Super efficient regulator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9500096-B2
Application number	US-201314086140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2013
Priority date	Aug 19, 2009
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

A system for producing mechanical energy. In some embodiments, the system includes a first source providing a first fluid, a fluid pressurization device, a second source supplying a second fluid, a first motor, and a second motor. The fluid pressurization device draws in the first fluid from the first source and increases the pressure of the first fluid. The first motor is driven by the second fluid, the second fluid decreasing in pressure and the first motor powering the fluid pressurization device as the second fluid passes through the first motor. The second motor receives a mixture of the first fluid from the first motor and the second fluid from the fluid pressurization device, whereby the second motor produces the mechanical energy.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for producing mechanical energy, the method comprising:
(a) conveying a first fluid through a first motor;
(b) powering a fluid pressurization device with the first motor during (a);
(c) increasing the pressure of a second fluid passing through the fluid pressurization device during (b);
(d) combining all of the second fluid from the fluid pressurization device and all of the first fluid from the first motor to produce a combined fluid;
(e) supplying all of the combined fluid to the second motor;
(f) passing all of the combined fluid through the second motor; and
(g) producing the mechanical energy with the second motor during (f).

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
storing the first fluid in a first fluid source having a limited storage capacity;
supplying the first fluid from the first fluid source to the first motor.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
drawing the second fluid from a source having a limited capacity into the fluid pressurization device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
supplying the first fluid from a first fluid source to the first motor; and
supplying the second fluid from the first fluid source to the fluid pressurization device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
supplying the second fluid from the surrounding atmosphere to the fluid pressurization device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
supplying the second fluid from the surrounding atmosphere to the fluid pressurization device during (d), (e), (f), and (g);
supplying the second fluid from the first fluid source to the fluid pressurization device after supplying the second fluid from the surrounding atmosphere to the fluid pressurization device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
passing the first fluid from the first motor through the second motor while supplying the second fluid from the surrounding atmosphere to the fluid pressurization device;
passing the second fluid from the fluid pressurization device through the second motor while supplying the second fluid from the surrounding atmosphere to the fluid pressurization device.

8. A method, comprising:
(a) flowing a first fluid from a first source through a first motor;
(b) driving the first motor with the first fluid;
(c) driving a fluid pressurization device with the first motor during (a) and (b);
(d) flowing all of the first fluid from the first motor to a second motor;
(e) flowing a second fluid from a second source through the fluid pressurization device during (c), wherein the second fluid source is different than the first fluid source;
(f) increasing the pressure of the second fluid with the fluid pressurization device during (e);
(g) passing all of the second fluid from the fluid pressurization device through the second motor; and
(h) producing mechanical energy with the second motor during (d) and (g).

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
(i) actuating a device with the mechanical energy produced during (h).

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first source has a finite storage volume.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second source is the surrounding atmosphere.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are each air.

13. A method, comprising:
(a) flowing a first fluid through a first motor;
(b) driving the first motor with the first fluid;
(c) driving a fluid pressurization device with the first motor during (a) and (b);
(d) flowing a second fluid through the fluid pressurization device during (c);
(e) increasing the pressure of the second fluid with the fluid pressurization device during (d);
(f) flowing all of the first fluid from the first motor and all of the second fluid from the fluid pressurization device through a second motor; and
(g) producing mechanical energy with the second motor during (f).

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
supplying the first fluid from a first fluid source to the first motor; and
supplying the second fluid from a second fluid source to the fluid pressurization device.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first fluid is supplied to the first motor from a first fluid source during (a) and the second fluid is supplied to the fluid pressurization device from a second fluid source during (d), wherein the first fluid source is different than the second fluid source.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first fluid source is a storage vessel and the second fluid source is the surrounding atmosphere.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
(h) flowing the first fluid through the first motor after (f);
(i) driving the first motor with the first fluid during (h);
(j) driving the fluid pressurization device with the first motor during (h) and (i);
(k) supplying a third fluid from the first fluid source to the fluid pressurization device;
(l) flowing the third fluid through the fluid pressurization device during (i) and (k); and
(m) increasing the pressure of the third fluid with the fluid pressurization device during (l).

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
(n) flowing only the third fluid from the fluid pressurization device through the second motor during (m); and
(o) producing mechanical energy with the second motor during (n).

Assignees

• Nat Oilwell Varco Lp

Inventors

• Weaver Walter Warren
• Springett Frank Benjamin
• Ensley Eric Trevor

Classifications

• F03B15/00

  Controlling (controlling in general G05 {; regulation of plants characterised by the use of siphons F03B13/086}) · CPC title

• F01D15/062

  Controlling means specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• F01D15/06 Primary

  Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, hand-held tools or the like {control thereof} · CPC title

• F03B13/00

  Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus (if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18); Power stations or aggregates (incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; {combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008}) · CPC title

• Y02E10/226

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic