A device for converting high gas pressure into mechanical torque or vice versa

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for converting high gas pressure into mechanical torque or vice versa, having a cylindrical housing constituting a channel (1) having an axis around which, via rotating rings (5), at least two rotating baffles (4) are mounted, wherein the baffles (4) run along the entire length of the casing and form chambers between them, and the cylindrical wall of the casing has a first opening (2) for low pressure gas and a second opening (3) for high pressure gas, which openings are placed adjacent and connected respectively to a low pressure gas channel (2a) and a high pressure gas channel (3a). The device is characterised in that each baffle (4) is mounted on the ring (5) and rotatable about the axis of the channel (1), the ring (5) being on the inner side rotatably coupled, via a compensating gear system, to a corresponding connecting wheel (6), and each connecting wheel (6) being rotatably coupled to the wheel (7), mounted on a rotating shaft (0), wherein each connecting wheel (6) and the wheel (7) are non-circular, and the shape and dimension parameters of each connecting wheel (6) and the wheel (7) are selected so that, at uniform rotational speed of the shaft (0), the rotational speed of each baffle (4) increases as the baffle (4) moves away from a boundary (1') between the openings (2,3) on one side and decreases as the baffle (4) approaches the boundary (1') between the openings (2,3) on the other side.

Description

[0001] A device for converting high gas pressure into mechanical torque or vice versa

[0002] The subject of the invention is a device for converting high-pressure gas into mechanical torque or vice versa, having a cylindrical casing constituting a channel having an axis around which, by means of rotating rings, at least two rotating baffles are mounted, wherein the baffles run along the entire length of the casing and form chambers between them, and in the cylindrical wall of the casing there is a first opening of low-pressure gas and a second opening of high-pressure gas, which openings are placed adjacent and connected respectively to the low-pressure gas channel and the high-pressure gas channel.

[0003] Compressors and turbines are the backbone of modem power generation. In addition, they have wide-ranging applications in transport, i.e. in aircraft and car engines. The drawbacks of the compressors and turbines used presently are low energy efficiency, a high degree of complexity that drives up production costs, and the lack of flexibility, i.e. these devices only achieve high energy efficiency within a narrow range of their operating speed. The object of the invention is to achieve high energy efficiency, close to 100%, over a very wide range of operating speeds, with limited complexity.

[0004] By compressor, we mean here a device that has a lower pressure gas at the input and a higher pressure gas at the output. This device consumes the energy supplied to it. The energy efficiency of a compressor is the ratio of the power required to compress the gas to the power delivered to the compressor. Compressor efficiencies range from 50% to 96%. The compressor usually loses energy in such a way that it heats the compressed gas.

[0005] By turbine, we mean here a device that has a higher pressure gas at the input and a lower pressure gas at the output. The device delivers energy outside. The energy efficiency of a turbine is the ratio of the power possible to be obtained when the gas is expanded to the power actually obtained. The efficiency of the turbines varies between 85% and 92%. The energy lost in a turbine is usually in the form of thermal energy transferred to the expanding gas.

[0006] Document DE102005020221A1 discloses a rotary piston engine that has two pairs of pistons (5-8) connected to a gear mechanism driven by a shaft inside a casing (9). The casing also has an inlet (12) for fluid and an opening (13) for fluid drainage, which are located close to each other. The pistons are supported by an axial shell (11) mounted on an axial core (10) connected to the gear mechanism. During operation, each pair of pistons rotates in opposite directions in response to changes in the phase of the fluid entering the casing. The pistons have a variable rotation speed. In one embodiment, the engine is provided with a mechanism consisting of two pairs of elliptical gears (16,17 / 18,19). Gears 16 and 17 are connected to pairs of pistons on the shell (11) and core (10) respectively, while gears (18,19) are connected to the drive shaft (20).

[0007] Document FR1360311A discloses a rotary engine and relates to the control of the speed of groups of blades by means of a set of two-blade cams permanently interlocked with each other, whose speed ratio varies each time they pass through both maxima and both minima per revolution. The two groups of blades are seated on the same axis via two bushings. A shaft 7 is inserted into the sleeve of group 5, which is provided with a gear wheel 9 at the end. A shaft is inserted into the sleeve of group 4, which passes inside the shaft 7 and is provided with a gear wheel 8 at the end. The two gear wheels are connected to a set of cams which results in a variable speed of the blade groups.

