The disclosed systems and methods are related to a positive displacement compression for use in various applications including gas processing, air conditioning, refrigeration, etc., to produce an isothermal compression to enhance the compression efficiency. The heat exchange enhanced compression is conducted by the use of cylinders partially filled with incompressible fluid (e.g., oil) acting as a piston compressing working fluid (e.g., CO.sub.2). The isothermal compression is contemplated in various modifications. A variety of heat exchange (cooling) techniques may be arranged either within the compression chamber or the compression process may be embedded in the heat exchanger to cool down the working fluid (for example, CO.sub.2).

The disclosed systems and methods are related to a positive displacement compression for use in various applications including gas processing, air conditioning, refrigeration, etc., to produce an isothermal compression to enhance the compression efficiency. The heat exchange enhanced compression is conducted by the use of cylinders partially filled with incompressible fluid (e.g., oil) acting as a piston compressing working fluid (e.g., CO.sub.2). The isothermal compression is contemplated in various modifications. A variety of heat exchange (cooling) techniques may be arranged either within the compression chamber or the compression process may be embedded in the heat exchanger to cool down the working fluid (for example, CO.sub.2).

A liquid transfer apparatus comprises an output terminal device, a receiving terminal device, a connecting pipeline, and a control device. The output terminal device includes a first pressurizing member for filling the first storage container with high-pressure air. The receiving terminal device includes an air pressure adjusting member for adjusting the air pressure inside the second storage container. When the liquid transfer apparatus is in a non-transferring state, the air pressure inside the second storage container is high enough to prevent the liquid in the first storage container flow into the connecting pipeline. And when the liquid transfer apparatus is in a transferring state, the pressure difference between the inside of the first storage container and the inside of the second storage container is sufficient to drive the liquid in the first storage container to enter the second storage container.

A liquid transfer apparatus comprises an output terminal device, a receiving terminal device, a connecting pipeline, and a control device. The output terminal device includes a first pressurizing member for filling the first storage container with high-pressure air. The receiving terminal device includes an air pressure adjusting member for adjusting the air pressure inside the second storage container. When the liquid transfer apparatus is in a non-transferring state, the air pressure inside the second storage container is high enough to prevent the liquid in the first storage container flow into the connecting pipeline. And when the liquid transfer apparatus is in a transferring state, the pressure difference between the inside of the first storage container and the inside of the second storage container is sufficient to drive the liquid in the first storage container to enter the second storage container.

A method (400) for restarting flow in a waxy crude oil transporting pipeline (100), comprising: dividing (402) the gel plug into plurality of smaller gel segments (112, 114, 116) by removing a fraction of gel volume creating plurality of voids (132, 134), introducing (404) a compressible fluid into each of the voids; and applying (406) a pressure at first end (112A) of a first gel segment (112) contiguous to a pumping unit thereby creating a high pressure gradient between first end and second end (112B) of the first gel segment, causing the first gel segment to degrade and move towards a first void (132) thereby compressing the compressible fluid, the movement of the gel segment deforms and breaks the gel segment whereby the broken gel segment migrates towards a next gel segment (114) until all the gel segments are sequentially broken and flow of the waxy crude oil restarts.

Microfluidic structures and methods for manipulating fluids, fluid components, and reactions are provided. In one aspect, such structures and methods can allow production of droplets of a precise volume, which can be stored/maintained at precise regions of the device. In another aspect, microfluidic structures and methods described herein are designed for containing and positioning components in an arrangement such that the components can be manipulated and then tracked even after manipulation. For example, cells may be constrained in an arrangement in microfluidic structures described herein to facilitate tracking during their growth and/or after they multiply.

Microfluidic structures and methods for manipulating fluids, fluid components, and reactions are provided. In one aspect, such structures and methods can allow production of droplets of a precise volume, which can be stored/maintained at precise regions of the device. In another aspect, microfluidic structures and methods described herein are designed for containing and positioning components in an arrangement such that the components can be manipulated and then tracked even after manipulation. For example, cells may be constrained in an arrangement in microfluidic structures described herein to facilitate tracking during their growth and/or after they multiply.

A method of pumping a heat transfer fluid in a thermal energy storage system comprising a first thermal energy storage tank connected to a second thermal energy storage tank via a bi-directional flow member. The first and second thermal energy storage tanks are associated with a pressure vessel system comprising a first and second pressure vessel each pressure vessel being partially fillable with an actuating liquid, wherein, the method for pumping comprises: displacing the actuating liquid from the first pressure vessel to the second pressure vessel, thereby creating a pressure difference in the first thermal energy storage tank with respect to the second thermal energy storage tank, and therein displacing the heat transfer fluid via the bi-directional flow member.

A liquid transfer apparatus comprises an output terminal device, a receiving terminal device, a connecting pipeline, and a control device. The output terminal device includes a first pressurizing member for filling the first storage container with high-pressure air. The receiving terminal device includes an air pressure adjusting member for adjusting the air pressure inside the second storage container. When the liquid transfer apparatus is in a non-transferring state, the air pressure inside the second storage container is high enough to prevent the liquid in the first storage container flow into the connecting pipeline. And when the liquid transfer apparatus is in a transferring state, the pressure difference between the inside of the first storage container and the inside of the second storage container is sufficient to drive the liquid in the first storage container to enter the second storage container.

A liquid transfer apparatus comprises an output terminal device, a receiving terminal device, a connecting pipeline, and a control device. The output terminal device includes a first pressurizing member for filling the first storage container with high-pressure air. The receiving terminal device includes an air pressure adjusting member for adjusting the air pressure inside the second storage container. When the liquid transfer apparatus is in a non-transferring state, the air pressure inside the second storage container is high enough to prevent the liquid in the first storage container flow into the connecting pipeline. And when the liquid transfer apparatus is in a transferring state, the pressure difference between the inside of the first storage container and the inside of the second storage container is sufficient to drive the liquid in the first storage container to enter the second storage container.