GB2487815A - Gas compressor using high pressure fluid - Google Patents
Gas compressor using high pressure fluid Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2487815A GB2487815A GB1117540.3A GB201117540A GB2487815A GB 2487815 A GB2487815 A GB 2487815A GB 201117540 A GB201117540 A GB 201117540A GB 2487815 A GB2487815 A GB 2487815A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- gas
- pressure vessel
- fluid
- compressor
- water
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 56
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 118
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 99
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 33
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 20
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 20
- 238000010926 purge Methods 0.000 description 12
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- 229910001873 dinitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 6
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 4
- MYMOFIZGZYHOMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Dioxygen Chemical compound O=O MYMOFIZGZYHOMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229910001882 dioxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000003792 electrolyte Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 3
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229920002430 Fibre-reinforced plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- KDLHZDBZIXYQEI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Palladium Chemical compound [Pd] KDLHZDBZIXYQEI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000011151 fibre-reinforced plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000005060 rubber Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002528 anti-freeze Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009835 boiling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000003054 catalyst Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010720 hydraulic oil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002431 hydrogen Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005065 mining Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002808 molecular sieve Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052763 palladium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- URGAHOPLAPQHLN-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium aluminosilicate Chemical compound [Na+].[Al+3].[O-][Si]([O-])=O.[O-][Si]([O-])=O URGAHOPLAPQHLN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011877 solvent mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B43/00—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
- F04B43/02—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04F—PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED; SIPHONS
- F04F13/00—Pressure exchangers
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B9/00—Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members
- F04B9/08—Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being fluid
- F04B9/10—Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being fluid the fluid being liquid
- F04B9/103—Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being fluid the fluid being liquid having only one pumping chamber
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B37/00—Pumps having pertinent characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B25/00 - F04B35/00
- F04B37/10—Pumps having pertinent characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B25/00 - F04B35/00 for special use
- F04B37/12—Pumps having pertinent characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B25/00 - F04B35/00 for special use to obtain high pressure
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B39/00—Component parts, details, or accessories, of pumps or pumping systems specially adapted for elastic fluids, not otherwise provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B25/00 - F04B37/00
- F04B39/0005—Component parts, details, or accessories, of pumps or pumping systems specially adapted for elastic fluids, not otherwise provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B25/00 - F04B37/00 adaptations of pistons
- F04B39/0011—Component parts, details, or accessories, of pumps or pumping systems specially adapted for elastic fluids, not otherwise provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B25/00 - F04B37/00 adaptations of pistons liquid pistons
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B45/00—Pumps or pumping installations having flexible working members and specially adapted for elastic fluids
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B45/00—Pumps or pumping installations having flexible working members and specially adapted for elastic fluids
- F04B45/04—Pumps or pumping installations having flexible working members and specially adapted for elastic fluids having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms
- F04B45/053—Pumps having fluid drive
- F04B45/0536—Pumps having fluid drive the actuating fluid being controlled by one or more valves
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B45/00—Pumps or pumping installations having flexible working members and specially adapted for elastic fluids
- F04B45/06—Pumps or pumping installations having flexible working members and specially adapted for elastic fluids having tubular flexible members
- F04B45/073—Pumps having fluid drive
- F04B45/0736—Pumps having fluid drive the actuating fluid being controlled by one or more valves
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04F—PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED; SIPHONS
- F04F5/00—Jet pumps, i.e. devices in which flow is induced by pressure drop caused by velocity of another fluid flow
- F04F5/02—Jet pumps, i.e. devices in which flow is induced by pressure drop caused by velocity of another fluid flow the inducing fluid being liquid
- F04F5/04—Jet pumps, i.e. devices in which flow is induced by pressure drop caused by velocity of another fluid flow the inducing fluid being liquid displacing elastic fluids
- F04F5/08—Jet pumps, i.e. devices in which flow is induced by pressure drop caused by velocity of another fluid flow the inducing fluid being liquid displacing elastic fluids the elastic fluid being entrained in a free falling column of liquid
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04F—PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED; SIPHONS
- F04F5/00—Jet pumps, i.e. devices in which flow is induced by pressure drop caused by velocity of another fluid flow
- F04F5/14—Jet pumps, i.e. devices in which flow is induced by pressure drop caused by velocity of another fluid flow the inducing fluid being elastic fluid
- F04F5/16—Jet pumps, i.e. devices in which flow is induced by pressure drop caused by velocity of another fluid flow the inducing fluid being elastic fluid displacing elastic fluids
- F04F5/18—Jet pumps, i.e. devices in which flow is induced by pressure drop caused by velocity of another fluid flow the inducing fluid being elastic fluid displacing elastic fluids for compressing
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
- Jet Pumps And Other Pumps (AREA)
- Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
- Compressors, Vaccum Pumps And Other Relevant Systems (AREA)
- Compressor (AREA)
- Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
Abstract
A gas compressor comprising a source of high pressure fluid 16 and a pressure vessel 4 having a gas inlet 3 for the gas to be compressed, a gas outlet 9 and a fluid inlet 11 for the high pressure fluid, where the compressor is arranged to introduce the high pressure fluid into the pressure vessel via the fluid inlet to compress a volume of gas in the pressure vessel. Preferably the pressure vessel comprises a barrier member, such as an inflatable bag 10 connected to the fluid inlet, for separating the high pressure fluid from the gas within the pressure vessel. The high pressure fluid may be a liquid, such as water and the gas may be Hydrogen supplied by a water electrolyser 6. Preferably there is at least one additional pressure vessel 33, where the inlet of the additional vessel 32 is connected to the outlet of the previous vessel.
