Compressed gas utilization device

Abstract

The present invention provides a compressed gas utilization device that can efficiently utilize compressed gas by suppressing the decrease in efficiency caused by the heat of expansion generated during expansion and the properties of the gas. [Solution] A device 10 that utilizes the energy of compressed gas, comprising a first conversion means 12 that converts the energy of compressed gas into the kinetic energy of the gas, and a second conversion means 14 that converts a portion of the kinetic energy into the kinetic energy of the liquid.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a compressed gas utilization device that utilizes compressed air, such as compressed air. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, compressed air has been widely used as a medium for storing energy (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-83082 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-106548 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] However, there was a problem in that it was difficult to increase the efficiency of doing work on an object (moving it) using airflow due to the heat of expansion (endothermic) generated when energy is extracted, and the properties of the gas. For example, when an airflow is directed at a plate, energy loss occurs due to the following airflow characteristics and aerodynamic effects.

[0005] (1) Compressibility of airflow In particular, in the case of high-speed airflow, air is compressible, so at the moment it hits a plate, some of its kinetic energy is lost as sound waves or pressure waves due to the compression effect. This compression effect is especially pronounced in airflows at speeds close to the speed of sound. (2) Viscosity of the airflow Because air has a slight viscosity, friction occurs between the airflow and the surface of the plate, and energy is lost as heat energy. (3) Turbulence and vortex generation in airflow When airflow hits a plate, turbulence and vortices are generated, especially behind the plate. As a result, some of the energy is used to form vortices and create irregular flows, which ultimately reduces the energy transferred to the plate. (4) Reflection and redistribution of airflow When airflow strikes a plate, it is partially reflected or redistributed along the sides of the plate. This redistributed energy is not fully transferred to the plate's surface, resulting in energy loss. Furthermore, the reflected airflow does not contribute to the plate's motion, reducing the efficiency of energy transfer. (5) Airflow pressure changes When airflow hits a plate, the pressure of the airflow changes, and a portion of the airflow is used for expansion and contraction due to the pressure change. This conversion to pressure energy also reduces the proportion of kinetic energy that is directly transferred to the plate.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a compressed gas utilization device that can efficiently utilize compressed gas by suppressing the decrease in efficiency caused by the heat of expansion generated during expansion and the properties of the gas. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the compressed gas utilization device according to the present invention is a device that utilizes the energy of compressed gas, and is characterized by comprising a first conversion means that converts the energy of compressed gas into the kinetic energy of the gas, and a second conversion means that converts a portion of the kinetic energy into the kinetic energy of the liquid.

[0008] Furthermore, another compressed gas utilization device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-described invention, the first conversion means includes an airflow generation unit that releases compressed gas stored in a pressure accumulation unit to generate an airflow, and the second conversion means includes a liquid suction unit that draws liquid from the outside into the generated airflow, and supplies the airflow from which the liquid has been drawn to the user.

[0009] Furthermore, another compressed gas utilization device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-described invention, it includes an adjustment unit for adjusting the amount of liquid sucked by the liquid suction unit.

[0010] Further, another compressed gas utilization device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-described invention, the second conversion means includes an acceleration unit that accelerates the sucked liquid with an air flow.

[0011] Further, another compressed gas utilization device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-described invention, the liquid suction unit sucks the liquid used at the utilization destination into the air flow.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the compressed gas utilization device of the present invention, which is a device that utilizes the energy of compressed gas, and includes a first conversion means for converting the energy of compressed gas into the kinetic energy of gas, and a second conversion means for converting a part of the kinetic energy into the kinetic energy of liquid, it is possible to suppress the decrease in efficiency caused by the expansion heat generated during expansion and the characteristics of the gas, etc., and efficiently utilize the compressed gas.

[0013] Further, according to another compressed gas utilization device of the present invention, the first conversion means includes an air flow generation unit that releases the compressed gas stored in the pressure accumulation unit to generate an air flow, and the second conversion means includes a liquid suction unit that sucks liquid from the outside into the generated air flow, and supplies the air flow with the sucked liquid to the utilization destination. Therefore, it is possible to convert a part of the kinetic energy of the air flow generated from the compressed gas into the kinetic energy of the liquid.

