Thermal Compressor With Cold-Side Regeneration Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal compressors experience significant efficiency losses due to inefficiencies in the regeneration phase, particularly from the transfer of fluid carrying heat from the hot chamber to the cold chamber, leading to increased pressurization consumption.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a heat exchanger between the regenerator and the first end of the compression chamber to facilitate heat exchange between the returning fluid and a cold source, utilizing a cryogenic fluid reservoir and a thermosiphon loop to regulate the fluid flow, thereby reducing the temperature of the returning fluid to match the inlet temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the piston transfers fluid from the hot chamber to the cold chamber during regeneration, then the fluid recovers cold from the regenerator, but the fluid carries heat inefficiencies and temperature differentials that reduce compression efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A heat exchanger is introduced as an intermediary component between the regenerator and the cold chamber. This heat exchanger allows the fluid returning from the hot chamber to exchange heat with a cold source (such as a portion of the incoming cold fluid or an external cold reservoir) before entering the cold chamber, thereby removing the temperature differential and heat inefficiencies that would otherwise be carried into the cold chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The regeneration process is segmented into distinct stages: first, the fluid passes through the regenerator to recover cold; second, the fluid passes through the additional heat exchanger to further cool and remove inefficiencies; third, the cooled fluid enters the cold chamber. This segmentation allows each stage to perform its specific thermal function optimally.
2Temperature
If the fluid returning from the hot chamber carries compression heat, then the cold chamber receives warmer fluid, but this requires additional heat injection and reduces overall system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger converts the harmful hot fluid returning from the compression chamber into a beneficial cooling opportunity. By using a portion of the incoming cold fluid or an external cold reservoir as the cold source in the heat exchanger, the system utilizes its own cold resources to pre-cool the returning fluid, thereby reducing the energy required for subsequent heat injection into the cold chamber.
3Loss of energy
If a heat exchanger is added between the regenerator and the cold chamber, then compression efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The additional heat exchanger can be designed to serve multiple functions: it cools the returning fluid, pre-cools incoming cold fluid (if using a counter-current arrangement), and can potentially recover additional heat for other system uses. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing multiple benefits from a single component.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the efficiency of the thermal compressor by minimizing the heat injected into the cold chamber, reducing inefficiencies and improving compression performance, especially for liquefied cryogenic fluids like hydrogen.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger configured to ensure a heat exchange between the flow of fluid having passed through the regenerator and a cold source
Implementation Method 2
a regeneration circuit connecting the first and second ends of the compression chamber and comprising a regenerator
Implementation Method 3
a pipe for sampling a cryogenic fluid flow from the fluid source and ensuring a passage in the heat exchanger
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a fluid compression device comprising a compression chamber housing a piston (5) movable in translation between the first (3) and second (6) ends of the compression chamber, the device (1) comprising a regeneration circuit (7) connecting the first (3) and second (6) ends of the compression chamber and comprising a regenerator (17), the supply line (8) comprising a set of valve(s) (9), the device (1) comprising at least one compressed fluid discharge line (10) comprising an upstream end connected to the compression chamber and a downstream end intended to be connected to a compressed fluid receiver, characterized in that the regeneration circuit (7) comprises, between the regenerator (17) and the first (3) end of the compression chamber,a heat exchanger (15) configured to ensure heat exchange between the fluid flow that has passed through the regenerator (17) and a cold source.