Pressurized-gas powered compressor and system comprising same

Abstract

The present invention provides a compressor powered by a pressurized gas, whether steam or another working fluid, and a system for extracting work using such as compressor. The pressurized gas may comprise a heated working fluid in a gaseous state, to displace a piston in an input circuit, which in turn displaces a piston in an output circuit, thereby compressing a compressible fluid or displacing an incompressible fluid. A purpose of the compressor is to convert waste heat, heat generated by the combustion of biomass or other fuels, or heat resulting from the concentration of solar energy into useful power, whether configured to produce compressed air or pump water, which can displace the electricity otherwise used for this purpose, or to produce electricity or motive force directly, through a hydraulic circuit. The system for extracting work does so by an output fluid which is compressed or pumped by a pressurized gas powered compressor.

1 . A system for extracting work using a pressurized gas powered compressor, the system comprising:
 a) a compressor powered by a pressurized gas, the compressor comprising an output circuit configured to operate compressively on an output fluid supplied thereto;   b) a pressurized gas input system configured to provide the pressurized gas for powering the compressor;   c) an exhaust system configured to convey spent gas from the compressor; and   d) a work extraction system configured to extract work from the compressor at least in part via said output fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor comprises:
 a) an input circuit configured to channel the pressurized gas through two or more input piston-cylinder assemblies, wherein each input piston-cylinder assembly is configured to expel spent gas after use;   b) an output circuit including two or more output piston-cylinder assemblies, each output piston-cylinder assembly including an intake valve for entry of fluid and an output valve for exit of compressed fluid;   c) a transfer system configured to transfer force generated in the input piston-cylinder assemblies onto the output piston-cylinder assemblies;   d) a return system configured to facilitate a return stroke of at least a first one of the input piston-cylinder assemblies following a power stroke thereof;   e) a timing system configured to control input and exhaust of the pressurized gas from the input piston-cylinder assemblies; and   f) a distribution system operatively coupled to the timing system, to the pressurized input system, and to the input circuit, the distribution system configured to cooperatively provide pressurized gas to the input piston-cylinder assemblies.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the return system comprises a rotating crankshaft actuated by motion of at least one of the input piston-cylinder assemblies. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the timing system is actuated at least in part directly or indirectly in accordance with rotational position of the rotating crankshaft. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the distribution system comprises a rotating valve assembly actuated by the rotating crankshaft, the rotating valve assembly configured to provide pressurized gas to one or more of the input piston-cylinder assemblies according to rotational position of the rotating valve assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the timing system comprises a gearbox which transfers motion of the crankshaft to the distribution system. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the timing system is actuated by presence or absence of pressure in at least one of the input piston-cylinder assemblies. 
     
     
         8 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to be driven by steam or another pressurized gas generated by one or more devices selected from the group comprising: devices that concentrate heat from solar radiation, devices that produce heat from the combustion of biomass, and devices the produce heat from the combustion of other renewable or non-renewable fuels. 
     
     
         21 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A compressor powered by a pressurized gas, comprising:
 a) an input circuit configured to channel the pressurized gas through two or more input piston-cylinder assemblies, wherein each input piston-cylinder assembly is configured to expel spent gas after use;   b) an output circuit including two or more output piston-cylinder assemblies, each output piston-cylinder assembly including an intake valve for entry of fluid and an output valve for exit of compressed fluid;   c) a transfer system configured to transfer force generated in the input piston-cylinder assemblies onto the output piston-cylinder assemblies;   d) a return system configured to facilitate a return stroke of at least a first one of the input piston-cylinder assemblies following a power stroke thereof;   e) a timing system configured to control input and exhaust of the pressurized gas from the input piston-cylinder assemblies; and   f) a distribution system operatively coupled to the timing system, to the pressurized input system, and to the input circuit, the distribution system configured to cooperatively provide pressurized gas to the input piston-cylinder assemblies.   
     
     
         26 . The compressor according to  claim 25 , wherein the return system comprises a rotating crankshaft actuated by motion of at least one of the input piston-cylinder assemblies. 
     
     
         27 . The compressor according to  claim 26 , wherein the timing system is actuated directly or indirectly in accordance with rotational position of the rotating crankshaft. 
     
     
         28 . The compressor according to  claim 26 , wherein the distribution system comprises a rotating valve assembly actuated by the rotating crankshaft, the rotating valve assembly configured to provide pressurized gas to one or more of the input piston-cylinder assemblies according to rotational position of the rotating valve assembly. 
     