[0014] Further, according to another compressed gas utilization device of the present invention, since it includes an adjustment unit for adjusting the suction amount of the liquid by the liquid suction unit, it is possible to adjust the suction amount of the liquid with respect to the gas.

[0015] Further, according to another compressed gas utilization device of the present invention, since the second conversion means includes an acceleration unit that accelerates the sucked liquid with an air flow, it is possible to improve the energy exchange efficiency between the gas and the liquid.

[0016] Furthermore, according to another compressed gas utilization device of the present invention, the liquid suction unit draws the liquid used at the destination into the airflow, thus providing the effect of circulating and reusing the liquid. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing Embodiment 1 of the compressed gas utilization device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing Embodiment 2 of the compressed gas utilization device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an example of the changes in water / air flow velocity and kinetic energy. [Figure 4] Figure 4(1) shows an external view of the experimental apparatus, and (2) shows an example of the effect of energy conversion. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a comparison diagram of the energy that can be extracted during expansion. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] The embodiments of the compressed gas utilization apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. In the following description, the cases where the gas is air and the liquid is water will be used as examples, but the present invention is also applicable to gases other than air and liquids other than water.

[0019] (Embodiment 1) First, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the compressed gas utilization device 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is a device that utilizes the energy of compressed air (compressed gas), and comprises a first conversion means 12 that converts the energy of compressed air into the kinetic energy of air (gas), and a second conversion means 14 that converts a portion of the kinetic energy into the kinetic energy of water (liquid).

[0020] Although not shown in the diagram, the compressed gas utilization device 10 has solenoid valves and other devices that control the airflow and water flow, as well as control devices that control these solenoid valves and other devices, thereby allowing the water flow and airflow to be adjusted.

[0021] The first conversion means 12 consists of a pipe 18 (airflow generation unit) that releases compressed air stored in a tank 16 (pressure accumulator) to generate an airflow. The pipe 18 connects the tank 16 and the second conversion means 14. The pressure accumulator is not limited to a tank 16; it may also be an air compressor such as an air compressor. The generation of airflow involves the expansion of compressed air, and it is desirable to perform this in a space where water with a high specific heat is present, and under conditions where the relative velocity at the contact surface between air and water is high. In this way, a high heat transfer coefficient from air to water is generated, thereby suppressing heat generation and making it possible to create high isothermal expansion.

[0022] The second conversion means 14 includes a liquid suction unit 20, an adjustment unit 22, and an acceleration unit 24.

[0023] The liquid suction unit 20 is composed of a suction port 28 provided in a pipe 26 connected to the pipe 18, a water tank 30 provided below the pipe 26, and a suction pipe 32 connecting the suction port 28 and the water tank 30. Water from the water tank 30 is drawn into the airflow in the pipe 26 through the suction port 28 via the suction pipe 32. By drawing water into the airflow, a portion of the kinetic energy of the airflow generated from compressed air can be converted into the kinetic energy of water. In particular, since the specific gravity of water is about 800 times that of air, as will be described later, the kinetic energy of water can be efficiently converted by taking in a small amount of water. The water tank 30 can recover water used at the object S (end of use) to which force is applied, and the water can be recycled and reused as water drawn into the airflow. The object S is assumed to be a water wheel or a plate.

[0024] The adjustment unit 22 is composed of a pressurizing device that pressurizes water in order to adjust the amount of water drawn in by the liquid suction unit 20. This pressurizing device can be composed of, for example, a water tank (not shown) that uses the potential energy of water to draw water into the piping 26. This water tank is installed above the water suction port 28. When using the potential energy of water, energy is required to pump the water into the water tank, but this energy is converted into the kinetic energy of the gas-liquid flow, so it can be used effectively. Alternatively, the pressure of compressed air used to generate the airflow, or other compressed air, may be used to draw water into the piping 26 from the water suction port 28. Alternatively, water may be injected into the liquid suction unit 20 using a water pump or the like. Even if energy is consumed to inject water, most of that energy becomes the kinetic energy of the gas-liquid flow discharged from the discharge port 36, so it can be used effectively. Note that the adjustment unit 22 can be omitted.

