Numerical Modeling of Liquid Piston Gas Compression

Abstract

Prior research has shown that the use of liquid-pistons in place of conventional solid pistons within gas compression technologies can significantly improve the efficiency of gas compression. The liquid-piston provides the prospect for a consistent and high rate of heat extraction from the compressed gas during system operation. Consequently, the input power requirements during each individual compression are lowered. To validate this concept, analytical studies of the thermal-fluids and heat transfer mechanisms during gas compression were performed. The analysis involved the development of a numerical model, using the finite-difference method, which simulated a single compression stroke and quantified the crucial parameters during compression. This model was utilized to obtain theoretical efficiency values and to recognize optimal system characteristics. The results obtained from the simulation indicated double-digit increase in efficiency with the introduction of the liquid-piston.