most paramagnetic component of the first and a second component (C1, _C2 ) essentially inside the trap portion (22) of said separator (19). 18. Cooling system (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that said separator (19) contains means (24) for settling said cryogenic liquid (L), wherein a part of at least said means (24) for settling forms said part (22) traps. 19. Cooling system (1) according to any one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that said inlet gas (G _e ) is formed by air, and said first component (C1) is formed mainly by dioxygen (O ₂ ), while said second component (C ₂ ) is formed mainly by dinitrogen (N2). 20. Cooling system (1) according to any one of claims 14 to 19, characterized in that it is connected to an internal combustion engine (50) containing a combustion chamber (25), and the cooling system (1) is adapted for injection into said chamber ( 25) combustion of the first component (C1) coming from the separator (19). 21. Cooling system (1) according to claim 20, characterized in that said first injected component (C1) is intended for use as an oxidizer in an internal combustion engine (50). 22. A high-power air conditioning system, characterized in that it comprises a cooling system according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the cooling energy of the high-power air conditioning system is provided by said evaporator (6). 23. Motor unit (60), characterized in that it contains at least a cooling system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein said cooling system (1) is adapted to produce liquefied dioxygen (O2), and an engine (50) internal combustion located downstream of said cooling system (1) and containing a combustion chamber (25), wherein the cooling system (1) is connected to said internal combustion engine (50) with the ability to inject said liquefied dioxygen (O ₂ ) into said combustion chamber (25). 24. The motor unit (60) according to claim 23, characterized in that it is designed so that the cooling system (1) is capable of introducing into said combustion chamber (25) the first component (C1) in a liquid state, coming from the separator (19) , wherein said first component (C1) in the liquid state preferably forms said liquefied dioxygen (O2). 25. Motor unit (60) according to claim 24, characterized in that said liquefied dioxygen (O ₂ ) comes from said water electrolysis module (16). 26. A method for adapting an internal combustion engine (50) comprising at least an intake manifold and a combustion chamber (25), characterized in that it includes at least a step of closing or removing said engine intake manifold (26), an installation step wherein the cooling system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 21 is connected to said internal combustion engine (50), on said closed or remote intake manifold, and thus upstream of said combustion chamber (25), to enable the latter to be injected with liquefied dioxygen (O ₂ ) produced by said cooling system (1). 27. Adaptation method according to claim 26, characterized in that at the end of said installation step, said internal combustion engine (50) and cooling system (1) form a motor unit (60) according to claim 24 or 25. 28. A cooling method comprising at least the step of cooling an incoming gas (Ge) by means of at least one Stirling heat pump (2) to form a cryogenic liquid (L), wherein said Stirling heat pump (2) is driven by a primary electric motor (3), a pumping step for circulating said cryogenic liquid (L) under pressure, and a cooling step in which said prime mover (3) is cooled by the cryogenic liquid (L) coming from said pumping step. 29. The cooling method according to claim 28, characterized in that said cryogenic liquid (L) supplied from said primary electric motor (3) is formed from at least a first component (C1) and a second component (C ₂ ), different from each other and in a liquid state, wherein the cooling method further includes the step of separating, by magnetism, said first and second components (C1, _C2 ) in a liquid state, wherein one of said first and second components (C1, _C2 ) in a liquid state has the paramagnetic character is much greater than the other of said first and second components (C1, _C2 ). 30. An oxygen combustion method, characterized in that it includes a cooling method according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the oxygen combustion method further includes the step of injecting dioxygen (O ₂ ), liquefied during the cooling method, into the chamber (25) combustion of an internal combustion engine (50).