[0025] The acceleration section 24 consists of a pipe 34 that accelerates water supplied from the pipe 26 of the liquid suction section 20 with an airflow. The accelerated water-containing air is discharged from the outlet 36 as a gas-liquid two-phase flow and collides with the target object S. The water moves in the direction of the airflow from the suction port 28 to the outlet 36, but the velocity of the airflow downstream of the liquid suction section 20 is faster than the velocity of the water flow. As a result, the water is pushed by the airflow and accelerates, while the velocity of the air that transfers the kinetic energy decreases. The gas-liquid two-phase flow in the pipe 34 tends to become a slug flow or a wave flow. Overall, the flow is unstable and complex, but the energy exchange efficiency between air and water is improved, and the velocity of the water is accelerated compared to the case of laminar flow. In the case of slug flow or wave flow, the fluctuation of the kinetic energy of the water becomes large, but this fluctuation can be leveled by using multiple devices.

[0026] According to this embodiment 1, by performing the expansion of compressed air in an environment where water is present when utilizing the energy of compressed air, the heat of expansion generated during expansion can be suppressed. In particular, because the relative velocity of water and air is high and the expansion occurs under turbulent conditions, the heat transfer coefficient between the two is also high, and high isothermal expansion can be achieved. Furthermore, by converting the energy of the airflow into the energy of the liquid flow, the energy transfer efficiency can be increased. Therefore, efficiency can be improved compared to when work is done with airflow alone. Consequently, the heat of expansion generated during expansion when utilizing the energy of compressed air, as well as the decrease in efficiency caused by the properties of the gas, can be suppressed, and compressed air can be utilized efficiently.

[0027] Furthermore, the compressed gas utilization device 10 of this embodiment 1 has a simple and compact structure, which allows for a smaller installation area. In addition, because it has few moving parts, initial costs and maintenance costs can be significantly reduced compared to compressed gas utilization devices that only utilize airflow.

[0028] (Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. As shown in Figure 2(1), the compressed gas utilization device 10A according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is configured using a venturi tube 38, replacing the first conversion means 12 and the second conversion means 14 of Embodiment 1 described above. It is also possible to install the venturi tube 38 downstream of the airflow generation unit (piping 18), similar to Embodiment 1 described above.

[0029] The Venturi tube 38 is a tube with a circular cross-section and has an inlet 40 connected to the tank 16, a constricted section 42, and an outlet 44. The inlet 40 is located upstream of the constricted section 42 and is connected to the constricted section 42 via a gradually narrowing section in which the diameter gradually decreases as it approaches the constricted section 42. The constricted section 42 is a narrowed section connecting the inlet 40 and the outlet 44. The outlet 44 is located downstream of the constricted section 42 and is connected to the constricted section 42 via a gradually widening section in which the diameter gradually increases as it moves away from the constricted section 42. The diameters of the inlet 40 and the outlet 44 are larger than the diameter of the constricted section 42. The constricted section 42 is provided with a suction port 28 for drawing external water into the constricted section 42. The water tank 30 is connected to the suction port 28 via a suction pipe 32.

[0030] In this configuration, when compressed air from tank 16 is released and an airflow is generated in the venturi tube 38 toward the discharge port 36, the pressure of the airflow decreases in the constricted section 42 of the venturi tube 38, and water from water tank 30 is drawn into the airflow in the constricted section 42 through the suction port 28. The drawn-in water is accelerated by the airflow and discharged from the discharge port 36 of the piping 46 downstream of outlet 44, impacting the target object S. Alternatively, a device with a similar water suction function into an airflow as a venturi tube, such as an injector or ejector, may be used instead of the venturi tube 38. The suction force can be increased by pressurizing the water in front of the suction port 28, and possible methods for doing so include installing a water tank at the top to utilize potential energy, pressurizing the water with compressed air, or using a water pump. Pressurizing water requires energy, but this energy can be converted into kinetic energy of the air-water flow, thus enabling its effective utilization.

