Thermodynamic apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11859549-B2
Application number	US-202117907420-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2021
Priority date	Mar 27, 2020
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

A thermodynamic apparatus (10) comprising a compressor module (100), a turbine module (200), and a regenerative heat exchanger (300) centred on a central axis (12). The compressor module (100), turbine module (200) and regenerative heat exchanger (300) are arranged in series along the central axis (12) such that the regenerative heat exchanger (300) is provided between the compressor module (100) and the turbine module (200).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A thermodynamic apparatus comprising:
a compressor module;
a turbine module; and
a regenerative heat exchanger;
wherein the compressor module, turbine module, and regenerative heat exchanger define a working fluid flow duct which extends, in series, through (i) a compressor module inlet to a compressor module outlet, (ii) a path through the regenerative heat exchanger, and (iii) a turbine module inlet to a turbine module outlet;
wherein each of the compressor module, turbine module, and regenerative heat exchanger are centered on a central axis, and arranged in series along the central axis such that the regenerative heat exchanger is provided between the compressor module and the turbine module;
wherein the compressor module comprises:
a first heat exchanger and a compressor module rotor, each provided in the working fluid flow duct, the first heat exchanger provided in flow series between the compressor module inlet and the compressor module rotor, and the compressor module rotor provided in flow series between the first heat exchanger and the compressor module outlet; and
a first heat transfer unit,
wherein the first heat exchanger is in heat transfer communication with the first heat transfer unit via a first main passage for a first heat transfer medium;

wherein the turbine module comprises
a second heat exchanger and a turbine module rotor, each provided in the working fluid flow duct, the second heat exchanger provided in flow series between the turbine module inlet and the turbine module rotor, the turbine module rotor provided in flow series between the second heat exchanger and the turbine module outlet, and
a second heat transfer unit,
wherein the second heat exchanger is in heat transfer communication with the second heat transfer unit via a second main passage for a second heat transfer medium.

2. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a shaft centered on, and rotatable about, the central axis;
the shaft extending through the compressor module, the turbine module, and the regenerative heat exchanger;
both the compressor module rotor and the turbine module rotor being carried on and rotatable with the shaft.

3. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the path is a first path, and the working fluid flow duct extends, in series, through:
the compressor module inlet to the compressor module outlet;
the first path through the regenerative heat exchanger;
the turbine module inlet to the turbine module outlet;
a first intermediate duct;
a second path through the regenerative heat exchanger, which is in heat transfer communication with the first path; and
a second intermediate duct to the compressor module inlet.

4. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the compressor module defines a portion of the working fluid flow duct which extends between the compressor module inlet and the compressor module outlet, and wherein:
the first heat transfer unit defines the portion of the working fluid flow duct; and
the first heat exchanger is configured such that it is operable to transfer heat to the first heat transfer unit from working fluid passing the first heat exchanger.

5. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the portion of the working fluid flow duct is a first portion of the working fluid flow duct, and the turbine module defines a second portion of the working fluid flow duct which extends between the turbine module inlet and the turbine module outlet configured to expand a working fluid as the working fluid passes along the working fluid flow duct, wherein:
the second heat transfer unit defines the second portion of the working fluid flow duct in flow series between the turbine module rotor and the turbine module outlet; and
the second heat exchanger is configured such that it is operable to transfer heat received from the second heat transfer unit to working fluid passing the second heat exchanger.

6. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first main passage of the compressor module and second main passage of the turbine module each comprise an inlet plenum and an outlet plenum, and the inlet plenum and outlet plenum of the compressor module are in fluid flow communication via a first sub-passage defined by the first heat transfer unit for the transfer of the first heat transfer medium through the first heat exchanger, and the inlet plenum and outlet plenum of the turbine module are in fluid flow communication via a second sub-passage defined by the second heat transfer unit for the transfer of the second heat transfer medium through the second heat exchanger, each inlet plenum having an inlet for communication with a different source of heat transfer medium, and each outlet plenum having an outlet to exhaust the respective heat transfer medium.

7. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the first sub-passage extends through the first heat exchanger, and the first heat exchanger is in flow series between a first inlet to the first sub-passage and a first outlet from the first sub-passage, the first inlet configured to receive the first heat transfer medium from the inlet plenum of the compressor module, and the first outlet being configured to exhaust into the outlet plenum of the compressor module; and
the second sub-passage extends through the second heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger is in flow series between a second inlet to the second sub-passage and a second outlet from the second sub-passage, the second inlet configured to receive the second heat transfer medium from the inlet plenum of the turbine module, and the second outlet being configured to exhaust into the outlet plenum of the turbine module.

8. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the compressor module comprises a third heat exchanger located in the working fluid flow duct in flow series between the compressor module rotor and the compressor module outlet in the first heat transfer unit, and the third heat exchanger is configured to be operable to transfer heat to the first heat transfer unit from the working fluid passing the third heat exchanger;
the turbine module comprises a fourth heat exchanger located in the working fluid flow duct in flow series between the turbine module rotor and the turbine module outlet in the second heat transfer unit, and the fourth heat exchanger being configured such that it is operable to transfer heat received from the second heat transfer unit to the working fluid passing the fourth heat exchanger;
the first sub-passage extends through the third heat exchanger; and
the second sub-passage extends through the fourth heat exchanger.

9. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
a third sub-passage extends through the third heat exchanger, and the third heat exchanger is in flow series between a first inlet to the third sub-passage and a first outlet from the third sub-passage, the first inlet configured to receive heat transfer medium from the inlet plenum of the compressor module, the first outlet being configured to exhaust into the outlet plenum of the compressor module;
a fourth sub-passage extends through the fourth heat exchanger, and the fourth heat exchanger is in flow series between a second inlet to the fourth sub-passage and a second outlet from the fourth sub-passage, the second inlet configured to receive heat transfer medium from the inlet plenum of the turbine module, the second outlet being configured to exhaust into the outlet plenum of the turbine module;
the first heat exchanger is provided in series along the first sub-passage between an inlet to the first sub-passage and the third heat exchanger, and the third heat exchanger is provid

Assignees

• Bae Systems Plc

Inventors

• Spain James William

Classifications

• F02C7/10 Primary

  by means of regenerative heat-exchangers · CPC title

• F02C1/10

  Closed cycles · CPC title

• F25B30/02

  of the compression type · CPC title

• F01K7/16 Primary

  the engines being only of turbine type (the engines using steam of critical or overcritical pressure F01K7/32; the engines being of extraction or non-condensing type F01K7/34) · CPC title

• F02C1/105

  construction; details · CPC title