Power distribution and energy consumption in ionic compressors: A novel theoretical formulation

Accurate energy consumption analysis is essential for the design and optimization of compressors. Ionic compressors exhibit distinct energy conversion mechanisms due to the unique features of ionic liquid (IL) compression and hydraulic transmission dynamics. However, current energy analysis relies on simulation approaches, which lack a generalized theoretical framework for explicit and efficient quantification. This study introduces a novel theoretical formulation for rapid power distribution analysis and energy assessment. Specifically, we derive a complete set of explicit algebraic equations to directly calculate the major power components of all subsystems. The accuracy of the theoretical model is validated by the lumped parameter model (LPM). It shows that the theoretical results are in good agreement with the simulation results obtained from the LPM; further validation against industrial product data shows the calculated specific power is 2.74 kWh/kg and the isothermal efficiency is 68.43%, with deviations of less than 2% from the public data (2.70 kWh/kg specific power and 69.40% isothermal efficiency). Specific power and capacity are discussed under different IL supplement amounts. While gas compression dominates the power input (accounting for 73.2% of the shaft power under the exemplary operating condition of Vs,il = 17 mL), the IL supplement amount critically governs both the power loss for IL compression and the system's volumetric capacity. An optimal range for the IL supplement (10–20 mL for the present system) is identified to balance specific power and capacity. This work provides a practical tool for the design and performance optimization of ionic compressors.