Integrated Volumetric Energy Recovery and Compression Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016003045-A1
Application number	US-201514854319-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 15, 2015
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Power-generation systems including a power plant and a power conversion unit including an energy recovery device and volumetric compressor are disclosed. In one embodiment, the volumetric fluid compressor has first and second meshed rotors and is configured to generate a stream of relatively high-pressure fluid including oxygen to the power plant. In one embodiment, the volumetric fluid energy recovery device having third and fourth meshed rotors, operatively connected to the compressor, and configured to be rotated by the exhaust gas or other fluid deriving energy from the exhaust gas. The system can additionally include a set of timing gears configured to operatively connect the first and second rotors of the compressor to the third and fourth rotors of the energy recovery device, and prevent contact between the first and second rotors and between the third and fourth rotors. The system may also include a rotation transferring link for operative connection between the compressor and the energy recovery device.

First claim

1 . An integrated compressor and expander system comprising:
a fluid compressor having first and second non-contacting helical meshed rotors, wherein the first rotor is provided with a number of lobes equal to a number of lobes provided on the second rotor; and a volumetric energy recovery device having third and fourth non-contacting helical meshed rotors, wherein the third rotor is provided with a number of lobes equal to a number of lobes provided on the fourth rotor; wherein the first and second rotors of the volumetric fluid compressor are operably connected to the third and fourth rotors of the volumetric energy recovery device such that rotation of the third and fourth rotors causes rotation of the first and second rotors.

2 . The integrated compressor and expander system of claim 1 , wherein the first rotor and the third rotor are mounted to a common shaft.

3 . The integrated compressor and expander system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first shaft to which the first rotor is mounted; a third shaft to which the third rotor is mounted; and a power transmission link coupling the first shaft to the third shaft.

4 . The integrated compressor and expander system of claim 3 , wherein:
the power transmission link includes a first transmission gear mounted to the first shaft and a second transmission gear mounted the third shaft.

5 . The integrated compressor and expander system of claim 4 , wherein:
the first transmission gear is meshed with the second transmission gear.

6 . The integrated compressor and expander system of claim 3 , wherein:
the power transmission link includes a planetary gear set including a ring gear, a sun gear mounted to the first shaft, and a plurality of planet gears coupled to a common carrier mounted to the third shaft.

7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a generator in operative connection with the ring gear of the planetary gear set, the generator being configured to vary a rotating speed of the energy recovery device relative to a rotating speed of the volumetric fluid compressor.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the generator operates as a brake to vary the rotating speed of the energy recovery device, and wherein the volumetric energy recovery device freewheels when the generator provides zero braking force, thereby reducing drag from the volumetric energy recovery device on the volumetric fluid compressor.

9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising one of a pulley or a gear drive configured to receive torque from a power source, independent of the volumetric energy recovery device, to rotate the volumetric fluid compressor.

10 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising an electric drive unit configured to rotate the compressor.

11 . A power-generation system comprising:
a power plant employing a power-generation cycle, wherein the power plant uses oxygen to generate power and generates an exhaust gas as a byproduct of the power-generation cycle; a volumetric fluid compressor having first and second non-contacting meshed rotors and configured to generate a stream of relatively high-pressure fluid including oxygen to the power plant, wherein the first rotor is provided with a number of lobes equal to a number of lobes provided on the second rotor; a volumetric energy recovery device having third and fourth non-contacting meshed rotors and configured to be rotated by the exhaust gas to drive the compressor, wherein the third rotor is provided with a number of lobes equal to a number of lobes provided on the fourth rotor; and a power transmission link located between the compressor and the energy recovery device, wherein the link is configured to transfer torque generated by the energy recovery device to the compressor.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the power transmission link is one of a gear set and a common shaft extending between the volumetric fluid compressor and the volumetric energy recovery device.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the power plant is a fuel cell.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the power transmission link is a gear set including a planetary gear structure.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the gear set includes:
first and second timing gears fixed relative to the first and second meshed rotors, respectively, configured to prevent contact between the first and second rotors; and third and fourth timing gears fixed relative to the third and fourth meshed rotors, respectively, configured to prevent contact between the third and fourth rotors; wherein the first and second timing gears are operatively connected to the third and fourth timing gears via the planetary gear structure.

16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a generator in operative connection with the planetary gear structure and configured to vary the rotating speed of the energy recovery device to substantially match the rotating speeds of the power plant and the energy recovery device.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the generator operates as a brake to vary the rotating speed of the energy recovery device, and wherein the energy recovery device freewheels when the generator provides zero braking force, thereby reducing drag from the energy recovery device on the compressor.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the power plant is an internal combustion (IC) engine.

19 . The system of claim 18 , further comprising one of a pulley or a gear drive configured to receive torque from the IC engine and rotate the compressor.

20 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising an electric drive unit configured to rotate the compressor.

21 . A power conversion unit comprising:
a power plant that receives intake air and produces exhaust; a fluid compressor configured to provide pressurized intake air to the power plant; an energy recovery device coupled to the fluid compression device and being configured to convert energy from the power plant exhaust to rotational energy that drives the fluid compression device; a drive system coupling the fluid compression device to a power output location of the power plant, the drive system including a clutch to selectively engage the fluid compression device with the power plant power output location; and a compressor bypass valve configured to recirculate the pressurized intake air from an outlet of the fluid compressor to an inlet of the fluid compressor.

22 . The power conversion unit of claim 21 , wherein the power conversion unit has at least a first operational mode and a second operational mode:
the first operational mode including the clutch of the drive system being disengaged to decouple the fluid compressor from the power plant power output location; and the second operational mode including the clutch of the drive system being engaged to couple the fluid compressor with the power plant power output location.

23 . The power conversion unit of claim 22 , further including:
an exhaust bypass valve configured to allow at least a portion of the power plant exhaust to bypass the energy recovery device, the exhaust bypass valve being configured to maintain a differential exhaust pressure set point across the energy recovery device;

24 . The power conversion unit of claim 23 , wherein:
the first operational mode further includes the exhaust bypass valve being in an open position.

25 . The power conversion unit of claim 22 , wherein:
the power

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Fortini Matthew James
• Bergen William Nicholas

Classifications

• F01C13/04

  for driving pumps or compressors · CPC title

• F01C11/004

  and of complementary function, e.g. internal combustion engine with supercharger · CPC title

• F01C1/16 Primary

  with helical teeth, e.g. chevron-shaped, screw type {(for non-parallel axes of movement F01C3/00)} · CPC title

• F02B37/12

  Control of the pumps · CPC title

• F02B33/38

  of Roots type · CPC title