Systems and Methods for Compressing Gas Using Heat as Energy Source

Abstract

A system and method for gas compression. The system comprises a compressor chamber, a gas heating device, and a gradational heat transfer conduit. The method comprises heating gas in the gas heating device, ejecting gas from the gas heating device to the gradational heat transfer conduit, cooling the gas as it passes through the gradational heat transfer conduit, and transferring the gas from the gradational heat transfer conduit to the compressor chamber. The system additionally may comprise means for promoting unidirectional gas flow, a pressure transfer device for maintaining gas pressure during transfer to the compressor chamber, and various additional components for heating gas with the gas heating device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gas compressor system, comprising:
 a compressor chamber;   a gas heating device;   a gradational heat transfer conduit;   the compressor chamber further comprising a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet;   the gas heating device further comprising a heating portion, a heater chamber, a heater inlet, and a heater outlet;   the gradational heat transfer conduit further comprising a first end, a second end, and one or more heat exchangers, wherein each of the one or more heat exchangers is configured to remove heat from the gradational heat transfer conduit;   the heater outlet of the gas heating device fluidly connected to the first end of the gradational heat transfer conduit; and   the second end of the gradational heat transfer conduit fluidly connected to the compressor inlet of the compressor chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The gas compressor system of  claim 1 , wherein the gradational heat transfer conduit is configured for promoting unidirectional gas flow from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         3 . The gas compressor system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a recycling line, configured to transfer heat from the one or more heat exchangers to the gas heating device.   
     
     
         4 . The gas compressor system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pressure transfer device, comprising an input coupling device, and output coupling device, and a plurality of pressure chambers;   the input coupling device selectably fluidly connected to the plurality of pressure chambers; and   the output coupling device selectably fluidly connected to the plurality of pressure chambers, opposite the input coupling device.   
     
     
         5 . The gas compressor system of  claim 4 , wherein the pressure transfer device is configured to sequentially direct incrementally lower-pressure gas into the plurality of pressure chambers through the input coupling device and expel incrementally higher-pressure gas from the plurality of pressure chambers through the output coupling device. 
     
     
         6 . The gas compressor system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 the input coupling device being connected to the heater outlet;   the output coupling device being connected to the compressor chamber; and   the pressure transfer device being fully incorporated into the gradational heat transfer conduit.   
     
     
         7 . The gas compressor system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the gas heater device further comprising a cooling portion;   the heating portion configured to provide heat; and   the cooling portion configured to remove heat.   
     
     
         8 . The gas compressor system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 one or more refrigerant reservoirs;   the heater chamber comprising a plurality of heater chambers;   the heater inlet comprising a plurality of heater inlets;   the heater outlet comprising a plurality of heater outlets;   the plurality of heater chambers rotatably arranged around a central axis and configured to sequentially fluidly couple with the plurality of heater inlets and the plurality of heater outlets; and   the one or more refrigerant reservoirs configured to provide refrigerant to the heating portion and the cooling portion.   
     
     
         9 . The gas compressor system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a hot pump;   a cold pump;   a hot piston;   a cold piston;   the hot pump and hot piston positioned on the first side of the gradational heat transfer conduit;   the cold pump and the cold piston positioned on the second side of the gradational heat transfer conduit;   the hot piston and the cold piston connected to one another;   the hot pump configured to pump gas across the hot piston; and   the cold pump configured to pump gas across the cold piston.   
     
     
         10 . The gas compressor system of  claim 9 , wherein the hot pump comprises a plurality of hot subpumps, the summed volume of the plurality of hot subpumps equaling the volume of the cold pump, wherein each of the plurality of hot subpumps is selectably and fluidly connected to the input coupling device and the hot subpumps, and the gradational heat transfer conduit is selectably coupled to the cold pump. 
     
     
         11 . A method for compressing gas, comprising:
 heating, using a gas heating device, a gas to an increased temperature and pressure;   ejecting, using a heater outlet, the gas from the gas heating device to a first end of a gradational heat transfer conduit;   cooling, using one or more heat exchangers, the gas to a cooled temperature; and   transferring, using a compressor inlet, the gas to a compressor chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The method for compressing gas of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 promoting, using the gradational heat transfer conduit, unidirectional gas flow from the first end of the gradational heat transfer conduit to a second end of the gradational heat transfer conduit.   
     
     
         13 . The method for compressing gas of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 transferring, using a recycling line, heat from the one or more heat exchangers to the gas heating device.   
     
     
         14 . The method for compressing gas of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the gradational heat transfer conduit further comprises an input coupling device, and output coupling device, and a plurality of pressure chambers;   the input coupling device is selectably fluidly connected to the plurality of pressure chambers; and   the output coupling device is selectably fluidly connected to the plurality of pressure chambers, opposite the input coupling device.   
     
     
         15 . The method for compressing gas of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 sequentially directing, using the input coupling device, incrementally lower-pressure gas into the plurality of pressure chambers; and   sequentially expelling, using the output coupling device, incrementally higher-pressure gas from the plurality of pressure chambers.   
     
     
         16 . The method for compressing gas of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the input coupling device is connected to the heater outlet;   the output coupling device is connected to the compressor inlet; and   the pressure transfer device is fully incorporated into the gradational heat transfer conduit.   
     
     
         17 . The method for compressing gas of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 the gas heating device further comprising a heating portion and a cooling portion;   providing heat, using the heating portion, to the gas; and   removing heat, using the cooling portion, from the gas;   
     
     
         18 . The method for compressing gas of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 the heater chamber further comprising a plurality of heater chambers;   the heater inlet comprising a plurality of heater inlets;   the heater outlet comprising a plurality of heater outlets;   the plurality of heater chambers rotatably arranged around a central axis;   sequentially fluidly coupling the plurality of heater chambers with the plurality of heater inlets and the plurality of heater outlets; and   providing, using one or more refrigerant reservoirs, refrigerant to the heating portion and the cooling portion.   
     
     
         19 . The method for compressing gas of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 pumping, using a hot pump, gas across a hot piston; and   pumping, using a cold pump, gas across a cold piston;   wherein the hot piston and the cold piston are connected to one another, the hot pump output is positioned on a first side of the gradational heat transfer conduit, and the cold pump and cold piston are positioned on a second side of the gradational heat transfer conduit.   
     
     
         20 . The method for compressing gas of  claim 19 , wherein the hot pump comprises a plurality of hot subpumps, the summed volume of the plurality of hot subpumps equaling the volume of the cold pump, wherein each of the plurality of hot subpumps is selectably and fluidly connected to the input coupling device and the hot subpumps, and the gradational heat transfer conduit is selectably coupled to the cold pump.