Description
High pressure hydrogen gas compressor
Background of the Invention
Field of the invention
The present invention, at least in its presently preferred embodiments, primarily relates to the compression of hydrogen gas and any other gaseous substance using a high pressure water pump which is highly energy efficient due to near isothermal compression.
Description of the Prior Art
The flow rate of the smallest commercial hydrogen compressor available on the market is significantly greater than the rate of gas production by small electrolysers.
For this reason a buffer tank is needed between the electrolyser and compressor to compensate for their mismatch.
The use of compressed air to pump water is well known in the prior art. The known prior art related to a water pump using compressed air includes US Pat. No. 6,942,463 where a combination water pump and air compression system is disclosed for performing two separate functions within one unit by providing compressed air and water.
US Patent No. 4, 478,553 discusses isothermal compression using impeller blades to produce a mixture of compressed water and air.
The use of a water column to increase the air pressure is also known in the prior art in gas turbine and power plant based applications.
US Patent No. 4,797,563 discloses a power plant where a water stream is used to create compressed air for the burners of a turbine without additional compression.
US Patent No. 5,537,813 discloses a method of increasing the operational capacity and efficiency of a combustion turbine system having a compressor, combustor and turbine generator by treatment of the inlet air prior to its introduction into the compressor; this is done by establishing a vertically descending flow of inlet air; introducing treatment water into the flow of inlet air to create a downward velocity greater than that of the inlet air to create drag-induced pressure increase in the inlet air.
Hydraulic air compressors have been in existence since approximately 1890 when they were used throughout North America and Europe to provide compressed air for mining camps.
The prior arts also include US Patents Nos. 543410, 543411, 543412, 618243, 892772, 199819, 3643426, 3797234, 4343569, 4391552.
While these prior art disclosures fulfil their respective objectives for compression of air, none of these inventions are suitable for compression of hydrogen gas.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a gas compressor comprising a source of high pressure fluid and a pressure vessel having a gas inlet for the gas to be compressed, a gas outlet for the compressed gas and a fluid inlet for the high pressure fluid. The compressor is arranged to introduce the high pressure fluid into the pressure vessel via the fluid inlet whereby to compress a volume of gas in the pressure vessel.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a safe and leak tight gas compressor due to the use of a water seal making it ideal for compression of explosive gases such as hydrogen. This invention allows a low pressure gas such as hydrogen from an atmospheric water electrolyser to increase the gas pressure significantly in a much more economical way than costly pressurised electrolysers or conventional hydrogen compressors. This new compressor can have a significantly lower number of parts and thus lower capital cost compared to a centrifugal air compressor, a piston-type compressor or a diaphragm-type gas compressor. Furthermore, this invention can eliminate the need for any buffer tank of hydrogen gas as the flow rate of the compressor can be in the range from 10 cc per minute to literally several hundred normal cubic meters per hour as this depends only on the flow rate of the water pump.
Moreover, the current invention, at least in preferred embodiments, is capable of
I
producing hydrogen or any other gas up to 700 bar by using multiple stage compression at near isothermal compression at a higher efficiency.
The present invention, at least in its preferred embodiments, increases the efficiency, reduces the capital cost, lower the maintenance cost and covers a very broad spectrum of operational range from very low flow rate to very high flow rate and a wide range of operating pressure which is not available in the prior art.
The fluid in the pressure vessel may be in direct contact with the gas to be compressed. For example, water may be pumped into a vertically-oriented pressure vessel in direct contact with the gas by a water pump. The water seal and the rising water column acts as a hydraulic piston. In this case, the compressor may not have a source of nitrogen gas for purging air, because the water may be filled up to the outlet of the pressure vessel to purge any air from the system.
However, in one embodiment, the pressure vessel comprises a barrier member for separating the high pressure fluid from the gas within the pressure vessel. In this way, the fluid does not come in contact with the subjected gas under compression.
The barrier member may be in the form of a piston received within the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel may be orientated in use such that fluid is introduced at the bottom of the pressure vessel and gas is introduced at the top of the pressure vessel. In this way, the piston, other barrier member or the volume of fluid in the pressure vessel may expand the volume available to the gas in the pressure vessel under the action of gravity. Thus, the compressor may comprise a mechanical piston installed inside a vertically oriented pressure vessel. The mechanical piston may be driven upward due to the back pressure created by the high pressure fluid source.
In one embodiment, the barrier member is in the form of an inflatable bag connected to the fluid inlet of the pressure vessel. An inflatable water bag has never before been used inside a pressure vessel to prevent direct contact between water and the subjected gas to be compressed. The inflatable water bag may be dimensioned to occupy the internal space of the pressure vessel when inflated, in order to pressurise the gas while keeping the switchable air vent on the inlet water pipe open to atmosphere. The internal shape and volume of the pressure vessel may be substantially identical to the external shape and volume of the inflatable water bag. The bag may be made of any flexible or composite materials such as reinforced rubber, fibre reinforced plastic etc. Water may be pumped at high pressure into the inflatable water bag to occupy the internal space of the pressure vessel and subsequently pressurise the gas in the pressure vessel while keeping the switchable air vent on the inlet water pipe open to atmosphere; under this condition water does not come into contact with the gas under compression in the pressure vessel.
Typically, the high pressure fluid is a liquid. In preferred embodiments, the high pressure fluid is water. Any non-compressive liquid or hydraulic fluid can be used instead of water. The gas compressor of the invention may use any suitable liquid medium such as water, water-solvent mixture, antifreeze mixture, various solvents with high boiling point, hydraulic oil etc. The pressure vessel may be connected to a mains source of high pressure fluid. Alternatively, the source of high pressure fluid may comprise a tank and a pump arranged to pump fluid from the tank to the fluid inlet of the pressure vessel.
The compressor may further comprise at least one further pressure vessel having a gas inlet connected to the gas outlet of the first pressure vessel and a fluid inlet for the high pressure fluid. The compressor may be arranged to introduce the high pressure fluid into the further pressure vessel via the fluid inlet whereby to compress further a volume of gas in the further pressure vessel. In this way, the desired pressure of the gas can be achieved in stages.
Efficiently, the fluid inlet of the further pressure vessel may be connected to the same source of high pressure fluid as the fluid inlet of the pressure vessel.
In a preferred application of the invention, the gas inlet of the pressure vessel is supplied with gas from a water electrolyser. In this application, and others, the gas is hydrogen. The gas compressor may be connected to a source of gas to be compressed or may be directly connected to an electrolyser to compress hydrogen and oxygen gas.
In one configuration, the gas compressor may comprise one or more of a bottom water tank, a high pressure water pump, at least one an inflatable water bag installed inside a pressure vessel, a gas inlet valve to the pressure vessel, a high pressure gas outlet purge valve from the pressure vessel, a nitrogen gas purging valve, switchable atmospheric air vents located on top of the bottom water tank, a piping configuration and valve mechanism, monitoring and control devices for pressure, temperature, flow rate and fluid level, non return valves installed after the high pressure gas-purge valve and after the outlet of the water pump, inline gas sensors, a liquid condensing and separation unit, an oxygen removal unit for removing oxygen from hydrogen gas, a gas drying unit and an electronic control system.
The nitrogen gas purging valve may be connected to the pressure vessel or to the hydrogen electrolyte tank of the electrolyser. The operating range of the compressor may be from lOmbar gauge pressure up to 700 bar in multiple stages depending on the output pressure of the water pump and the volume of the pressure vessel.
The outlet gas purge valve may deliver compressed gas or a compressed mixture of gases.
A liquid vapour condensing unit, a liquid separation unit, an oxygen removal unit, a gas drier and a liquid absorption unit may be fitted after the gas outlet purge valve of the pressure vessel.
A gas sensor may detect the purity of gas and send an electrical vohage and/or current signal to the electronic control box. The compressed gas may be vented to the atmosphere if the purity of the gas is not at a desired level or for any maintenance In operation, when the switchable air vent is open, the outlet gas-purge valve and the inlet gas valve of the pressure vessel are closed allowing the water level to fall under differential pressure from the inflatable water bag or from the pressure vessel itself into the bottom water tank.
The muhiple valve system may facilitate the emptying of water from the pressure vessel or the inflatable water bag by active pumping of water back into the bottom water tank.
In typical operation, the gas to be compressed is fed into the empty pressure vessel followed by compression by pumping water into the inflatable water bag or directly into the pressure vessel, as described above.
The inflatable water bag may be mechanically supported inside the pressure vessel when inflated. The differential pressure on the inflatable water bag or air bag may be controlled within a safe operating pressure.
The greater contact area with the gas as provided by the inflatable water bag or water seal ensures faster cooling of the gas at near isothermal condition and thus higher efficiency than conventional mechanical gas compressors. The flow rate of the gas to be compressed may be in the range of 10 cubic centimetres per minute to several hundred normal cubic metres per hour. The compressor may have an operating temperature in the range from minus 60 degrees C to 200 degrees C. The liquid medium and liquid pump is selected as per the optimum operating temperature, flow rate and operating pressure.
The invention also provides a gas compressor directly coupled with an atmospheric electrolyser, wherein the de-oxo-drier removes the traces of oxygen gas present in hydrogen gas followed by gas drying.
The main purpose of the present invention is to produce extremely low cost hydrogen gas compressors; however this invention is also applicable for any other gasses.
Embodiments of the present invention use an inflatable water bag and a high pressure water pump to operate at near isothermal conditions to produce a highly efficient gas compressor.
The operating range of the compressor is from 10 mbar gauge pressure up to very high pressure such as 700 bar in multiple stages depending on the output pressure of the water pump and the volume of the pressure vessel. The flow rate of the gas compressor is in the range of 10 cubic centimetres per minute to several hundreds normal cubic metres per hour.
The operating temperature of the gas compressor is in the range from minus 60°C to 200°C.
The gas compressor may have an optional nitrogen gas feed point to the pressure vessel to purge any gaseous substance from the system where hydrogen and other explosive gases are compressed instead of air or any other non-combustible gasses.
After the compressed gas is delivered to the supply line, the gas compressor prepares itself for the next compression cycle; it does so in a sequential method such as: i) Keep open the switchable air vent located at the bottom water tank, ii) Keep the outlet gas-purge valve closed iii) Close the inlet gas valve of the pressure vessel in closed position; The higher gas pressure inside the pressure vessel will deflate the water bags; the gas compressor operates the multiple valves as per the above sequence to empty the water from the pressure vessel or from the inflatable water bag by pumping water back into the bottom water tank.
For the next compression cycle, the gas is fed into the empty pressure vessel followed by pumping of water into the inflatable water bag or directly into the pressure vessel.
Brief description of the Drawings
The invention will be better understood with reference to Figure 1 which is a schematic diagram of various components of this invention; the sample calculation as shown in Table 1 provides an example of the compression ratio but following the same principle different compression ratios will be achieved by changing the physical parameters of this invention; Table 2 describes the sequence of valve control corresponding to Figure 1; there will be several ways to perform the operation using the same physical configuration and/or different configurations using the same components.
Description of the preferred embodiment
While the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing in which aspects of the preferred manner of practicing the present invention are shown, it is to be understood at the outset of the description which follows that persons of skill in the appropriate art may modify the invention herein described while still achieving the favourable results of this invention; accordingly the description which follows is to be understood as being a broad teaching disclosure directed to persons of skill in the appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon the present invention.
As best illustrated in Figure 1 hydrogen gas is supplied to a compressor according to an embodiment of the invention from a source of hydrogen gas via an adjoining pipe (1) and a first valve (2) to a gas inlet port (3) of a first pressure vessel (4); the source of this hydrogen as shown in Figure 1 is a hydrogen-electrolyte tank (5) of an electrolyser stack (6). The hydrogen electrolyte tank has a nitrogen gas inlet port (7) and a nitrogen gas purging valve (8).