[0031] By using the Venturi effect to reduce the amount of water taken in by volume ratio to a small amount of air and water, and by narrowing the diameter of pipe 46 (for example, to about 20 cm in diameter), the gas-liquid two-phase flow in pipe 46 tends to become a slug flow or a wave flow. Although the overall flow is unstable and complex, the energy exchange efficiency between air and water is improved, and the velocity of the water is accelerated compared to the laminar flow case. In the case of slug flow or wave flow, the kinetic energy of the water will fluctuate, but this fluctuation can be leveled by using multiple devices. However, the effect of this device occurs regardless of the type of gas-liquid laminar flow.

[0032] According to this second embodiment, the same effects and advantages as those of the first embodiment can be achieved. If the suction force is large, the water tank 30 can be installed at the bottom. In this case, the top of the water tank 30 can be left open, and the water after impact can be collected by a recovery device installed at the bottom of the object S. By returning the collected water to the water tank 30, it is possible to circulate the water without using additional energy.

[0033] <Supplementary explanation> Next, we will provide a supplementary explanation regarding the effects and benefits of the present invention. When compressed air (or any gas other than air; hereafter, air will be used as a representative gas) expands, energy is converted into gas flow, the generation of expansion heat (endothermic heat), and energy losses such as friction. One way to utilize this energy is to direct the airflow towards an object to create its movement. For example, when using compressed air energy for power generation, it can be directed at a wind turbine to rotate a generator. However, as mentioned above, the kinetic energy of an airflow is difficult to use efficiently for work due to factors such as the compressibility and viscosity of the airflow, turbulence and vortex generation, reflection and redistribution of the airflow, and pressure changes in the airflow. Furthermore, the endothermic heat generated during expansion also reduces energy efficiency.

[0034] To improve energy efficiency, a mechanism is needed that (1) expands compressed air in a near isothermal state, and (2) efficiently transfers that energy when it collides with an object.

[0035] In this invention, the efficiency of this energy transfer is improved by the following improvements. (1) Techniques for converting compressed air into airflow By causing the gas to expand in a space where a liquid with a high specific heat is present, and by maintaining a high relative velocity at the contact surface between the air and the liquid, high heat transfer is achieved, resulting in high isothermal expansion. (2) Techniques for transferring the kinetic energy of a gas Most of the kinetic energy from gas expansion is converted into the kinetic energy of the liquid, thus efficiently transferring energy.

[0036] (An example of energy transfer) Next, an example of energy transfer in the compressed gas utilization device 10A of the second embodiment described above, when compressed air with a gauge pressure of 0.1 MPa is used, will be explained. However, the values ​​described below have been rounded up or down as appropriate. The calculations were performed using the values ​​before rounding down or up. Therefore, the calculation results may not match.

[0037] • Airflow speed Since the pressure ratio (external pressure / internal pressure = 0.51) is below the critical pressure ratio (0.53), the airflow is at the speed of sound. At a temperature of 20°C, the airflow velocity is 343.2 m / s.

[0038] • Kinetic energy of airflow As shown in Figure 2(2), if the opening from the tank 16 (corresponding to the downstream end of the inlet 40) has a circular cross-section with a diameter of 0.005 m, the opening area is 0.0000196 m². 2 That is the case. Assuming that the pressure drops to atmospheric pressure in the expansion section, Flow rate (kg / s) = Opening area × Compressed air density × Airflow velocity =0.0000196m 2 ×2.4kg / m 3 × 343.2 m / s = 0.0083 kg / s The kinetic energy of an airflow in one second is, Energy of the airflow (j) = (1 / 2) × Flow rate (kg / s) × 1 (s) × Flow velocity (m / s) 2 = (1 / 2) × 0.0083 × 1 × 343.2 2 = 486.2 j (kg·m 2 / s 2 )

