Improvements in Compressing Air or other Gaseous Fluid, and Apparatus for that Purpose.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Compressing Air or other Gaseous Fluid, and
Apparatus for that Purpose.
I, REINHARD MANNESMANN, of Landore, R.S.O., South Wales, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to means for compressing air or other gaseous fluids by the
application of heat. In what follows I shall speak of air as the fluid to be com-
pressed, but it is to be understood that the method and apparatus are applicable
for compressing other elastic fluids. I provide a number of strong vessels, preferably
in the form of closed tubes, with communications governed by a rotary or other
slide valve or by a set of separate valves worked from any convenient motor, so
that each vessel can be put in communication with one of the others according to a
definite rotation.
Each vessel is also provided with means of heating and circulating the air con-
tained in it. The heating may be effected either externally by heat applied to
conducting surfaces, or internally by steam or flame directed into the contents, or
by circulating the air through a heated regenerator. The circulation may he
effected by a displacing piston or by a fan or other rotary propeller or by the
injection of steam or compressed air or flame burning under pressure into a channel
leading from one end of the vessel to the other. In order that the operation of this
apparatus may be understood, I will assume that there are 4 vessels numbered 1, 2, 3,
and 4 and that they contain air at atmospheric pressure.
I cause the air in 1 to circulate through the heating zone whilst its coldest part
is in communication with 2. I thus raise the pressure in 1 and 2, the hottest of the
air remaining in 1, and the coolest in 2. I then close the communication of 1 to 2,
and open that from 1 to 3 by which I raise somewhat the pressure in 3. Closing
the passage 1 to 3 and opening 1 to 4 I raise somewhat less the pressure in 4, the
pressure in 1 being now little above atmospheric pressure. I then by opening an
inlet and an outlet valve and circulating expel the somewhat hot air from 1 and
draw in fresh cold air. I now proceed in the same manner with 2, whereby I raise
the pressure in 3, 4 and 1, and thus I go on in rotation, until the pressure in some
one of the vessels is sufficient to pass into a general reservoir to which all the
vessels are connected with check valves in their passages. In this manner I
gradually raise the pressure in this general reservoir until it attains a desired
maximum, and I can then draw from this reservoir compressed air to work an
engine, or for other purposes, maintaining the pressure in the reservoir by the
continued working of the vessels as above described.
The apparatus may be rendered more efficient by applying means of cooling the
air in each vessel or passing into it. Both the heating and cooling may be effected
by means of a regenerator having hot and cold zones as in some forms of hot air
engines. As each vessel has its contents heated in turn, no two being heated at
the same time, one heating regenerator common to all the vessels may be employed
with suitable valves for making the necessary communications. When the circula-
tion is effected by a displacing piston, this may be moved by the differential
pressure on its opposite sides, being thus made self-acting or even capable of giving
off power.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: :
COME LED DI PULTICATION
Improvements in Compressing Air or other Gaseous Fluid, and
Apparatus for that Purpose.
I, REINHARD MANNESMANN, of Landore, R.S.O., South Wales, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to means for compressing air or other gaseous fluids by the
application of heat.
In what follows I shall speak of air as the fluid to be compressed, but it is to be
understood that the method and apparatus are applicable for compressing other
elastic fluids. I provide a number of strong vessels preferably in the form of closed
tubes with communications governed by a rotary or other slide valve or by a set
of separate valves worked from any convenient motor so that each vessel can be
put in communication with one of the others according to a definite rotation.
Each vessel is also provided with means of heating and circulating the air con-
tained in it. The heating may be effected either externally by heat applied to
conducting surfaces or internally by steam or flame directed into the contents or by
circulating the air through a heated regenerator. The circulation may be effected
by a displacing piston or by a fan or other rotary propeller or by the injection of
steam or compressed air or flame burning under pressure into a channel leading from
one end of the vessel to the other.
The operation consists in heating and expanding the air or gas in one of the
vessels in order in the first instance to raise the pressure of the contents of a second
vessel made to communicate therewith, after which, the said communication having
been closed the first vessel is again charged with air which is heated and expanded
and the vessel is then made to communicate with a third vessel in order to raise the
pressure therein; and the above operation is then repeated for the third time for
raising the pressure in a fourth vessel, and so on, so as to raise the pressure con-
secutively in the several vessels and lastly to cause a charge of such air raised to a
certain pressure by heat, to pass into a storage reservoir. The residual charge of
air under a certain pressure remaining in the vessel after such discharge is led into
the other vessels, preparatory for the following heating, the vessels being made to
communicate in such manner that at each compression a portion of the residual
charge, which would otherwise be lost, is delivered into the following vessel in
order to raise the pressure therein before it is heated.
In this way the intercommunication of the several vessels is made to take place
consecutively in such manner, that the residual air or gas having the highest
pressure is led into the vessel in which the air is at the next highest pressure, after
which, the remaining residue is led into the vessel having air at a somewhat lower
pressure and so on. By this means there is brought about a graduated increase
of pressure in the several vessels before heating, and by the following heating the
pressure will be raised to a degree which considerably exceeds that which would be
attained by simply enclosing the same volume of air or gas in a vessel and then
heating it to the same degree.
The mode of operating may be varied by increasing the pressure of the air or
gas by heating or by combined heating and cooling in a closed vessel in such
manner that the vessels being in the first instance charged with air or gas, the
charge of each vessel is consecutively forced by means of a piston, displacer, Root's
blower, injector &c. through a heater, thereby raising the pressure, and then causing
a portion of the non heated charge which is raised to such pressure to pass into the
vessels having charges of lower pressure, while the heated portion expands.
The accompanying drawing shews by way of example a construction of apparatus
for carrying out the above described method of caloric compression.

page_text: Fig. 1 shews a vertical section and Fig. 2 shews a plan partly in section.
A' A2 A3 A4 are four vessels, of which there may be a greater or less number, con-
taining in the first instance air or gas at atmospheric pressure, which, on opening
the bottom piston valve C¹, enters from the common main D' B₁ into A¹. The air
in A' is then caused, by opening the valve and applying a propelling jet y to flow
through the heater E L (heated in any suitable manner at the upper end) in the
direction of the arrows the lower colder part of the heater being put in
communication with vessel A2 through pipe M¹ slide H¹ H2 and connecting
pipe H.
The pressure in the vessels A and A2 is thus raised; the hotter portion of the
air remains in the vessel A while the colder portion passes from the bottom of A'
into A².
The communication between A1 and A2 is then cut off by closing slide H³, and
by opening slide H³ a communication between A' and A³ is established, thereby
raising the pressure in A³ to a certain degree by the residual pressure in A'.
On then cutting off the communication between A' and A3 by closing slide H³,
and then opening slide H, A' is made to communicate with A, thereby also raising
the pressure in the latter, but to a less degree than in A³. The pressure in A¹ will
now only slightly exceed that of the atmosphere.
On now opening the inlet slide C' and outlet slide C a circulation is effected
whereby the slightly warmer air is expelled from vessel A' and this becomes charged
with cold air.
Vessel A2 is now treated in the same manner as above described with reference
to A', for raising the pressures in A. A A', and so on in rotation until the air in
one of the vessels has sufficient pressure for being discharged into a storage reser-
voir this being effected by the opening of the corresponding check valve GG² &c.
on the pipe N leading from all the vessels A' &c. to such reservoir.
Thus by the above described means the air in the storage reservoir is raised step
by step to the pressure required for any particular purpose, such as for driving a
motor engine &c., the pressure being maintained practically constant by maintaining
the compressing apparatus in action in the above described manner.
The several slides C C¹ H' &c. are worked by means of small motor
cylinders ZZZ, the pistons of which are connected to the slides and are actuated
by a portion of the compressed air or gas.
The heating of the chamber E L is in this case shewn as being effected by means
of a jet of combustible gas admitted at the required times through a pipe and
entering into combustion with a portion of the air passing through, the jet being
ignited by a small gas flame we kept constantly burning.
The useful effect of such a caloric compresser can be raised by the application of
an arrangement whereby the air in each compression vessel can be cooled, or by
introducing cold air into them. Both the heating and the cooling can be effected
by means of a suitable regenerator with hot and cold zones such as are employed
with caloric engines.
As, in each vessel, the heating of the charge is effected after heating the charge
in another vessel, so that no two vessels are heated simultaneously, a single
regenerator common to all the vessels may be used, which communicates with each
vessel by a pipe with suitable valves.
If the circulation of the air or gas is effected by means of a displacer or piston,
the air acting on one side thereof may be of higher pressure than that acting on the
other side, thus obtaining an automatic movement of the piston which may be
utilised either for imparting motion to other parts of the apparatus, or for other
purposes.
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 shew respectively an end view, a front view and a part plan of a
modified construction of the above described apparatus. It consists of the four
main vessels I II III IV each of the two lower ends of which communicate wit
T1 T11 TTE 1

page_text: The latter are connected to the outer pipes R R₁ the communication being
capable of being cut off by means of piston valves K, K.
On the pipes II III IV are mounted firstly casings containing discharge
valves A¹ A2 A3 A leading into the pressure main a, and secondly they have side
branches leading to valve casings B' B2 B3 B' communicating with upper and lower
pipes, 22, 133, 11, which connect the valve casings with each other.
In the casings B' &c. are piston valves C₁ C C₂ C₁₁₂ C3 C4 C
Referring to Fig. 3 the piston valves K, Kare fixed on one and the same piston
rod D which is connected at the right hand of the figure with the rod d of a
piston E* contained in a motor cylinder F, and capable of being moved to and fro
by compressed air or steam admitted to the said cylinder by means of a cam action
to be presently described, as hereby the piston is made to move the piston
valves K K so as to open and close the communications.
The piston valves ("&c. in the casings B₁ &c. are in like manner connected by
piston rods c¹ &c. with pistons & &c. in motor cylinders and which are also
actuated by compressed air or steam. The one end of the pipe R' is connected to
a fan or blower, by which air is continuously blown into the pipe. If the
pistons K K Fig. 3 are in the open positions, as shewn, the air will pass round
valve Kinto the main vessel IV and, flowing through the same will pass by K,
into pipe R, from which the air will escape into the atmosphere.
1
1
After vessel IV has thus been filled with fresh air, the valves K, K are closed
so as to cut off the communication of vessel IV with the atmosphere.
As soon as valve K, has completed its motion to the left, a circulation of the air
in vessel IV and connecting pipe IV can take place in the direction of the
arrows.
A Bunsen's burner being provided at G in vessel IV, supplied with combustible
gas, the combination in such burner will heat the air in the vessel. Below the
burner G is a blast pipe H by means of a jet cf compressed air issuing from which
the circulation of the air is assisted. By the heating of the air in IV a proportionate
increase of pressure will be effected, until a certain maximum has been reached,
whereupon the discharge valve A' will be forced open by such pressure and the air
pressure will then pass into the pressure main a. Assuming that the valve A¹ be so
adjusted as only to open at a pressure above 11 atmospheres, then after a certain
time when the pressure in IV has sunk below that amount, the valve will close
automatically and no further discharge will take place.
The combustion at G is then stopped by cutting off the gas supply, and the blast
at H is also stopped.
In order now to utilise the remaining air at 11 atmospheres pressure in IV by
storing it up for the next operations, the valves C in casing B4 are now opened by
their motor cylinder, and at the same time C¹ in B¹ are also opened. The air
pressure will then pass from IV through B, the two pipes & &c. into vessel I, and
will increase the pressure of the air contained therein. The valve C' is then closed
again and (in B2 is opened, thereby causing the air pressure in IV, which will
have sunk somewhat owing to the discharge into vessel I, to be communicated to
vessel II, so as also to raise the pressure therein to a certain degree, while the
pressure in IV will sink still lower. (2 is now also closed and C3 is opened, causing
pressure from IV to be communicated to vessel III, whereby the pressure in IV
will sink still lower. (being now also closed, the piston valves K K are again
opened, and the air current in R will pass into vessel IV, driving out the residual
air and combustion products past K, into the atmosphere and filling vessel IV with
fresh air after which valves K, Kare closed again. While the air pressure was
being supplied to vessels III and II as described, the burner G of vessel I was put
in action, so as to heat, and increase the pressure of the charge in that vessel as first
above described with reference to IV. and when such pressure had attained the
requisite degree, valve A' was forced open so as to discharge the air pressure into
the pressure main a. The valves C and C³ being closed, the valves C¹ and C² are

page_text: now opened whereby air pressure will pass from vessel I into vessel II, thereby still
further increasing the pressure in the latter; then C² being closed, C³ is opened,
causing the pressure in III to be increased, and lastly C³ is closed and C4 is opened,
thereby also raising the freshly introduced charge of air to a certain extent, such
as for example to 3-5 atmospheres. Piston valves K, and K₁ are now opened so as
to fill vessel I with fresh air, and so on in precisely the same manner as above
described, combustion now taking place in II, and discharge being effected first
through A² into the pressure main, and then consecutively through B2 B³ Bª B¹
into vessels III, IV and I, whereby it is possible to raise the pressure in III to
about 8.5 atmospheres, in IV to about 6 atmosphere, and I to about 3.5 atmosphere.
This operation is continuously repeated in rotation, as indicated by the diagram
Fig. 6. The numerals I II III IV represent the four main vessels; the total
length of the diagram is 360 millimetres and each millimetre represents one degree
of the periphery of the cams for actuating the valves to be presently described.
complete revolution of the cams corresponds to a complete cycle of operations in the
four vessels. The parts hatched in the dotted lines in the diagram indicate the
supply of fresh air to the vessels, those hatched with full lines indicate the heating
and circulation, and those which are cross-hatched indicate the supply of air
pressure from one vessel to another.
A
On considering the hatched parts of line I it will be seen that in the first instance
air pressure passes from I to II, then to III and lastly to IV; at the same time,
while air is passing to II and III a fresh charge of air is being drawn in into IV;
while air is passing to III and IV, heating and circulation takes place in II, this
completing the first quarter of a revolution. In the second quarter, a fresh charge
is drawn into I, air pressure passes from II first into III and IV, and then, after I
has received its fresh charge, also into this; while air pressure is passing from II
into IV and I, the charge in III is heated and circulated.
In the third quarter, a fresh charge is drawn into II, while at the same time air
pressure passes from III into IV and I, and after II has received its charge, into
this also while air pressure is passing from III to I and II, heating and circulation
place in IV.
In the fourth quarter, a fresh charge is drawn into III while air pressure passes
from IV into I and II, and after III has received its charge, into this also; while
air pressure is passing from IV into II and III the charge in I is heated and
circulated. In the next quarter of a revolution the first described operation is
repeated, and so on.
Fig. 7 shews by way of example part front elevation of a cam apparatus, for
operating the several valves for admitting fluid pressure to the motor cylinders
of the valves of the above described construction, as also for admitting gas to
the burners, and air pressure to the blast pipes. Fig. 8 shews a cross section of the
apparatus.
The framing A carries in bearings B the shaft C on which are fixed the cams D
which are made of suitable form for operating the various motor valves so as to
carry out the several above described operations.
Below the frame A are the valves E on fluid pressure pipes E', the stems F of
which valves are actuated by the peripheries of the cams so as to force open the
valves and admit fluid pressure to the motor cylinders that actuate the valves K, C, &c.,
springs G being provided for closing the valves. In Fig. 7 the first four cams at
the left hand end marked I II III IV are those for working the gas admission
valves to the corresponding vessels I, II, III, IV; the following eight for working
the supply and discharge valves for the motor cylinders of the valves K K" &c.
and C₁₁ for vessel I; these sets of eight are repeated for the vessels II III
and IV, and lastly there are four at the right hand end marked I II III IV, which
work the valves for the circulating blast pipes of the corresponding vessels. The
shaft C with the cams is driven by a belt pulley H.
It will be readily understood that the above described constructions of the

page_text: apparatus only serve as examples of the manner of carrying out the invention, and
that various other constructions may be employed for this purpose. The arrange-
ment last described is particularly applicable for producing large quantities of
compressed air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is --
1. The herein described method of compressing air or other gascous fluid by
heating and expanding the fluia contents of one vessel and thereby increasing the
density of the fluid contents of another vessel with which the former is in com-
munication, and, after closing this communication replenishing the former vessel
with cool fluid to be expanded so as to increase the density of fluid in a third vessel,
repeating this operation with a number of vessels in succession, and thus raising
the pressure step by step in vessel after vessel until finally the fluid of highest
pressure passes into a reservoir substantially as described.
2. The method of compressing air or gas by heat by storing the residual
pressure of a compression chamber in a series of other chambers for the purpose
of raising the pressures therein before heating, the higher pressures thus obtained
being further increased by heating substantially as described.
3. The method of compressing air or gas by heating the same in a closed vessel
and after discharging the compressed air or gas into the pressure main leading the
air or gas under the remaining pressure in the said vessel into other compression
chambers having decreasing pressures, the communication of the several compression
chambers with each other being effected successively and in such order that the
highest pressure of the before mentioned residual air is led into the chamber con-
taining the most highly compressed air or gas, the remaining residual air or gas
being led into the chamber having the next highest pressure, and so on, whereby
the air or gas is compressed in stages before heating, and by the subsequent
heating is raised to a pressure which is greater than that obtained by simply enclosing
the same volume of air or gas in a chamber and heating it to the same degree,
substantially as described.
4. The method of compressing air or gas by heating or by both heating and
cooling in closed chambers, consisting in first drawing in the air or gas into the
said chambers, and then consecutively forcing the air or gas of each chamber by
means of a piston, displacer blower or other appliance for propelling air or gas,
through a heated chamber, a portion of the cold compressed charge being
forced into other chambers, while the heated portion expands substantially as
described.
5. In the compressing of air or gas by heating, the employment of the pressure
of the residual air or gas for compressing the following charge, for the purpose
of automatically increasing the final pressure obtained substantially as described.
6. The combination of chambers serving for the caloric compression of air gas or
vapour with each other in such manner that at each compressing operation a portion
of the residual air or gas which is otherwise lost is conducted successively into the
following compression chamber so as to produce compression therein before heating
substantially as described.
7. The combination of several air or gas compressing chambers with a heated
regenerator common to all, with which they are put consecutively in communication,
substantially as described.
8. The use for carrying out the method of air compression referred to in the
preceding claims of apparatus consisting of two or more air tight chambers in com-
bination with one or more heating and cooling appliances, and communicating
passages so controlled by valves or equivalent appliances that each of the chambers
is made while in the cold state to receive successively residual air or gas pressure
and compressed air or gas from another chamber, the compressed charge so obtained,

page_text: being then expanded by heating and the resulting heated charge being led off
partly into a pressure main, and partly into the other chambers to be there stored
up for the next heating operation substantially as described.
9. For compressing fluid in the manner above referred to, the combination
of a number of vessels with suitable communicating passages and valves, and
means of heating cooling and circulating the fluid in each substantially as
described.
f Nabov 1900
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.