Fluid compression apparatus and method

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) and a method for compressing fluid comprising a first (3) and a second compression chamber (3), an intake system (2) in the first chamber (3), a transfer system (6) from the first chamber (3) to the second (4) chamber, a piston (5) for compressing the fluid in the first (3) and second (4) chambers, an orifice (7) for discharging the compressed fluid, the intake system (2) comprising one or more configured valves (2), the apparatus further comprising an evacuation orifice (8) allowing communication between the first compression chamber (3) and the bath (16) to let out excess liquid trapped in the first compression chamber (3) during a compression movement of the piston (5) in the first compression chamber (3),the apparatus comprising a discharge valve (9) configured to control the discharge of liquid via the discharge port (8) and to prevent the entry of fluid into the compression chamber (3) via the discharge port (8). Abstract figure: Fig. 1,

Claims

flow configured to attenuate the speed and / or intensity of the flow of liquid discharged by limiting its pressure loss.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the flow retarder (10) comprises at least one of a nozzle of porous material, a set of diffusion holes.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the discharge orifice (8) communicates with the enclosure (13) via at least one discharge conduit (11) opening into the enclosure (13) in the bath (16) to be located in and / or above the bath of the enclosure (13).

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the evacuation conduit (11) comprises a portion extending in the enclosure (13) parallel to the longitudinal direction (A) and / or transversely to the longitudinal direction (A).

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the evacuation conduit (11) extends from the bottom to the top of the enclosure (13).

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the discharge orifice (8) communicates with the enclosure (13) via several discharge conduits (11) opening into the enclosure (13).

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the container contains a bath consisting of cryogenic liquid, for example liquefied hydrogen.

10. A method of pumping cryogenic fluid using an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the container (13) contains a bath of liquefied cryogenic fluid, the method comprising, simultaneously during a first movement of the piston (5), a step of admitting liquid into the first compression chamber (3) via the admission system (2) and a step of compressing fluid in the second (4) compression chamber, then, during a second opposite movement of the piston (5), a step of admitting fluid into the second (4) compression chamber via the transfer system (6) and a step of compressing the fluid in the first compression chamber (3) during which a surplus of fluid is evacuated from the first compression chamber (3) via the evacuation orifice (8). [Fig. 1] [Fig. 5] [Fig. 6]

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