Compressed Gas Transfer System Using Liquid Piston
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in vehicles is limited by the need for expensive and complex gas compressors to maintain high pressure, which generates excessive heat during transfer, and the lack of availability and high cost of LNG, making it impractical for widespread adoption.
Innovation Solution
A compressed gas transfer system that uses multiple pressure vessels with a liquid reservoir and pumps to maintain constant pressure, allowing for efficient transfer and storage of CNG by varying the volume of the vessels with liquid to manage gas pressure, reducing the need for large and energy-intensive compressors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If gas compressors are used to maintain high pressure in CNG systems, then high pressure gas supply is achieved, but heat generation and energy consumption increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydraulic principles by using a liquid piston (water) to compress and transfer gas. The liquid phase is used as an intermediary medium to transmit force and maintain pressure, replacing traditional gas compressors. This hydraulic approach allows efficient pressure maintenance with minimal energy input, as the liquid incompressibility provides natural pressure stabilization during gas transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces liquid water as an intermediary substance between the gas source and the engine. The water acts as a pressure transmission medium that absorbs and releases energy during phase changes, thereby maintaining constant gas pressure without requiring continuous compressor operation. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for high-energy gas compression while ensuring stable pressure supply.
2Stress or pressure
If gas compressors are used to maintain high pressure in CNG systems, then high pressure gas supply is achieved, but heat generation increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
By using hydraulic pressure transmission through liquid water instead of mechanical gas compression, the system avoids the significant heat generation associated with compressor operation. The liquid phase change process occurs isothermally or near-isothermally, preventing excessive temperature rise during pressure maintenance and gas transfer operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the phase transition properties of water (liquid-vapor equilibrium) to maintain pressure without heat generation. During gas compression and transfer, water absorbs heat through evaporation, maintaining constant temperature. The phase change acts as a natural heat sink, preventing the excessive heat buildup that would occur with traditional mechanical compression.
3Quantity of substance
If LNG is used as fuel, then high energy density is achieved, but cost and infrastructure availability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the fuel system by using compressed gas at moderate pressure rather than cryogenic liquid. This parameter change (from liquid to gas phase operation) maintains sufficient energy density for practical applications while dramatically reducing infrastructure requirements. The system operates at temperatures and pressures compatible with existing natural gas infrastructure, eliminating the need for expensive LNG storage and handling facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive pressure vessels and liquid storage tanks instead of complex cryogenic infrastructure. The system uses readily available materials and components that can be manufactured at low cost, making the fuel system economically viable without requiring massive infrastructure investment. The approach trades long-term infrastructure durability for immediate cost-effectiveness and deployability.
4Quantity of substance
If CNG tanks are made larger to store more fuel, then fuel capacity increases, but vehicle space and maneuverability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic pressure transmission system allows for compact fuel storage because pressure is maintained through liquid displacement rather than large-volume gas compression. The incompressible liquid medium transmits pressure efficiently through small-volume channels, enabling high fuel capacity in reduced space. This approach dramatically shrinks the volume required for fuel storage compared to traditional compressed gas systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from three-dimensional gas storage to a system that utilizes the incompressibility of liquid in a different dimensional approach. By using liquid displacement to maintain pressure, the system effectively uses the density difference between liquid and gas phases to achieve the same fuel capacity in much smaller volume, optimizing space utilization within the vehicle.
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 system enables a constant and efficient supply of high-pressure gas to engines, minimizing heat generation and energy consumption, and allows for the practical use of CNG in vehicles by reducing the volume of liquid required, thus overcoming the limitations of existing CNG and LNG systems.
Implementation Method 1
A compressed gas transfer system comprising: at least one first pressure vessel able to hold a volume of gas; and a first gas line to allow gas to pass out of the at least one first pressure vessel; wherein the volume of the first pressure vessel is able to be varied to maintain gas within the pressure vessel at a constant pressure
Implementation Method 2
This system enables a constant and efficient supply of high-pressure gas to engines, minimizing heat generation and energy consumption
Data Source
AI summary
A compressed gas transfer system comprising at least one first pressure vessel able to hold a volume of gas; and a first gas line to allow gas to pass out of the at least one first pressure vessel wherein the volume of the first pressure vessel is able to be varied to maintain the gas within the pressure vessel at a constant pressure.