초록 ▼

A system for concentrating gas, using the concentrated gas to pump liquid, and recycling the gas and liquid is disclosed. The system comprises a body of liquid, a down pipe in fluid communication with the body of liquid, a gas injection apparatus for introducing gas into the liquid that passes throu

A system for concentrating gas, using the concentrated gas to pump liquid, and recycling the gas and liquid is disclosed. The system comprises a body of liquid, a down pipe in fluid communication with the body of liquid, a gas injection apparatus for introducing gas into the liquid that passes through the down pipe, a separator for separating compressed gas from the liquid, and a gas-liquid recycle loop. The down pipe and the gas injection apparatus are structured and arranged to compress the gas. The gas-liquid recycle loop comprises a compressed gas storage vessel containing the separated gas, a reservoir containing liquid separated from the compressed gas, and a gas-liquid pump. The gas-liquid pump has a gas inlet in communication with the gas storage vessel, and a fluid inlet in communication with the reservoir. The gas-liquid pump is structured and arranged for pumping the liquid back to the body of liquid and delivering the gas to the gas injection apparatus. A turbine in fluid communication with the liquid that passes through the down pipe can be optionally included. A second loop system comprising a second body of liquid, a second down pipe in fluid communication with the second body of liquid, and a second gas-liquid pump is also disclosed. The second gas-liquid pump comprises a second gas inlet in communication with a compressed gas storage area, a second liquid inlet in communication with the second liquid that passes through the second down pipe, the second gas liquid pump structured and arranged for pumping the second liquid to the second body of liquid. A second turbine in fluid communication with the liquid that passes through the second down pipe can optionally be included.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A hydraulic liquid pumping system for compressing gas, comprising: a body of liquid; a source of gas open to atmosphere; a down pipe having a pipe opening in fluid communication with the body of liquid, wherein at least a portion of the body of liquid is positioned above the

What is claimed is: 1. A hydraulic liquid pumping system for compressing gas, comprising: a body of liquid; a source of gas open to atmosphere; a down pipe having a pipe opening in fluid communication with the body of liquid, wherein at least a portion of the body of liquid is positioned above the pipe opening; a gas injection apparatus having a gas access port therein, the gas injection apparatus for entraining gas into the liquid as the liquid passes through the down pipe, the down pipe and the gas injection apparatus structured and arranged to compress the gas; a separator in communication with a lower end of the down pipe for separating compressed gas from the liquid; and a gas-liquid recycle loop, comprising: a compressed gas storage vessel containing the separated gas; a reservoir containing liquid separated from the compressed gas; and a gas-liquid pump having a gas inlet in communication with the gas storage vessel, and a fluid inlet in communication with the reservoir, the gas-liquid pump structured and arranged for pumping the liquid to the body of liquid and delivering at least a portion of the gas to the gas injection apparatus. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a turbine in fluid communication with the liquid that passes through the down pipe. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the gas injection apparatus comprises a gas entrainment tube disposed substantially within the interior of the down pipe. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the gas injection apparatus comprises a gas blower positioned adjacent a lower end of the down pipe, the gas injection apparatus structured and arranged to supply gas to the liquid that passes through the down tube at an angle. 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a discharge pipe having a first end in fluid communication with the liquid that passes through the down pipe and a second end in fluid communication with the reservoir. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the discharge pipe has a vertical height of from about 30 to about 98 percent the vertical height of the down pipe. 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second loop, comprising: a second body of liquid; a second down pipe in fluid communication with the second body of liquid; and a second gas-liquid pump having a second gas inlet in communication with the compressed gas storage area, a second liquid inlet in communication with the second liquid that passes through the second down pipe, the second gas liquid pump structured and arranged for pumping the second liquid to the second body of liquid. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second loop is a closed loop system for maintaining the gas pressure of the compressed gas from the compressed gas storage area. 9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a second turbine in fluid communication with the second liquid that passes through the second down pipe. 10. A hydraulic liquid pumping system for compressing gas, comprising: a body of liquid; a down pipe having a pipe opening in fluid communication with the body of liquid, wherein a least a portion of the body of liquid is positioned above the pipe opening; gas directing means for entraining gas into the liquid as the liquid passes through the down pipe, the down pipe and the means for introducing gas into the liquid structured and arranged to compress the gas; means for separating the compressed gas from the liquid in communication with a lower end of the down pipe; means for recycling at least some of the separated gas back to the means for introducing gas into the liquid; and means for recycling the liquid separated from the compressed gas back to the body of liquid. 11. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for storing the separated compressed gas. 12. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for containing the liquid separated from the compressed gas. 13. The system of claim 10, further comprising means for rotating a turbine with the liquid passing through the down pipe. 14. The system of claim 10, further comprising: a second body of liquid; a second down pipe in fluid communication with the second body of liquid; and means for using the separated gas to recycle the liquid that passes through the second down pipe back to the second body of liquid. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the second body of liquid, the second down pipe and the means for using the separated gas comprise a closed loop system for maintaining the gas pressure of the separated gas. 16. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for rotating a second turbine with the second liquid passing through the second down pipe. 17. A method of pumping liquid to compress gas, comprising the steps of: providing a body of liquid; providing a down pipe having a pipe opening in fluid communication with the body of liquid, wherein at least a portion of the body of liquid is positioned above the pipe opening; providing gas directing means adjacent the pipe opening; entraining gas from a gas injection apparatus into the liquid as the liquid passes through the down pipe to produce a compressed gas; separating the compressed gas from the liquid by a separator in communication with a lower end of the down pipe; recycling the separated gas and liquid, comprising the steps of: storing the compressed gas in a gas storage area; storing the liquid separated from the compressed gas in a reservoir; introducing the compressed gas from the gas storage area and the liquid from the reservoir into a gas-liquid pump; pumping the liquid to the body of liquid; and delivering at least some of the gas to the gas injection apparatus. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising rotating blades of a turbine by contacting the turbine with the liquid that passes through the down pipe to generate electricity. 19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of providing a second body of liquid; providing a second down pipe in fluid communication with the second body of liquid; introducing the separated gas from the gas storage area and the liquid that passes through the second down pipe into a second gas-liquid pump; and pumping the second liquid to the second body of liquid. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising rotating a second turbine by contacting the second turbine with the second liquid that passes through the second down pipe to generate electricity.