[0008] Document JPS62142880A relates to a rotary piston device with variable chamber volume. The rotating piston 963 is integrally connected to the central shaft 965 and has projecting portions on opposite sides, while the rotating piston 964 is connected to the piston 963 in such a way that it rotates in the space between the projecting portions of the piston 963 and has fan-shaped portions also on opposite sides. The pistons are enclosed in a cylindrical casing 961 having an intake and exhaust port. Pistons 963 and 964 are rotated in a reciprocal relationship via a series of gear wheels. The volume of the four spaces 971-974 between the pistons 963 and 964 is variable; the compressed fuel gas (fuel / air mixture) in the spaces is ignited and explodes using the ignition device 978 and exerts a rotational force on the piston. A series of gearwheels may comprise elliptical gears in various arrangements, as shown, for example, in fig. 3, 5, 9, 11, 20, which are the elliptical circles that cause the speed of the piston rotation to change.

[0009] Document US3873247A relates to a device with a piston rotating around a central axis, i.e. a motor or pump. The unit has two coaxial shafts 1,2. On each shaft, a pair of opposite blades, 3,4 and 5,6 respectively, are mounted via flange 7,8. The device has a casing. The relative angular position of the blades of each shaft is determined by the interlocking of pseudo-elliptical gear wheels, cooperating with the gear wheel 17 of the differential, which is designed to reduce inertial forces for certain preset angular velocities. The differential wheel is pivotally connected to each of the shafts and also has a means of transferring power between the unit and the external means.

[0010] Document US2008178847A1 relates to a free piston thermal displacement machine with variable volume working chambers. The machine can be used as an internal or external combustion engine, compressor, pump. The machine comprises two analogous piston assemblies, each comprising two or more blades in the form of a symmetrical star and mounted on a hub. The piston assemblies are housed in a cylindrical cavity. The blades in each piston are alternately located in the cavity. When the piston assemblies swing in opposite directions, chambers of variable volume are formed between adjacent blades. The above documents describe mechanisms in which the pistons have two opposing blades and, in addition, move in an oscillatory (not fully rotational) motion.

[0011] The present invention solves state-of-the-art problems.

[0012] The invention relates to a device for converting high-pressure gas into mechanical torque or vice versa, having a cylindrical casing constituting a channel having an axis around which, by means of rotating rings, at least two rotating baffles are mounted, wherein the baffles run along the entire length of the casing and form chambers between them, and in the cylindrical wall of the casing there is a first opening of low-pressure gas and a second opening of high-pressure gas, which are placed adjacent and connected respectively to the low-pressure gas channel and the high- pressure gas channel. The device is characterised in that each baffle is mounted on a ring and rotatable about the axis of the channel, wherein the ring is on the inner side rotatably coupled, via a system of compensating gears, to a corresponding connecting wheel, and each connecting wheel being rotatably coupled to a wheel, mounted on a rotating shaft, wherein each connecting wheel and the wheel being non-circular, and the parameters of shape and dimensions of each connecting wheel and the wheel being selected so that, at uniform rotational speed of the shaft, the speed of rotation of each baffle increases as the baffle moves away from the boundary between the openings on one side and decreases as the baffle approaches the boundary between the openings on the other side.

[0013] Preferably, the device is provided with a system for controlling the flow of gas through the second opening.

[0014] Preferably, the system for controlling the flow of gas through the second opening is a system for controlling the size of the second opening comprising a shutter slidable on the second opening operatively connected to a piston, the piston being sealed in an intermediate channel connecting the low pressure channel and the high pressure channel and provided with elastic means for balancing the push of the piston in the intermediate channel by the pressure difference.

[0015] More preferably, the elastic means are a mechanical spring, a gas shock absorber or an oil shock absorber.

[0016] More preferably, the system for controlling the flow of gas through the second opening is a series of one-way pressure valves.

[0017] More preferably, the system for controlling the flow of gas through the second opening is a system for controlling the size of the second opening comprising a shutter slidable on the second opening operatively connected to an electronically controlled actuator, and pressure gauges located in the first and second or low-pressure and high-pressure channels respectively, the actuator controlling the shutter according to the pressure values received from the pressure gauges.

[0018] Preferably, the connecting wheels and the wheel are gear wheels.

[0019] More preferably, the connecting wheels and the wheel are coupled directly to each other. More preferably, the connecting wheels and the wheel are coupled together via toothed belts.

[0020] More preferably, the connecting wheels and the wheel are coupled together via chains.

