Liquid Gas Compression via Coanda Nozzle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for compressing gas from a low pressure source to a high pressure tank, such as those used in compressed natural gas vehicles, are expensive and difficult to maintain due to their reliance on direct mechanical compression systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing pressurized liquid to compress gas, where the liquid is separated from the gas in a second chamber, maintaining the gas at a higher pressure to produce compressed, dry gas, employing Coanda nozzles to enhance gas entrainment and isothermal compression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct mechanical compression is used to compress gas from low pressure to high pressure, then gas compression is achieved, but the system becomes expensive and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical compression system (reciprocating piston in cylinder) with a liquid-based compression system. Pressurized liquid is injected into the compression chamber to compress the gas, eliminating the need for complex mechanical moving parts. The liquid is then separated from the compressed gas, providing a simpler, more reliable system that is easier to maintain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles by using pressurized liquid (water or other liquids) as the compression medium. The liquid is pumped into the compression chamber under pressure to compress the gas, and then separated from the gas in a separation chamber. This hydraulic approach replaces complex mechanical systems with fluid-based compression, reducing maintenance requirements and improving reliability.
2Device complexity
If liquid compression is used instead of mechanical compression, then maintenance costs and complexity are reduced, but the system must effectively separate liquid from gas
Solution Approach 1:
The compression system is divided into two distinct chambers: a compression chamber where liquid compresses the gas, and a separation chamber where liquid is separated from the compressed gas. This segmentation allows each chamber to perform its specific function efficiently - compression in the first chamber and separation in the second chamber - resolving the operational challenge of liquid-gas separation while maintaining the simplicity of the liquid compression approach.
3Productivity
If Coanda nozzles are used to enhance gas entrainment, then compression efficiency is improved, but the nozzle design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The Coanda nozzle acts as an intermediary device that utilizes the Coanda effect to enhance gas entrainment during compression. The nozzle is positioned to allow pressurized liquid to flow along its surface, creating a low-pressure zone that draws gas into the liquid stream. This intermediary nozzle design improves compression efficiency by enhancing gas-liquid mixing while maintaining a relatively simple overall system architecture.
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 approach reduces maintenance costs and complexity by using liquid compression, achieving efficient and cost-effective gas compression with minimal temperature change, producing high-pressure compressed gas for storage.
Implementation Method 1
pressurized liquid is forced into the first chamber. The pressurized liquid compresses the volume of gas to a second pressure greater than the first pressure
Implementation Method 2
The Coanda nozzles can be configured to increase entrainment of gas in liquid during compression
Implementation Method 3
The pressurized liquid transfers the volume of gas at the second pressure to the separation assembly and injects the volume of gas at the second pressure to the separation assembly to separate liquid from the volume of gas
Data Source
AI summary
A method of compressing gas includes maintaining a volume of gas at a first pressure within a first chamber. Pressurized liquid is forced into the first chamber through a nozzle having a curved profile. Based on the Coanda effect, the liquid compresses the volume of gas to a second pressure greater than the first pressure. The liquid is separated from the gas in a second chamber while maintaining the gas at the second pressure to provide compressed, dry gas.