Thermodynamic apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12104529-B2
Application number	US-202318533447-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2023
Priority date	Mar 27, 2020
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 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;
a regenerative heat exchanger; and
a casing which extends around the compressor module, turbine module, and regenerative heat exchanger;
wherein the compressor module, the turbine module, and the regenerative heat exchanger are arranged in series along a central axis such that the regenerative heat exchanger is provided between the compressor module and the turbine module;
wherein the compressor module, the turbine module, and the regenerative heat exchanger define a working fluid flow duct which extends, in series, through
a compressor module inlet to a compressor module outlet,
a first path through the regenerative heat exchanger,
a turbine module inlet to a turbine module outlet,
a first intermediate duct provided in the turbine module to a second path through the regenerative heat exchanger, which is in heat transfer communication with the first path, and
a second intermediate duct provided in the compressor module to the compressor module inlet; and

wherein the compressor module and the turbine module each comprise an inlet plenum and an outlet plenum, the inlet plenum and outlet plenum of the compressor module being in fluid flow communication via a first sub-passage defined by a first portion of the working fluid flow duct, the inlet plenum and outlet plenum of the turbine module being in fluid flow communication via a second sub-passage defined by a second portion of the working fluid flow duct, 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.

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

3. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the compressor module defines a third portion of the working fluid flow duct which extends between the compressor module inlet and the compressor module outlet, and the compressor module comprises:
a heat exchanger and a compressor module rotor, each provided in the working fluid flow duct, the heat exchanger provided in flow series between the compressor module inlet and the compressor module rotor, and the compressor module rotor being provided in flow series between the heat exchanger and the compressor module outlet; and
a heat transfer unit which defines the third portion of the working fluid flow duct;
wherein the heat exchanger is in heat transfer communication with the heat transfer unit via a main passage for a heat transfer medium, and the heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat to the heat transfer unit from working fluid passing the heat exchanger.

4. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the main passage comprises the inlet plenum of the compressor module and the outlet plenum of the compressor module.

5. The thermodynamic apparatus claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger is a first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger is located in the working fluid flow duct in flow series between the compressor module rotor and the compressor module outlet, and the second heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat to the heat transfer unit from the working fluid passing the second heat exchanger.

6. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the main passage comprises the inlet plenum of the compressor module and the outlet plenum of the compressor module, 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 an outlet from the first sub-passage, the first inlet configured to receive the heat transfer medium from the inlet plenum, and the outlet being configured to exhaust into the outlet plenum, and wherein the first sub-passage comprises:
a third sub-passage which extends from a second inlet in fluid communication with the inlet plenum of the compressor module through the second heat exchanger and joins the first sub-passage between an outlet of the first heat exchanger and the outlet of the first sub-passage, such that flow through the first inlet and second inlet exit through the outlet.

7. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:
a third sub-passage comprises a first node and a second node, the first node between an inlet to the third sub-passage and the first heat exchanger where the third sub-passage diverges to form a first branch and a second branch, and the second node between an outlet from the third sub-passage and the second heat exchanger where the first branch and second branch join;
the first branch extends through the first heat exchanger and bypasses the second heat exchanger; and
the second branch bypasses the first heat exchanger and extends though the second heat exchanger.

8. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the turbine module defines a third portion of the working fluid flow duct which extends between the turbine module inlet and the turbine module outlet, and the turbine module comprises:
a heat exchanger and a turbine module rotor, each provided in the working fluid flow duct, the heat exchanger provided in flow series between the turbine module inlet and the turbine module rotor, and the turbine module rotor being provided in flow series between the heat exchanger and the turbine module outlet; and
a heat transfer unit which defines the third portion of the working fluid flow duct;
wherein the heat exchanger is in heat transfer communication with the heat transfer unit via a main passage for a heat transfer medium, and the heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat received from the heat transfer unit to working fluid passing the heat exchanger.

9. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the third portion of the working fluid flow duct which extends between the turbine module inlet and the turbine module outlet is configured to expand working fluid passing along the third portion of the working fluid flow duct.

10. The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the main passage comprises the inlet plenum of the turbine module and the outlet plenum of the turbine module.

11. The thermodynamic apparatus claim 8 , wherein the heat exchanger is a first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger is located in the working fluid flow duct in flow series between the turbine module rotor and the turbine module outlet in the heat transfer unit, and the second heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat received from the heat transfer unit to the working fluid passing the second heat exchanger.

12. A thermodynamic apparatus comprising:
a compressor module comprising a first heat exchanger and a first rotor;
a turbine module comprising a second heat exchanger and a second rotor; and
a regenerative heat exchanger arranged in series along a central axis such that the regenerative heat exchanger is provided between the compressor module and the turbine module;
wherein the compressor module, turbine module, and regenerative heat exchanger define a working fluid flow duct which extends, in series, through each of (a) a compressor module inlet to a compressor module outlet, (b) a first path through the regenerative heat exchanger, (c) a turbine module inlet to a turbine module outlet, and (d) a second path through the regenerative heat exchanger, w

Assignees

• Bae Systems Plc

Inventors

• Spain James William

Classifications

• F25B30/02

  of the compression type · CPC title

• F02C1/10

  Closed cycles · CPC title

• Y02E20/16

  Combined cycle power plant [CCPP], or combined cycle gas turbine [CCGT] · CPC title

• F02C3/085

  the turbine being of the radial-flow type (radial-radial) (F02C3/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02C7/105

  of the rotary type (rotary heat exchangers per se F28D) · CPC title