     
         29 . The compressor according to  claim 25 , wherein axes of two or more of the input piston-cylinder assemblies are offset from an axis of the crankshaft, such that when a piston of a first input piston-cylinder assembly reaches the end of its stroke, a piston of a second input piston-cylinder assembly has already passed the end of its stroke and is thus in position to move when pressurized gas is introduced into the cylinder. 
     
     
         30 . The compressor according to  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the input piston-cylinder assemblies and the output piston-cylinder assemblies comprises a piston fitted with one or more double rings, each double ring comprising an O-ring set into a groove and a machined ring made of a low-friction material, the O-ring configured to apply outward pressure to the machined ring, thereby providing a hermetic seal between each piston and an associated cylinder wall and reducing need for lubrication. 
     
     
         31 . The compressor according to  claim 25 , wherein the distribution system is configured to cut off of supply of pressurized gas to an input piston-cylinder assembly before an input piston thereof has completed its stroke, thereby allowing pressurized gas already present within said cylinder to dilate by further displacing the input piston. 
     
     
         32 . The compressor according to  claim 25 , wherein the distribution system comprises:
 a) a valve body housing comprising:
 i) an input port connected to the pressurized gas input system; 
 ii) an output port connected to the exhaust system; and 
 iii) a cylinder port connected to one or more piston-cylinder assemblies; and 
   b) a rotating valve body, rotatably fitted in the valve body housing, the rotating valve body including a partial disk fitted with a seal made of a low-friction material and a valve cover with a partial cut-out on its face;   wherein: in a first rotational position of the rotating valve body, a channel is formed between the input port and the cylinder port, and the output port is blocked; and in a second rotational position of the rotating valve body, a channel is formed between the output port and the cylinder port, and the input port is blocked.   
     
     
         33 . The compressor according to  claim 32 , wherein the valve body housing further comprises a secondary seal assembly operatively coupled to the input port, the secondary sealing assembly comprising:
 a) a recess that forms part of a channel of the input port;   b) an end piece formed within the recess, the end piece comprising a flexible material;   c) a sealing disk movable along a longitudinal axis of the channel of the input port between an open position and a closed position, the sealing disk including one or more secondary channels therein, the sealing disk in a spaced-apart configuration with the end piece in the open position thereby facilitating passage of gas between the cylinder port and the input port when in the open position, the sealing disk in contact with the end piece in the closed position thereby sealing the cylinder port from the input port when in the closed position; and   d) a guide assembly operatively coupled to the sealing disk, the guide assembly comprising a protruding portion, the protruding portion configured to engage with the rotating valve body to move the sealing disk into the closed position, and to allow the sealing disk to move into the open position when the protruding portion is not engaged by the rotating valve body.   
     
     
         34 . The compressor according to  claim 25 , wherein at least one output piston-cylinder assembly comprises an integrated intake check valve, said integrated intake check valve comprising:
 a) an inner flange slideably coupled a portion of the output piston-cylinder assembly, the inner flange movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the inner flange having a first set of one or more holes therein, said first set of holes configured to align with a second set of holes formed in the output piston-cylinder assembly when said inner flange is in the retracted position, thereby facilitating filling of the output piston-cylinder assembly with fluid; and   b) a spring system configured to bias the inner flange into the extended position thereof when pressure within the output piston-cylinder assembly exceeds a predetermined amount relative to pressure outside the output piston-cylinder assembly.   
     
     
         35 . The compressor according to  claim 25 , wherein at least one output piston-cylinder assembly comprises an integrated output check valve, said integrated output check valve comprising:
 a) an outer flange, slideably coupled over a portion of the output piston-cylinder assembly, the outer flange movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the outer flange configured to block passage of fluid through one or more end holes when the outer flange is in the retracted position, the outer flange configured to unblock passage of fluid through said one or more end holes when the outer flange is in the extended position, said one or more end holes formed in said portion of the output piston-cylinder assembly, the outer flange further comprising an outlet port;   b) a spring system configured to bias the outer flange into the retracted position thereof when pressure within a channel configured to receive fluid output from the outlet port exceeds a predetermined amount relative to pressure within the output cylinder.   
     
     
         36 . The compressor according to  claim 25 , wherein the input circuit comprises a first pair of two or more input piston-cylinder assemblies and a second pair of two or more input piston-cylinder assemblies, and wherein the timing system is configured to operate the first pair of two or more input piston-cylinder assemblies out of phase with the second pair of two or more input piston-cylinder assemblies. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled)