Refrigeration – Cryogenic treatment of gas or gas mixture – Separation of gas mixture
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2001-03-27
Capossela, Ronald (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Cryogenic treatment of gas or gas mixture
Separation of gas mixture
C060S641800, C060S651000, C060S671000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205814
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for producing liquid nitrogen which uses the sun and some of the produced liquid nitrogen to alternately heat and cool contained mercury so as to drive a piston in compression and suction strokes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Although global warming is open to debate, it is well documented that there is an increasingly large hole in the ozone layer of the stratosphere of our planet. Both these issues are alarming and extremely dangerous for future generations. We may need to develop whole new technologies to address these issues in a way which will reverse the detrimental effects caused by them.
The emission of gases like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from internal combustion engines and other vehicle or heavy industry sources must be reduced and eliminated. This will require the large oil and gas companies and oil and gas producing countries to refocus their objectives. The present invention is directed to producing liquid nitrogen with the idea that liquid nitrogen could ultimately be used as a power source in engines. Nitrogen comprises approximately 80% of the earth's atmospheric air volume and is thus essentially infinitely available. The oil and gas industry already have many active and abandoned oil and gas wells. It is possible that with the present invention the oil and gas wells presently existing could be converted to cylinders having pistons in them for the purpose of compressing air to produce both liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen. Using such existing structure in conjunction with the present invention would result in extremely low energy usage for the production of both liquid nitrogen and oxygen. Thus, production would also be at a very low cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to apparatus for producing liquid nitrogen. The apparatus includes a first reservoir substantially filled with liquid mercury and a second reservoir substantially filled with a substantially incompressible fluid. There is a barrier in a communication region between the first and second reservoirs which separates and maintains the liquid mercury and the incompressible fluid at a same pressure. There is a cylinder and a piston operably stalled in the cylinder to pressurize the air. The cylinder has a first system for passing the ambient air through it during a suction stroke of the piston and a second system for passing the pressurized air through it during a compression stroke of the piston. There is a mechanism for containing the incompressible fluid which connects the second reservoir and the piston. The incompressible fluid flows between the second reservoir and the containing mechanism to move the piston in the compression and suction strokes. There is mechanism for heating and cooling the mercury. And, there is a use device in fluid communication with the second valve system. The use device produces at least liquid nitrogen from the pressurized air.
The heating and cooling mechanism can advantageously use the sun for heating and can use some of the produced liquid nitrogen for cooling. The cylinder can be established in a shaft formed in the earth, such as a small shaft formerly used for an oil or gas well.
The present invention is also directed to the method for using the apparatus for producing liquid nitrogen. The method includes the steps of heating the mercury in the first reservoir so that the pressure of the expanding mercury is transferred to the incompressible fluid in the second reservoir, moving the piston through a compression stroke so that pressurized air is forced from the second valve system, producing liquid nitrogen with a use device from the pressurized air, cooling the mercury with some of the produced liquid nitrogen, and moving the piston in a suction stroke so that ambient air is drawn into the cylinder through the first valve system.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3447314 (1969-06-01), Majkrzak
patent: 3516248 (1970-06-01), McEwen
patent: 4281969 (1981-08-01), Doub, Jr.
patent: 4720978 (1988-01-01), Spacer
patent: 4739620 (1988-04-01), Pierce
patent: 5666818 (1997-09-01), Manrique-Valadez
Capossela Ronald
Merchant & Gould P.C.
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