The first pressure vessel (4) has a gas outlet port (9) and an inflatable water bag (10) securely fitted inside the pressure vessel by a leak free port (11). The gas and water do not come into direct contact within the first pressure vessel (4). A pressure sensor (12), and a temperature sensor (13) are fitted into the first pressure vessel to monitor the inside pressure and temperature of the first pressure vessel.
The inflatable water bag (10) is made of flexible materials such as reinforced rubber, composites, fibre reinforced plastic bags etc. The safe operating pressure of the inflatable water bag is about 10-15 bar and the design pressure is 25bar. The differential pressure between the inside and outside pressure of the fully inflated water bag never exceeds 15 bar because the water bag is supported when fully inflated by the wall of the pressure vessel; the physical volume change from the deflated to the inflated water bag is up to 20 times or even more; therefore the gas can be compressed up to 20 times by the fully inflated water bag resulting in 20 times increase in gas pressure inside the first pressure vessel (4).
The inflatable water bag receives intake water from a bottom water tank (16) which has two level sensors for low level sensor (17) and high level sensor (18); the water tank has an air vent valve (19) fitted on a pipe (20) securely connected to the water tank; A high pressure water pump (21) has a suction pipe (22) connected to the bottom water tank (16) securely fitted in place using standard pipe fittings; an outlet pipe (23) from the water pump has a second valve (24) and a non-return valve (25); after the non-retum valve (25) an outlet pipe (23) is connected to one port of a T-junction (26); the second port of the T-junction (26) facilitates the return flow of water into the water tank (16) while bypassing the water pump (21) via an adjoining pipe (56) and a sixth valve (55); the remaining port of the T-junction (26) pumps water via an adjoining pipe (27) up to another T-junction (28). The second port of the T-junction (28) is connected to the inflatable water bag via the leak free port (11) via a pressure regulator (29), a low pressure pipe (30) and a third valve (31).
The first pressure vessel (4) is securely connected to a leak free port (32) of a second pressure vessel (33) via an adjoining pipe (14) and a fourth valve (14).
The second pressure vessel (33) has a gas outlet port (34); an inflatable water bag (35) is securely fitted inside the pressure vessel via a leak free port (36); the gas and water do not come into direct contact within the second pressure vessel (33); a pressure sensor (37), and a temperature sensor (38) are fitted into the second pressure vessel to monitor the inside pressure and temperature of the second pressure vessel (33).
The gas outlet port is connected to a high pressure gas delivery pipe (39) a seventh valve (40), and a non return valve (41).
A water inlet port (32) of the inflatable water bag (35) of the second pressure vessel (33) is connected to the remaining port of the T-junction (28) via an adjoining pipe (42); a fifth valve(43) is securely fitted on a pipe (42) to control the flow of water into the inflatable water bag (35).
A gas purity sensor (44) is connected on an outlet pipe (39) after the non-return valve (41) and joined to a T-junction (45).
An air vent (46) is connected to one of the ports of the T-junction (45) by an adjoining pipe (49); an air vent valve (47) and a flame arrestor (48) arc fitted on to the pipe (49); this air vent is used to vent gases to the atmosphere into a safe place for maintenance purpose and if the gas purity is not suitable.
The remaining port of the T-junction (45) is connected by an adjoining pipe (50) to a gas-water separator (51).
A de-oxo unit (52) is connected to produce high purity (99.999%) hydrogen; a drier (53) assembly is connected to produce very dry hydrogen gas i.e. up to -60°C dew point; the dc-oxo unit (52) has a palladium catalyst bed which helps the reaction between the traces of oxygen gas present in hydrogen gas with hydrogen itself to form water vapour at around 140°C; the pure moist hydrogen is then dried in a drier (53); the drier contains a molecular sieve bed to produce very dry hydrogen gas. A non return valve (54) is fitted after the de-oxo drier.
