Hydrostatic Pressure Intensifier for Compressed Fluid Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial storage tanks with significant hydrostatic pressure often have their hydraulic and potential energy under-utilized or wasted, as existing technologies fail to effectively harness and convert this energy into usable forms.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a storage tank, a separator piston, and a pressure intensifier that utilizes hydrostatic pressure to generate compressed fluids through a pressure concentrator, which includes a housing with piston head members and base cylinders, allowing for the collective pressure application to a compression chamber to produce compressed fluid for energy generation and other functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If hydrostatic pressure from storage tanks is not utilized, then the system remains simple and existing technologies are maintained, but energy is wasted and sustainability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the hydrostatic pressure from the storage tank itself to drive the separator piston and generate compressed fluid, making the storage tank's own pressure serve the dual purpose of storage and energy generation. The fluid's own weight and pressure are harnessed without requiring external power sources.
Solution Approach 2:
A working fluid (such as water or inert gas) is introduced as an intermediary medium between the storage tank's hydrostatic pressure and the compression chamber. This working fluid transmits and amplifies the pressure from the storage tank to generate the desired compressed fluid output.
2Power
If hydrostatic pressure is converted to compressed fluid, then energy generation capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The storage tank serves multiple functions: it stores the process fluid and simultaneously acts as a pressure source for energy generation. The separator piston both separates the storage tank fluid from the working fluid and converts pressure, while the compression chamber both compresses the working fluid and generates usable energy output.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the storage function and energy generation function into a single integrated system. The separator piston, compression chamber, and storage tank work as a unified pressure conversion system, eliminating the need for separate energy generation equipment.
3Productivity
If separator piston is used to transfer pressure, then pressure transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The separator piston utilizes hydraulic principles where the working fluid (liquid or gas) transmits pressure from the storage tank side to the compression chamber side. This hydraulic pressure transmission is more efficient than mechanical linkages and simplifies the design by using fluid mechanics rather than complex mechanical assemblies.
4Productivity
If compressed fluid is generated for energy production, then useful energy output is improved, but system complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates autonomously using the natural hydrostatic pressure from the storage tank. Once the system is initialized with the working fluid, it self-regulates the pressure conversion process without requiring external control systems, operators, or additional energy inputs. The compression occurs automatically as the storage tank pressure drives the separator piston.
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
The system effectively converts underutilized hydrostatic pressure into usable energy and compounds, such as hydrogen and oxygen, without producing harmful emissions, enabling sustainable energy generation and various industrial applications, including in inaccessible areas.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing hydrostatic and hydraulic pressure to generate energy
Implementation Method 2
the hydraulic pressure and potential energy of the fluid and/or storage tanks
Implementation Method 3
a pressure intensifier having a first compartment and a second compartment... a pressure concentrator in the second compartment and a compression chamber downstream of the pressure concentrator
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods for utilizing hydrostatic and/or hydraulic pressure to generate energy are disclosed herein. A representative industrial system can comprise a storage tank containing fluid, a separator piston having a first separator compartment configured to be fluidically coupled to the storage tank and a second separator compartment, and a pressure intensifier. The pressure intensifier includes a first compartment, and a second compartment fluidically coupled to the second separator compartment. The second compartment of the pressure intensifier includes a pressure concentrator having a housing, a piston head member including arms, a plurality of cylinders each defined in part by the housing, and a drive piston head portion.