[0021] Preferably, the connecting wheels and the wheel are pulleys and are coupled to each other via V-belts.

[0022] Preferably, the at least one baffle is mounted on more than one number of rings spaced along the length of the baffle, at least one of the rings being coupled to the connecting wheel.

[0023] Preferably, the ring is a sleeve.

[0024] Preferably, the device is a turbine.

[0025] Preferably, the device is a compressor.

[0026] The subject of the invention is explained in the embodiments in the drawings, in which, schematically, fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention in cross-section at right angles to the channel axis, acting as a compressor, fig. 2 shows the different positions of the baffle and the corresponding speeds, in an embodiment of the invention acting as a compressor, fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the invention in the axis of the channel, where the dashed line marks the path of the rings, fig. 4 shows the principle of connection and interaction of the connecting wheel and the wheel in general, fig. 5 and fig. 5a show some more detailed embodiments of the mechanism controlling the rotation of the baffle, while fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the invention in cross-section at right angles to the channel axis with a gas flow control system through the second opening.

[0027] On fig. 1 it may be seen that, according to the invention, the device for converting high gas pressure into mechanical torque or vice versa has a cylindrical casing constituting a channel 1, the casing having an axis around which, via rotating rings 5, at least two rotating baffles 4 are mounted (in the embodiments shown on the drawings, there are four baffles, but two, three or even more than four baffles can be used if necessary). The rings 5, schematically represented by a dotted line, can be seen in fig. 3. Baffles 4 run along the entire length of the casing and form chambers between them. The cylindrical wall of the casing has a first opening 2 for low-pressure gas and a second opening 3 for high-pressure gas. The first and second openings 2,3 are placed adjacent and connected to the low-pressure gas channel 2a and the high-pressure gas channel 3a, respectively. Each baffle 4 is seated on the respective ring 5 and is rotatable about the axis of channel 1. The ring 5 of each baffle 4 is pivotally coupled on its inner side, via a compensating gear system, to a corresponding connecting wheel 6, and each connecting wheel 6 is pivotally coupled to a wheel 7, mounted on a rotating shaft 0. The connecting wheels 6 and the wheel 7 are non-circular, and the parameters of shape and dimensions of each connecting wheel 6 and the wheel 7 are selected so that, at a uniform rotational speed of the shaft 0, the speed of rotational movement of each baffle 4 increases as the baffle 4 moves away from a boundary 1' between the openings 2,3 on one side and decreases as the baffle 4 approaches the boundary 1' between these openings 2,3 on the other side. An example of the shape of the wheel 7 and connecting wheel 6 as well as the position of axis 0 in relation to the wheel 7 and the position of the axis of rotation of the wheel 6 are shown in fig. 4. When the wheel 7 rotates uniformly, the wheel 6 rotates with alternating increasing and decreasing speed. With this arrangement of the wheels 6,7, the parameters of the compensating gear system can also be selected so that the ratio of the rotation of ring 5 to the rotation of the corresponding connecting wheel 6 is 1 : 1. However, such an arrangement is not obligatory, and a person skilled in the art will know that other wheel parameters, axle locations and transmission system parameters can also be selected so that, at uniform rotational speed of axis 0, the baffles 4 move in a non- uniform motion such that their speed increases as they move away from the boundary 1' on one side and decreases on the other side.

[0028] The embodiment shown in fig. 1 is a device that acts as a compressor. The arrows indicate the direction and also schematically the speed of rotation of the baffles 4. A shorter arrow indicates a lower speed of baffle 4, while a longer arrow indicates a higher speed of baffle 4. The channel 1 is a body of revolution. There are two openings 2,3 in the channel 1 : low / high pressure gas inlet / outlet via channels 2a, 3a. At least two baffles 4 (four baffles are shown in the figure) move with variable speed in channel 1. As the baffles 4 move at variable speeds, the adjacent baffles 4 alternately move away from and towards each other.

[0029] When the unit is operating as a compressor, the wheel 7 is driven by an external torque source. As the baffles 4 move away from each other, the gas enters between the baffles 4 through opening 2, which gas is compressed as the baffles 4 move closer to each other. When the baffles 4 approach each other and are as close as possible to each other, the gas is 'squeezed out' through the opening 3. Fig. 2 shows an example of a single baffle 4 speed diagram. You can see here that the speed, as you move away from the boundary 1' between openings 2,3, increases until the position of the baffle that is furthest away from the boundary 1' and then decreases.

