Pressure response of high pressure fluid valving, apparatus and methods therefor

Abstract

Disclosed is a system, method and apparatus operating on a high-pressure working fluid with high efficiency. The device has a reservoir of high-pressure working fluid. A fluid connection supplies the high-pressure working fluid at a controlled working pressure to a dose chamber to contain a volume of the high-pressure working fluid. A dose valve, biased to close, and able to be triggered open, is present between the dose chamber and a working chamber. A charge of the high pressure working fluid can be released from the dose chamber via the dose valve at a first end of the working chamber, to undergo a first expansion in the working chamber and do work therein to or towards a second end of the working chamber distal from the first end. The dose valve closes again before a pressure front of the charge in the working chamber has travelled less than or equal to halfway between the first end and the second end. This allows a second expansion of the charge to continue doing work. When the work is complete, the working chamber pressure is less than or equal to half the working pressure.