[0039] ·Calculation of suction force Assume that the airflow from the opening (circular cross-section with a diameter of 0.005 m) is released into the atmosphere through an expansion section (circular pipe with a diameter of 0.013 m) corresponding to the pipe 46. At this time, the flow velocity of the airflow inside the pipe of the expansion section is as follows without considering the effect of the suction water. For the calculation of the suction force, the effect of water is ignored. Flow velocity of the airflow in the expansion section = (343.2 (m / s) × Cross-sectional area of the opening / Cross-sectional area of the expansion section) = 50.8 m / s

[0040] Let P1 be the pressure at the opening, P2 be the pressure at the expansion section, and ρ be the density of the compressed air. Then, From Bernoulli's theorem, the suction force (pressure difference) ΔP is ΔP = P1 - P2 = (1 / 2) × ρ × ((Flow velocity at the expansion section) 2 - (Flow velocity at the opening) 2 )

[0041] The density ρ of the compressed air is ρ = Tank internal pressure P / (Gas constant of air × Temperature) ρ = 0.203 (Mpa) / (287.05 (J / (kg·K)) × 293.2 (K)) = 2.41 (kg / m 3 )

[0042] From this, ΔP = (1 / 2) × 2.41 × (50.8 2 - 343.2 2 ) = -139 kpa

[0043] ·Calculation of suction flow rate The discharge coefficient is 0.7, and the suction port is a circular cross-section with a diameter of 0.005 m (cross-sectional area 0.000019 m 2Let's assume that the amount of water drawn in through the suction port is determined solely by the suction force (ΔP). Flow velocity = √(2 × ΔP / density of water) = 11.7 m / s (velocity of water passing through the suction port) Suction flow rate = discharge coefficient × suction area × 11.7 = 0.7 × 0.000019 × 11.7 = 0.23 kg / s Assuming the flow velocity at the suction port is maintained in the direction of the airflow, the kinetic energy of the water flow before it is accelerated by the airflow is: Energy of water flow (J) = (1 / 2) × flow rate (kg / s) × 1 (s) × flow velocity (m / s) 2 = (1 / 2) × 0.23 × 1 × 11.7 2 = 15.6j(kg·m) 2 / s 2 )

[0044] The energy of the airflow before water is drawn in is, Airflow energy = 486.2 J (kg·m) 2 / s 2 )

[0045] Assuming there is no energy loss, 15.6 / 486.2=3% This means that the kinetic energy of the gas was converted into the kinetic energy of the water before it was accelerated by the airflow.

[0046] The velocity of the airflow in the expanding section can be determined using the remaining kinetic energy of the airflow, as follows: Kinetic energy = (1 / 2) × mass × velocity 2 Velocity = √(2 × kinetic energy / mass) =√(2×(486.2-17.2) / 0.00825) = 337.6 m / s

[0047] • Acceleration of water by airflow When the velocity of water is less than the velocity of air, the water is accelerated by the energy of the air. Although water and air decelerate due to resistance and friction, if these factors are not considered, energy transfer will occur until "the velocity of water = the velocity of air". Figure 3 illustrates this energy transfer.

[0048] In Figure 3, FRwater represents the velocity of the water flow (m / s), and FRair represents the velocity of the airflow (m / s). Ewater represents the kinetic energy of the water flow (kJ), and Eair represents the kinetic energy of the air (kJ). The horizontal axis represents the rate of increase in water flow due to airflow (m / s). The units on the left axis are m / s and J. The energy transfer rate on the right axis is the kinetic energy of water divided by the initial kinetic energy of the air.

[0049] In this case, the speed at which "water velocity = air velocity" is approximately 64 m / s, and at this point, about 97% of the kinetic energy becomes the kinetic energy of the water.

[0050] Furthermore, if there is no energy loss due to friction, etc. Initial kinetic energy of the air = kinetic energy of the water after acceleration + kinetic energy of the air after deceleration This is the result. Furthermore, the residual kinetic energy of the gas also does work as part of the gas-liquid flow, so it can be effectively utilized.

[0051] How kinetic energy is transferred when a stream of air or water strikes a plate perpendicularly. When an airflow strikes an object, as mentioned above, some of the gas's energy is converted into the object's kinetic energy, but not 100%. Due to (1) the compressibility of the airflow, (2) the viscosity of the airflow, (3) turbulence and vortex generation, (4) reflection and redistribution of the airflow, and (5) pressure changes in the airflow, the efficiency of energy transfer from the airflow to the object it strikes is usually suggested to be around 50% to 70%. In contrast, in the case of water flow, the energy transfer from the airflow to the object is higher. Below, we will compare these two.

[0052] (1) Difference between viscosity and flow Air has low viscosity, and its flow is turbulent and prone to separation, so kinetic energy easily escapes. However, water has high viscosity, and its flow hits the plate in a straight line, allowing energy to be transferred efficiently. (2) Wrapping around and peeling Air easily wraps around the sides of a board, while water does not wrap around as easily and exerts a more direct force on the board. (3) Differences in compressibility Air is easily compressed, and when it collides, its energy is converted into compressive work, reducing the force transmitted to the plate. However, water is less compressible, and its energy is efficiently transmitted to the plate.

[0053] In addition, due to the difference in density (water is about 800 times denser than air), water has greater kinetic energy even at the same speed. Therefore, water transfers more energy to the plate than air.

[0054] (Application to power generation using Pelton turbines) The energy efficiency of Pelton turbines is very high, and can be achieved in the 90% range. Hydroelectric power generation using this turbine can achieve an overall efficiency of over 80%. On the other hand, in this invention, most of the energy during the expansion of compressed air can be converted into the kinetic energy of water. Therefore, by combining this invention with a Pelton turbine, it is possible to achieve extremely high efficiency in power generation using compressed air.

[0055] As an example, we will explain using a simple experimental apparatus with a Pelton turbine. Figure 4(1) is an external view of the experimental apparatus. As shown in this figure, airflow is supplied to the supply port 50 at one end of the pipe 48, and water is injected into the pipe 48 from the suction pipe 32 to rotate the turbine 52 attached to the discharge port 36 at the other end of the pipe 48. The turbine 52 will not rotate with airflow alone, but it can be moved by transferring kinetic energy to the water.

[0056] Figure 4(2) shows an example of the energy conversion effect (impact force F on the plate) when, in the above experimental apparatus, instead of mounting the Pelton turbine 52 at the discharge port 36, a flat plate is placed in front of the discharge port 36, and an airflow / water flow is made to collide perpendicularly with this plate. Since the water was supplied from above between the suction ports, the supplied water has potential energy.

[0057] • If only airflow is used for collision, Fa = 0.0098N • If only water currents are colliding, Fb = 0.0235N (because of potential energy, a water current is created). Fa+Fb=0.0333N • When an airflow collides with a water flow accelerated by the airflow, Fa + Fb + α = 0.0559N Now, if we remove the potential energy of water, Fc=0.0559-Fb=0.0323N

[0058] Therefore, when a water flow and an air flow collide (Fc), the force on the plate can be made more than three times greater than when only an air flow collides (Fa) by converting some of the kinetic energy of the gas into the kinetic energy of the liquid.

[0059] (The problem of heat expansion) Next, I will explain the problem of heat expansion. The amount of energy that can be extracted when a compressed gas expands can be compared between isothermal compression and adiabatic compression as follows: Figure 5 shows the initial pressure of 1 m³ of air. 3 This graph shows the changes in energy (J) and temperature (K) released when a gas expands to atmospheric pressure. The dotted line shows the temperature change and energy release during adiabatic expansion. Isothermal expansion is not included in the graph because there is no temperature change. The part indicated by the arrow represents the difference in released energy. The following formula was used to create the graph.

[0060] • Calculation of isothermal compression Wi = n × R × T × ln(V2 / V1) Wi: Work performed on the outside by isothermal expansion N: Number of moles of gas R: Gas constant T: Constant temperature during expansion (constant in isothermal expansion) V1, V2: Volume before and after expansion

[0061] • Calculation of adiabatic compression Temperature change T2 = T1 × (P2 / P1) ((γ-1) / γ) Wa = P1 × V1 × (1 - ((P2 / P1) ((γ-1) / γ) ))) Wa: Work performed on the outside through adiabatic expansion. T1, T2: Temperature before and after expansion P1, P2: Pressure before and after expansion V1, V2: Volume before and after expansion γ: specific heat ratio

[0062] As described above, the compressed gas utilization device according to the present invention is a device that utilizes the energy of compressed gas and comprises a first conversion means that converts the energy of compressed gas into the kinetic energy of the gas, and a second conversion means that converts a portion of the kinetic energy into the kinetic energy of the liquid. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the decrease in efficiency caused by the heat of expansion generated during expansion and the properties of the gas, and to utilize compressed gas efficiently.

[0063] Furthermore, according to another compressed gas utilization device of the present invention, the first conversion means includes an airflow generation unit that generates an airflow by releasing compressed gas stored in a pressure accumulation unit, and the second conversion means includes a liquid suction unit that draws liquid from the outside into the generated airflow, and supplies the airflow with the suctioned liquid to the utilization site, so that a portion of the kinetic energy of the airflow generated from the compressed gas can be converted into the kinetic energy of the liquid.

[0064] Furthermore, according to another compressed gas utilization device of the present invention, an adjustment unit is included to adjust the amount of liquid drawn in by the liquid suction unit, so that the amount of liquid drawn in to the gas can be adjusted.

[0065] Furthermore, according to another compressed gas utilization device of the present invention, the second conversion means includes an acceleration unit that accelerates the aspirated liquid with an airflow, thereby improving the energy exchange efficiency between the gas and the liquid.

[0066] Furthermore, according to another compressed gas utilization device of the present invention, the liquid suction unit draws the liquid used at the destination into the airflow, so the liquid can be circulated and reused. [Industrial applicability]

[0067] As described above, the compressed gas utilization device according to the present invention is useful for devices that utilize compressed gases such as compressed air, and is particularly suitable for efficiently utilizing compressed gases by suppressing the decrease in efficiency caused by the heat of expansion generated when the compressed gas expands and by the properties of the gas. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0068] 10,10A Compressed Gas Utilization Device 12 First conversion means 14 Second conversion means 16. Tank (Pressure Accumulator) 18. Piping (Airflow Generation Section) 20 Liquid suction part 22 Adjustment section 24 Acceleration section 26, 34, 46, 48 Piping 28 Suction port 30 water tanks 32 Suction tube 36 Discharge port 38 Venturi tubes 40 Entrance 42 Stenosis 44 Exit section 50 supply ports 52 Pelton turbine

Claims

1. A device that utilizes the energy of compressed gas, A compressed gas utilization device characterized by comprising a first conversion means that converts the energy of compressed gas into the kinetic energy of the gas, and a second conversion means that converts a portion of the kinetic energy into the kinetic energy of a liquid.

2. The compressed gas utilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first conversion means includes an airflow generation unit that generates an airflow by releasing compressed gas stored in a pressure accumulation unit, and the second conversion means includes a liquid suction unit that draws liquid from the outside into the generated airflow, and supplies the airflow from which the liquid has been drawn to a user.

3. The compressed gas utilization apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that it includes an adjustment unit for adjusting the amount of liquid sucked by the liquid suction unit.

4. The compressed gas utilization apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the second conversion means includes an acceleration unit that accelerates the aspirated liquid with an airflow.

5. The compressed gas utilization apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the liquid suction unit draws the liquid used at the destination into an airflow.

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