ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICE

Claims

1. A device for isothermal expansion and compression of gas (3), providing compression of said gas (3) by consuming mechanical energy and recovery of mechanical energy by expanding said gas (3) and containing: - at least one first and at least one second liquid piston (41, 42) configured to move in the first and second chambers (31, 32), respectively, wherein each of said at least one first and second chambers (31, 32) contains a gas (3) capable of being compressed or expanded as a result of the movement of said at least one first or second liquid piston (41, 42), - a drive (1) capable of moving said at least one first and second liquid pistons (41, 42) in said first and second chambers (31, 32), wherein each of said at least one first and second chambers (31, 32) contains, respectively, at least one first and at least one second perforated insert (51, 52) through which said liquid (4) and said gas (3) can circulate, characterized in that said drive (1) is a mechanical drive containing at least one solid piston (21, 22), said perforated insert (51, 52) comprises through cells (53) that extend between a first opening (54) of the cell that opens onto one end of said insert (51, 52) and a second opening (55) of the cell that opens onto the second end of said insert (51, 52), wherein said cells (53) are oriented in a direction that is either parallel to the direction of movement of said liquid piston (41, 42) in said insert (51, 52) or inclined relative to the direction of movement of said liquid piston, and said device further comprises at least a first phase separator (2) connected to the first outlet (37) of said first chamber (31) and to the second outlet (38) of said second chamber (32).

2. The device according to item 1, characterized in that the said phase separator (2) is connected to a reservoir (5) for compressed gas (3).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that it contains a second separator (6) connected to said first and second outlet openings (37, 38) of said first and second chambers (31, 32), respectively, in that said first separator (2) has a first internal pressure that corresponds to the internal pressure of the gas (3) contained in said reservoir (5) for compressed gas, and in that said second separator (6) has a second internal pressure that corresponds to atmospheric pressure.

4. The device according to paragraph 3, characterized in that said first and second separators (2, 6) communicate with each other via a fluid medium, which allows liquid (4) to pass from the first separator (2) to the second separator (6).

5. A device according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a first air intake device (61) providing passage of air at atmospheric pressure between said at least one first chamber (31) and said second separator (6), and in that it comprises a second air intake device (62) at atmospheric pressure between said at least one second chamber (32) and said second separator.

6. The device according to any one of paragraphs 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that it contains a third air intake device (13, 64) providing the passage of compressed air between said first chamber (31) and said first separator (2), and in that it contains a fourth air intake device (16, 65) between said second chamber and said first separator (2).

7. A device according to any one of paragraphs 3-6, characterized in that it comprises a first low-flow control valve (24) ensuring the passage of fluid media from said first separator (2) into said first chamber (31), and in that it comprises a second low-flow control valve (24) ensuring the passage of fluid media from said first separator (2) into a second chamber (32).

8. A device according to any one of paragraphs 3-7, characterized in that it contains a control valve (91, 92) set to a safe pressure between said first chamber (31) and said first separator (2) and / or between said second chamber (32) and said first separator (2), in order to ensure the possibility of discharging a volume of liquid from said at least one first or second liquid piston into the first separator (2).

9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the first and second chambers (31, 32) is fluidly connected to a fluid / fluid heat exchanger (71, 72) which allows said at least first and second liquid pistons (41, 42) to be maintained at ambient temperature, wherein in a preferred embodiment with an allowable temperature change of plus or minus 10°C, said fluid / fluid heat exchanger (71, 72) comprises a pump (83), a fluid / air heat exchanger (84) or a fluid / fluid heat exchanger, optionally a fan (85) with a motor if said heat exchanger is a fluid / air heat exchanger (84), and optionally at least one control valve (86).

10. A device according to any of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the insert (51, 52) contains a core made of a structural material containing an expanded honeycomb structure.

11. A device according to any of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that said mechanical drive (1) comprises a linear motor (23) with a magnetic drive.

12. A device according to any of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that said mechanical drive (1) comprises an engine connected to a crankshaft.

13. A device according to any of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that said mechanical drive comprises a motor connected to a worm screw.

14. An installation comprising at least two devices according to any of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that said mechanical drives (1) of said at least two devices are mechanically connected for joint operation, and in that it includes a first phase separator (2) common to said at least two devices, wherein said common first phase separator is connected to the first outlet (37) of the first chambers (31) of the devices and to the second outlet (38) of the second chambers (32) of said devices, and said first phase separator (2) is connected to a common reservoir (5) for compressed gas.

15. The installation according to claim 14, comprising at least two devices according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a second separator (6), common to said at least two devices, wherein said common second separator (6) is connected to said first and second outlet openings (37, 38) of said first and second chambers (31, 32) of each of said at least two devices, said first common separator (2) has a first internal pressure that corresponds to the internal pressure of the gas contained in said common reservoir (5) for compressed gas, and said second separator (6) has a second internal pressure that corresponds to atmospheric pressure.

16. A method for implementing a device according to any of paragraphs 1-13, characterized in that it includes the following steps: - activation of the mechanical drive (1), - movement of said at least one solid-state piston (21, 22, 23), causing movement of said first liquid piston (41) in said first chamber (31) and said second liquid piston (42) in said second chamber (32), wherein said first and second liquid pistons (41, 42) move in opposite directions, the first liquid piston (41) compresses said gas (3) in the insert (51) of said first chamber (31) to a first predetermined pressure, the second liquid piston (42) creates a low pressure in said insert (52) of said second chamber (32) to a second pressure, - upon reaching the specified first pressure, opening an air intake device (13) between said first chamber (31) and said first phase separator (2) to release compressed gas (3) from the first chamber (31) to said first separator (2) until said liquid piston (41) completely passes through said insert (51) and reaches the first outlet opening (37) of the first chamber (31), and simultaneously admitting air into said second chamber (32).