DEVICE FOR IMPROVED HEAT TRANSFER WITHIN A COMPRESSION AND/OR EXPANSION SYSTEM

摘要

A compression and expansion system includes a pressure vessel having a variable volume working chamber therein. The pressure vessel has a conduit through which at least one fluid can be introduced into and discharged from the working chamber. The system further includes a heat transfer element disposed within the working chamber and including a layer and at least one of a fin and a spacing element. The pressure vessel is operable to compress fluid introduced into the working chamber such that heat energy is transferred from the compressed fluid to the heat transfer element, and is further operable to expand fluid introduced into the working chamber such that heat energy is transferred from the heat transfer element to the expanded fluid.

主权项

1. A compression and expansion system comprising:
a pressure vessel having a variable volume working chamber therein and having a conduit through which at least one fluid can be introduced into and discharged from the working chamber; and a heat transfer element disposed within the working chamber, the heat transfer element comprising a layer and at least one of a fin and a spacing element, the pressure vessel operable to compress fluid introduced into the working chamber such that heat energy is transferred from the compressed fluid to the heat transfer element and to expand fluid introduced into the working chamber such that heat energy is transferred from the heat transfer element to the expanded fluid.