In summary. the present invention primarily relates to the compression of hydrogen gas and any other gaseous substance using high pressure water pump. The present invention provides a safe and leak proof gas compressor due to the use of water seal making it ideal for compression of explosive gases such as hydrogen. This invention allows a low pressure gas such as from an atmospheric water electrolyser to increase the gas pressure significantly in a much more economical way than costly pressurised electrolysers or conventional hydrogen compressors. The flow rate of the smallest commercial hydrogen compressor available on the market is significantly greater than the rate of gas production by small electrolysers; for this reason a buffer tank is needed between the electrolyser and compressor to compensate for their mismatch; however this invention eliminates the need for any buffer tank of hydrogen gas as the flow rate of this compressor is in the range from 10 cc per minutes to literally several hundred normal cubic metres per hour as this is depends on the flow rate of the water pump. This new compressor has a significantly less number of parts thus lower capital cost compared to a centrifugal air compressor, piston type or a diaphragm type gas compressors. This invention is applicable to other gasses such as air, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, natural gas etc. This invention produces the highly energy efficient gas compressor due to near isothermal compression.
The invention has been outlined broadly to cover the main features of the invention by using an inflatable water bag or air bag or any other inflatable device along with a water pump and other components as shown in Figure 1 and Table 1 and the corresponding valve sequence as shown in Table 2; it is understood that the invention is not limited to the configuration of Figure 1; the invention is capable of being embodied in several different configurations by re-arranging the components of Figure 1 in different ways; it is also understood that the terminology and the phrases used to describe the invention can be rearranged to provide a broader scope of this invention.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a new hydrogen compressor at an extremely low cost; this compressor is not sensitive to engineering tolerances in its manufacturing; this invention is also applicable for any other gasses too.
Claims (12)
- Claims 1. A gas compressor comprising: a source of high pressure fluid; and a pressure vessel having a gas inlet for the gas to be compressed, a gas outlet for the compressed gas and a fluid inlet for the high pressure fluid, wherein the compressor is arranged to introduce the high pressure fluid into the pressure vessel via the fluid inlet whereby to compress a volume of gas in the pressure vessel.
- 2. A gas compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure vessel comprises a barrier member for separating the high pressure fluid from the gas within the pressure vessel.
- 3. A gas compressor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the barrier member is in the form of a piston received within the pressure vessel.
- 4. A gas compressor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pressure vessel is orientated in use such that fluid is introduced at the bottom of the pressure vessel and gas is introduced at the top of the pressure vessel.
- 5. A gas compressor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the barrier member is in the form of an inflatable bag connected to the fluid inlet of the pressure vessel.
- 6. A gas compressor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the high pressure fluid is a liquid.
- 7. A gas compressor as claimed in claim 6, wherein the high pressure fluid is water.
- 8. A gas compressor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the source of high pressure fluid comprises a tank and a pump arranged to pump fluid from the tank to the fluid inlet of the pressure vessel.
- 9. A gas compressor as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising at least one further pressure vessel having a gas inlet connected to the gas outlet of the first pressure vessel and a fluid inlet for the high pressure fluid, wherein the compressor is arranged to introduce the high pressure fluid into the further pressure vessel via the fluid inlet whereby to compress further a volume of gas in the further pressure vessel.
- 10. A gas compressor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fluid inlet of the further pressure vessel is connected to the same source of high pressure fluid as the fluid inlet of the pressure vessel.
- 11. A gas compressor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the gas inlet of the pressure vessel is supplied with gas from a water electrolyser.
- 12. A gas compressor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the gas is hydrogen.
