Mechanism for enhanced energy extraction and cooling pressurized gas

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices relating to a mechanism which can be used in gas cooling devices, pneumatic motors, turbines and other pressurized gas devices. A rotatable rotor is provided along with a number of hollow conduits that radially radiate from an exit port at the center of the rotor. The pressurized gas is injected into the mechanism at the inlet port(s). The gas enters the conduits and travels from the inlet port(s) to the exit port(s). In doing so, the gas causes the rotor to rotate about its central axis while the gas cools. This results in a colder gas at the exit port(s) than at the inlet port(s).

We claim: 
     
         1 . A mechanism comprising:
 a rotatable rotor having an axis of rotation;   an exit port;   an inlet port, said inlet port being for receiving pressurized gas;   a hollow conduit, said hollow conduit directly connecting said inlet port to said exit port;   
       wherein
 a radial distance between said axis of rotation and said exit port is less than a radial distance between said axis of rotation and said inlet port; 
 pressurized gas received at said inlet port passes from said inlet port to said exit port through said conduit to thereby cause said rotor to rotate about said axis of rotation; 
 after passing through said conduit, said pressurized gas at said exit port is colder than said pressurized gas at said inlet port. 
 
     
     
         2 . A mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein said conduit is part of said rotor. 
     
     
         3 . A mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein said conduit is mounted on said rotor. 
     
     
         4 . A mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein said conduit radially extends from said exit port to said inlet port. 
     
     
         5 . A mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein said mechanism is sealed within an airtight enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . A mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein said mechanism is used to decrease a temperature of said pressurized gas. 
     
     
         7 . A mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein said mechanism lowers a temperature of said pressurized gas and converts energy extracted from said pressurized gas into rotational work. 
     
     
         8 . A mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein a temperature difference between said pressurized gas at said inlet port and said pressurized gas at said exit port is up to
     c   2   /c   p    
 where c is a tangential velocity at an inlet port with a greatest radial distance from said axis of rotation of said rotor and c p  is an isobaric heat capacity of said pressurized gas. 
 
     
     
         9 . A mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein said pressurized gas is injected at said inlet port, said pressurized gas being injected at a direction tangential to said rotor and at right angles to said axis of rotation. 
     
     
         10 . A mechanism according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one other exit port. 
     
     
         11 . A mechanism according to  claim 10  further comprising at least one further inlet port and at least one further conduit, said at least one further conduit connecting said at least one further inlet port to either said at least one other exit port or said exit port. 
     
     
         12 . A mechanism according to  claim 10  further comprising at least one further inlet port and at least one further conduit, said at least one further conduit connecting said at least one further inlet port to said exit port. 
     
     
         13 . A mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein a rotation of said rotor is used to pressurize a gas to result in said pressurized gas. 
     
     
         14 . A mechanism according to  claim 13  wherein said gas is derived from pressurized gas exiting through said exit port. 
     
     
         15 . A mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein a distance between said axis of rotation and said exit port is at a minimum. 
     
     
         16 . A mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein an amount of energy transferred as propulsion to said rotor is up to
     E   t   =Mv   2    
 where 
 E t  is said amount of energy transferred; 
 M is a mass of pressurized gas exiting at said exit port; and 
 v is a velocity of an inlet port with a greatest radial distance from said axis of rotation of said rotor. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method for cooling a gas, the method comprising:
 a) providing a mechanism comprising:
 a rotatable rotor having an axis of rotation; 
 an inlet port; 
 an exit port, a radial distance between said exit port and said axis of rotation being less than a radial distance between said inlet port and said axis of rotation; 
 a hollow conduit directly connecting said inlet port to said exit port; 
   b) providing said pressurized gas to allow said pressurized gas to enter said inlet port;   wherein
 pressurized gas provided at said inlet port passes from said inlet port to said exit port through said conduit to thereby cause said rotor to rotate about said axis of rotation. 
   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein a difference in temperature between said gas at said inlet port and said gas at said exit port is up to
     c   2   /c   p    
 where c is a tangential velocity at an inlet port with a greatest radial distance from said axis of rotation of said rotor and c p  is an isobaric heat capacity of said pressurized gas. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein an amount of energy transferred as propulsion to said rotor is up to
     E   t   =Mv   2    
 where 
 E t  is said amount of energy transferred; 
 M is a mass of pressurized gas exiting at said exit port; and 
 v is a tangential velocity at an inlet port with a greatest radial distance from said axis of rotation of said rotor.