[0030] Although such a variant is not shown in the figure, in the embodiment of the invention can also function as a turbine. In the invention acting as a turbine, the speeds have the same absolute values but opposite senses. When the device acts as a turbine, the high-pressure gas enters through the opening 3 between the baffles 4, which are close together, and performs work on them, moving them away from each other. Then, the approaching baffles 4 push the expanded gas through the opening 2. As a result of the work done by the expanding gas, the main shaft 0 is driven and performs work on the surroundings of the unit.

[0031] As can be seen from the above, the openings 2,3, depending on the mode of operation of the device, are used to supply or extract gas at low or high pressure respectively. Fig. 5 and fig. 5a show embodiments of the gear arrangement and the wheels 6,7 and rings 5 connections.

[0032] In the embodiment shown in fig. 5 one can see the coupling of the main shaft 0 of the mechanism to the rotating baffle 4. One rotation of the shaft 0 corresponds to one rotation of the baffle 4, wherein if the rotation of shaft 0 is uniform, then the rotational speed of the baffle 4 performs a full rise and fall cycle. The conversion of uniform to non-uniform angular speed is achieved by coupling, in this embodiment, the elliptical gear wheels 7 and 6. The auxiliary shaft 16 of the elliptical pinion gear wheel 6 is coupled 1 : 1 to the ring 5 and the baffle 4 via two gear wheels: an accelerating gear, comprising first gear wheels 15 and 14, and a decelerating gear, comprising second gear wheels 12 and 11, wherein the second gear wheel 11 is located on the inside of the ring 5 (or the ring 5 itself being the second gear wheel 11). The ratio of the number of teeth on the first gear wheels 15 to 14 is the same as on the second gear wheels 11 to 12. The use of two gears is for the following reason: the auxiliary shaft 13 entering the ring 5 must rotate faster than the ring 5, because it is coupled to the ring 5 via a second gear wheel 12 with outer gearing and a second gear wheel 11 with inner gearing - the one with outer gearing must rotate faster than the one with inner gearing. A gear is therefore created there, which is compensated with a second gear - consisting of the first gear wheels 15 and 14. The elliptical gear wheel 7 can be connected by analogous mechanical systems simultaneously to multiple baffles, connected to coaxial rings.

[0033] Since the baffles 4 are at least two, as indicated in the summary of the invention, with more baffles 4 a problem may arise with the overlapping of the different components of the mechanism. Hence, an alternative embodiment of the invention may be considered, where the wheels 7 will be more than one, wherein they may be located on a common shaft 0, or on separate shafts but coaxial with the main axis of the channel 1. Such an embodiment is shown in fig. 5a, where the mechanism is shown for two baffles 4 (the baffles 4 and rings 5, for simplicity, are not shown in fig. 5a). In this embodiment, there are two wheels 7, each of which is coupled to a connecting wheel 6 and further to a gear train separate for each baffle 4.

[0034] In the embodiments described, the connecting wheel 6 and the wheel 7 are gear wheels and are coupled directly to each other, but in other embodiments, as will be obvious to the person skilled in the are, they may be gear wheels coupled via toothed belts or chains, or they may be pulleys coupled via V-belts (not shown).

[0035] In certain embodiments (not shown), in order to strengthen the baffles 4, they can be mounted on more than one number of rings 5 distributed along the length of the baffle 4, in which case at least one of them is coupled to the connecting wheel 6. A combination of one or more baffles 4 with a ring 5 in the form of a sleeve can also be used - e.g. in such a way that one baffle 4 is mounted on the sleeve 5, while the second and third baffles are mounted each on two rings 5 located at both ends of the sleeve 5, or in other convenient configurations.

[0036] Preferably, in order to maximise the efficiency of the device, the gas pressure in channel 1 should never be greater than the high gas pressure behind the second opening 3. At the same time, the gas pressure between the baffles 4 increases as they get closer to each other and the gas enclosed between them cannot escape through the second opening 3. In the case of a device acting as a compressor, the gas between the baffles should reach the second opening 3 exactly when its pressure reaches the pressure in the second opening 3. In the case of a device acting as a turbine, only such a mass of gas should pass through the second opening 3 that, when it expands in the turbine, it reaches the pressure that the gas has in the first opening 2. Consequently, the second opening 3 should occupy the narrower part of channel 1, the higher the pressure in the second opening 3. Various solutions are possible to achieve this goal.

[0037] In the case of a turbine or compressor, the second opening 3 can be obscured by a slidable shutter 8, the position of which is controlled in such a way that the greater the difference between the gas pressure in the second opening 3 and the gas pressure in the first opening 2, the more the second opening 3 is obscured. This solution is illustrated in fig. 6, on which the shutter 8 is slidable on the second opening 3 and operatively connected to the piston 9. The piston 9 is sealed in the intermediate channel 9a connecting the low-pressure channel 2a and the high-pressure channel 3 a and equipped with elastic means 10 (in this embodiment a spring, but it can be any other means known in the state of the art, e.g. a gas damper, an oil damper, etc.) for balancing the displacement of the piston 9 in the intermediate channel 9a by the pressure difference.

[0038] The piston 9 can also be replaced by pressure gauges located in the first opening 2 and the second opening 3 or in the low-pressure channel 2a and high-pressure channel 3a respectively, with the actuator controlling the shutter 8 depending on the pressure values received from the pressure gauges (embodiment not shown).

[0039] In the case of the compressor, the second opening 3 is in the form of a series of one-way pressure valves, distributed around part of the channel circuit 1; the higher the pressure in the second opening 3, the smaller number of these valves will be open (embodiment not shown).

[0040] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the features indicated in the claims can be combined in any combination appropriate to the particular application of the solution.

Claims

Claims1. A device for converting high-pressure gas into mechanical torque or vice versa, having a cylindrical casing forming a channel (1) having an axis around which, by means of rotating rings (5), at least two rotating baffles (4) are mounted, wherein the baffles (4) run along the entire length of the casing and form chambers between them, and in the cylindrical wall of the casing there is a first opening (2) for low pressure gas and a second opening (3) for high pressure gas, which openings are placed adjacent and connected respectively to a low pressure gas channel (2a) and a high pressure gas channel (3a), characterised in that each baffle (4) is seated on a ring (5) and rotatable about the axis of the channel (1), wherein the ring (5) is rotatably coupled on the inner side, via a compensating gear system, to a corresponding connecting wheel (6), and each connecting wheel (6) is rotatably coupled to a wheel (7), mounted on a rotating shaft (0), each connecting wheel (6) and the wheel (7) being noncircular, and the parameters of the shape and dimensions of each connecting wheel (6) and the wheel (7) are selected so that, at uniform rotational speed of the shaft (0), the speed of rotation of each baffle (4) increases as the baffle (4) moves away from a boundary (1') between openings (2,3) on one side and decreases as the baffle (4) approaches the boundary (1') between openings (2,3) on the other side.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that it is provided with a system for controlling the flow of gas through the second opening (3).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterised in that the system for controlling the gas flow through the second opening (3) is a system for controlling the size of the second opening (3) comprising a shutter (8) slidable on the second opening (3) and operatively connected to the piston (9), the piston (9) being sealed in the intermediate channel (9a) connecting the low pressure channel (2a) and the high pressure channel (3a) and provided with elastic means (10) for balancing the push of the piston (9) in the intermediate channel (9a) by the pressure difference.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterised in that the elastic means (10) are a mechanical spring, a gas shock absorber or an oil shock absorber.

5. The device according to claim 2, characterised in that the system for controlling the flow of gas through the second opening (3) is a series of one-way pressure valves.

6. The device according to claim 2, characterised in that the system for controlling the flow of gas through the second opening (3) is a system for controlling the size of the second opening (3) comprising a shutter (8) slidable on the second opening (3) operatively connected to an electronically controlled actuator, and pressure gauges located in the first opening (2) and thesecond opening (3) or in the low-pressure and high-pressure channels (2a, 3a) respectively, wherein the actuator controls the shutter (8) depending on the pressure values received from the pressure gauges.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the connecting wheels (6) and the wheel (7) are gear wheels.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterised in that the connecting wheels (6) and the wheel (7) are directly coupled to each other.

9. The device according to claim 7, characterised in that the connecting wheels (6) and the wheel (7) are coupled together via toothed belts.

10. The device according to claim 7, characterised in that the connecting wheels (6) and the wheel (7) are coupled together via chains.

11. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the connecting wheels (6) and the wheel (7) are pulleys and are coupled to each other by means of V-belts.

12. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one baffle (4) is mounted on more than one ring (5) spaced along the length of the baffle (4), at least one of which is coupled to the connecting wheel (6).

13. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the ring (5) is a sleeve.

14. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that it is a turbine.

15. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that it is a compressor.

Images