There is disclosed a pressure vessel (1) provided with a first port (10)
acting as a high pressure inlet of a first stream and a second port (11)
acting as a high pressure outlet. A rotatable valve element (9) is
located in the centre of the machine and includes a centre plate (19),
which is utilized to separate high pressure streams. At each end of the
valve element (9) are valves. The valves ensure that as the valve element
(9) rotates the exchange ducts (3a and 3b) are either both isolated or
that one is exposed to high pressure while the other is exposed to low
pressure. In operation, a fluid stream is introduced to the machine at
high pressure through port (10) and flows around the outside of the
exchange duct (3b) towards the centre of the machine. The stream then
flows downwardly to the valve element (9), where it then passes through
the open ports of the valve element (9) and into flow distributor (6).
The stream then passes into and upwardly in the exchange duct (3a),
causing upward displacement of the duct piston (4a), resulting in the
pressurization and flow of the second fluid above the duct piston (4a).
The second fluid then flows into the upper flow distributor (5), into the
valve element (9), and then downwardly and finally between the exchange
duct (3a) and out through the high pressure port (11). At the same time a
fluid stream is introduced to the machine at low pressure through port
(16). This flows into the valve element (9) and then into the flow
distributor (5). From the flow distributor (5) it flows and downwardly
into the pressure exchange duct (3b), causing downward displacement of
duct piston (4b) and resulting in flow of the first fluid below the duct
piston (4b), which then flows into the lower flow distributor (6), into
the valve element (9), and then out of the lower sealing plate (8) at
port (15).