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The present invention provides a compressor powered by a pressurized gas, whether steam or another working fluid, and a system for extracting work using such as compressor. The pressurized gas may comprise a heated working fluid in a gaseous state, to displace a piston in an input circuit, which in

The present invention provides a compressor powered by a pressurized gas, whether steam or another working fluid, and a system for extracting work using such as compressor. The pressurized gas may comprise a heated working fluid in a gaseous state, to displace a piston in an input circuit, which in turn displaces a piston in an output circuit, thereby compressing a compressible fluid or displacing an incompressible fluid. A purpose of the compressor is to convert waste heat, heat generated by the combustion of biomass or other fuels, or heat resulting from the concentration of solar energy into useful power, whether configured to produce compressed air or pump water, which can displace the electricity otherwise used for this purpose, or to produce electricity or motive force directly, through a hydraulic circuit. The system for extracting work does so by an output fluid which is compressed or pumped by a pressurized gas powered compressor.

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1. A system for extracting work from heat using a pressurized gas powered compressor, the system comprising: a) a device to transfer heat to a working fluid, converting it to a gaseous state;b) a compressor powered by said working fluid in a gaseous state, the compressor comprising: i. an input circ

1. A system for extracting work from heat using a pressurized gas powered compressor, the system comprising: a) a device to transfer heat to a working fluid, converting it to a gaseous state;b) a compressor powered by said working fluid in a gaseous state, the compressor comprising: i. an input circuit configured to channel the pressurized gas through two or more input piston-cylinder assemblies, wherein each input piston-cylinder assembly is configured to expel spent gas after use, wherein: at least one of the input piston-cylinder assemblies comprises a piston fitted with one or more double rings, each double ring comprising an O-ring set into a groove and a machined ring made of a low-friction material, the O-ring configured to apply outward pressure to the machined ring, thereby providing a hermetic seal between each piston and an associated cylinder wall;ii. an output circuit including two or more output piston-cylinder assemblies of a smaller diameter than the input piston-cylinder assembly, each output piston-cylinder assembly including an intake valve for entry of fluid and an output valve for exit of compressed fluid;iii. a transfer system configured to transfer force generated in the input piston-cylinder assemblies onto the output piston-cylinder assemblies;iv. a return system configured to facilitate a return stroke of at least a first one of the input piston-cylinder assemblies following a power stroke thereof;v. a timing system configured to control input and exhaust of the pressurized gas to and from the input piston-cylinder assemblies; andc) a pressurized gas input system configured to provide the pressurized gas for powering the compressor;d) a distribution system operatively coupled to the timing system, to the pressurized input system, and to the input circuit, the distribution system configured to cooperatively provide pressurized gas to the input piston-cylinder assemblies;e) an exhaust system configured to convey spent gas from the compressor; andf) a work extraction system configured to extract work from the compressor at least in part via said output fluid, wherein said work extraction system is configured to perform one or more operations selected from the group consisting of: generating compressed air, providing motive force, and generating electricity. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the work extraction system is configured to produce pressure upon a liquid in a hydraulic circuit comprising a combination of one or more valves, accumulators and motors, thereby producing motive force. 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the system is configured to produce pressure upon a liquid in a hydraulic circuit comprising a combination of one or more valves, accumulators and motors, thereby driving a generator to produce electricity. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device to transfer heat to a working fluid is powered by heat generated by one or more devices selected from the group comprising: industrial processes, heat produced by internal combustion engines, devices that concentrate heat from solar radiation, geothermal heat, and devices that produce heat from the combustion of renewable or non-renewable fuels including biomass and biogas. 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the return system is actuated by the compressed fluid. 6. A method to transform heat into power, comprising the steps of: a) providing heat in order to heat a working fluid, thereby raising the temperature of said working fluid, changing said working fluid from liquid to gas, and thereby increasing its pressure,b) using said working fluid in gaseous phase resulting from step a) to create pressure upon a first piston moving slidably in a first cylinder, sealed by means of double rinds, comprising an O-ring set into a groove, surrounded by a machined ring made of a low-friction material,c) using the force of said first piston to exert force on a second piston of smaller diameter, moving slidably in a second cylinder, filled with a second fluid, causing the displacement and pressurization of said second fluid, at a pressure substantially greater than that of the first fluid, andd) extracting power from the pressurized flow of said second fluid and using residual heat remaining in the first fluid for heating, cooling, adsorption chilling or absorption chilling. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the heat derives from a source consisting of one of the heat sources comprising heat produced by industrial processes, heat produced by internal combustion engines, geothermal heat, heat produced by devices that concentrate heat from solar radiation, and heat produced from the combustion of renewable or non-renewable fuels, including biomass and biogas. 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second fluid in step c) is substantially incompressible. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the second fluid in step c) consists of a liquid in a hydraulic circuit comprising a combination of one or more valves, accumulators and motors. 10. The method according to claim 6, wherein a power extraction device is provided to carry out step d), wherein said power extraction device comprises at least one of motors, turbines and pumps, and is configured to perform one or more operations selected from the group consisting of: compressing air or other gases, providing motive force, and generating electricity. 11. The method according to claim 7, wherein steps b) and c) comprise: a. an input circuit configured to channel the said working fluid through two or more input piston-cylinder assemblies, wherein each input piston-cylinder assembly is configured to expel spent gas after use;b. an output circuit including two or more output piston-cylinder assemblies, each output piston-cylinder assembly including an intake valve for entry of said second fluid and an output valve for exit of said second fluid;c. a transfer system configured to transfer force generated in the input piston-cylinder assemblies onto the output piston-cylinder assemblies;d. a return system configured to facilitate a return stroke of at least a first one of the input piston-cylinder assemblies following a power stroke thereof;e. a timing system configured to control input and exhaust of said working fluid to and from the input piston-cylinder assemblies; andf. a distribution system operatively coupled to the timing system, to the pressurized input system, and to the input circuit, the distribution system configured to cooperatively provide said working fluid to the input piston-cylinder assemblies. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the return system is actuated by said second fluid. 13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the distribution system is configured to cut off of supply of pressurized gas to an input piston-cylinder assembly before an input piston thereof has completed its stroke, thereby allowing pressurized gas already present within said cylinder to dilate by further displacing the input piston. 14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the distribution system comprises: a. a valve body housing comprising: i. an input port connected to the pressurized gas input system;ii. an output port connected to the exhaust system; andiii. a cylinder port connected to one or more piston-cylinder assemblies; andb. a rotating valve body, rotatably fitted in the valve body housing, the rotating valve body including a partial disk fitted with a seal made of a low-friction material and a valve cover with a partial cut-out on its face;wherein: in a first rotational position of the rotating valve body, a channel is formed between the input port and the cylinder port, and the output port is blocked; and in a second rotational position of the rotating valve body, a channel is formed between the output port and the cylinder port, and the input port is blocked. 15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the input circuit comprises a first pair of two or more input piston-cylinder assemblies and a second pair of two or more input piston-cylinder assemblies, and wherein the timing system is configured to operate the first pair of two or more input piston-cylinder assemblies out of phase with the second pair of two or more input piston-cylinder assemblies. 16. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the output piston-cylinder assemblies comprises an output piston attached to the transfer system by a rod-end bearing with sufficient degrees of freedom to facilitate damage prevention in the event of misalignment. 17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the low-friction material is a vitrified PTFE. 18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the input and output piston-cylinder assemblies are double-acting.