Compressor System Using Water Pump Pressure Differential
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compressors either deliver high pressures with low volumes or high volumes with insufficient pressure, making them inefficient for generating compressed air at depths required by nautical vessels, which contributes to excessive fuel consumption and pollution.
Innovation Solution
A compressor system that uses a pump to accelerate water, creating a pressure differential to draw in and compress air, allowing for efficient delivery of large volumes of air at relatively low pressures with low energy consumption, without the need for custom installation or dry docking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If piston type compressors are used to deliver high pressure air, then the pressure is sufficient to overcome deep draft pressures, but the volume delivered is economically limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the compression function into two separate components: a water pump that creates the pressure differential and an air compressor that delivers the compressed air. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the pump handling the high-pressure generation and the compressor handling the volume delivery, thereby resolving the contradiction between pressure and volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces water as an intermediary medium to transfer energy from the pump to the air compression process. The water pump accelerates water to create a pressure differential that draws air into the compression chamber, allowing indirect compression that achieves both high pressure and high volume efficiency.
2Productivity
If turbo fans are used to deliver large volumes of air, then the air volume is high, but the pressure is insufficient to overcome deep draft pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the volume generation function (performed by the air compressor) from the pressure generation function (performed by the water pump). This allows the air compressor to deliver large volumes at atmospheric pressure while the water pump independently generates the necessary pressure differential, combining both capabilities without the trade-off present in single-function devices like turbo fans.
3Productivity
If custom built compressors are installed on existing vessels, then the compression performance is optimized for each vessel, but the installation requires dry dock and is time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static, custom-built compressors to a dynamic, modular configuration where the air compressor and water pump can be independently selected and combined based on vessel requirements. This modular approach allows for quick assembly and installation without requiring dry dock, significantly reducing installation time while maintaining optimization through component selection.
Solution Approach 2:
By dividing the system into separate, modular components (water pump and air compressor), the system enables independent installation and configuration on existing vessels without requiring custom-built integrated solutions. This modular segmentation allows for rapid deployment and reduces installation complexity and time.
4Ease of manufacture
If fans are used to pressurize air for air lubrication, then the system is simple to implement, but the energy consumption is high and the maximum depth is limited to about five meters
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the direct mechanical compression approach (using fans to pressurize air) with a hydraulic-mechanical approach (using water pump acceleration to create pressure differential). This substitution allows for more efficient energy transfer and higher achievable pressures while maintaining relative system simplicity, overcoming both the energy consumption and depth limitation issues of fan-based systems.
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
Enables the efficient generation of compressed air at desired pressures with significantly reduced energy consumption, facilitating the implementation on existing ships to reduce drag, fuel consumption, and emissions, while being modular and easily transportable.
Implementation Method 1
A compressor system that uses a pump to accelerate water, creating a pressure differential to draw in and compress air
Implementation Method 2
creating a pressure differential to draw in and compress air
Data Source
AI summary
This present invention is a more economical method and apparatus for compressing gas or other compressible fluids in high volumes at any desired pressures for any desired purpose. One preferred use is for generating high volumes of air capable to be delivered at any drafts for the purpose of lubricating ships motions and accordingly lowering their drag, fuel consumption and harmful emissions.