Priority Applications (8)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| KR1020137022239A KR20140051826A (en) | 2011-02-07 | 2012-02-07 | High pressure hydrogen gas compressor |
| BR112013020137A BR112013020137A2 (en) | 2011-02-07 | 2012-02-07 | high pressure hydrogen gas compressor |
| US13/984,153 US20130315818A1 (en) | 2011-02-07 | 2012-02-07 | High pressure hydrogen gas compressor |
| CN201280007997.2A CN103534490A (en) | 2011-02-07 | 2012-02-07 | High pressure hydrogen gas compressor |
| PCT/GB2012/050270 WO2012107756A1 (en) | 2011-02-07 | 2012-02-07 | High pressure hydrogen gas compressor |
| EP12704535.9A EP2683947A1 (en) | 2011-02-07 | 2012-02-07 | High pressure hydrogen gas compressor |
| CA2826231A CA2826231A1 (en) | 2011-02-07 | 2012-02-07 | High pressure hydrogen gas compressor |
| JP2013552279A JP2014507594A (en) | 2011-02-07 | 2012-02-07 | High pressure hydrogen gas compressor |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1102004.7A GB2487790A (en) | 2011-02-07 | 2011-02-07 | Gas compressor using liquid |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201117540D0 GB201117540D0 (en) | 2011-11-23 |
| GB2487815A true GB2487815A (en) | 2012-08-08 |
Family
ID=43836261
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1102004.7A Withdrawn GB2487790A (en) | 2011-02-07 | 2011-02-07 | Gas compressor using liquid |
| GB1117540.3A Withdrawn GB2487815A (en) | 2011-02-07 | 2011-10-11 | Gas compressor using high pressure fluid |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1102004.7A Withdrawn GB2487790A (en) | 2011-02-07 | 2011-02-07 | Gas compressor using liquid |
Country Status (9)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20130315818A1 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP2683947A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2014507594A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR20140051826A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN103534490A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR112013020137A2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2826231A1 (en) |
| GB (2) | GB2487790A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2012107756A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN108644095A (en) * | 2018-04-18 | 2018-10-12 | 华北电力大学 | Power multiplication operation reserve based on implements spatial scalable compression air energy storage systems |
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| WO2014023961A1 (en) * | 2012-08-07 | 2014-02-13 | Re Hydrogen Ltd | Gas compression and gas upgrade system |
| US9541236B2 (en) | 2013-07-12 | 2017-01-10 | Whirlpool Corporation | Multi-stage home refueling appliance and method for supplying compressed natural gas |
| CN104005819A (en) * | 2014-05-19 | 2014-08-27 | 西南交通大学 | Air pressure type urea metering injection system with two urea pressure containers |
| US9945370B2 (en) | 2015-11-20 | 2018-04-17 | Industrial Technology Research Institute | Gas compression system and method of compressing gas using the gas compression system |
| CA2982024C (en) * | 2016-10-11 | 2020-09-22 | Encline Artificial Lift Technologies LLC | Improved liquid piston compressor system |
| CN107387377A (en) * | 2017-09-07 | 2017-11-24 | 蔡宁 | Huge energy pump is to recycle a kind of equipment that gas is pressurized to gas or liquid |
| CN108758331B (en) * | 2018-05-07 | 2021-04-02 | 杰瑞石油天然气工程有限公司 | Oil return overpressure detection and relief device of hydraulic piston type natural gas compressor unit |
| JP7101542B2 (en) * | 2018-05-29 | 2022-07-15 | タキロンシーアイ株式会社 | Heat shrinkable film and heat shrinkable label |
| CN110360077A (en) * | 2019-08-16 | 2019-10-22 | 智马（北京）油气设备有限公司 | A kind of auxiliary pumping equipment of the natural gas well |
| CN112855495B (en) * | 2021-01-20 | 2021-11-05 | 北京航空航天大学 | Liquid-driven ultrahigh-pressure compressed air energy storage system and method thereof |
| US11926906B2 (en) * | 2021-03-15 | 2024-03-12 | Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. | Process and apparatus for compressing hydrogen gas in a centrifugal compressor |
| DE102021125046A1 (en) * | 2021-09-28 | 2023-03-30 | Kyros Hydrogen Solutions GmbH | High pressure compressor and system with a high pressure compressor |
| DE102021125047A1 (en) * | 2021-09-28 | 2023-03-30 | Kyros Hydrogen Solutions GmbH | High pressure compressor and system with a high pressure compressor |
| DK181404B1 (en) * | 2022-01-03 | 2023-10-17 | Nel Hydrogen As | Compressor with reduced start-up torque |
| WO2024047390A1 (en) * | 2022-08-31 | 2024-03-07 | Ventspils Augstskola | Hydrogen hydraulic compression device |
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| CN108644095B (en) * | 2018-04-18 | 2020-06-09 | 华北电力大学 | Power multiplication operation strategy method based on graded compressed air energy storage system |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US20130315818A1 (en) | 2013-11-28 |
| EP2683947A1 (en) | 2014-01-15 |
| GB201117540D0 (en) | 2011-11-23 |
| BR112013020137A2 (en) | 2016-11-01 |
| KR20140051826A (en) | 2014-05-02 |
| CA2826231A1 (en) | 2012-08-16 |
| JP2014507594A (en) | 2014-03-27 |
| GB201102004D0 (en) | 2011-03-23 |
| WO2012107756A1 (en) | 2012-08-16 |
| CN103534490A (en) | 2014-01-22 |
| GB2487790A (en) | 2012-08-08 |
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