Thermodynamic apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023122100-A1
Application number	US-202117907420-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 16, 2021
Priority date	Mar 27, 2020
Publication date	Apr 20, 2023
Grant date	—

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

1 . A thermodynamic apparatus comprising:
a compressor module; a turbine module; and a regenerative heat exchanger centred 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.

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 , further comprising:
a casing, wherein the casing extends around the compressor module, turbine module, and regenerative heat exchanger.

4 . The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the compressor module, turbine module, and 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; 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.

5 . The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 4 , 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 the compressor module comprises:
a heat exchanger and the 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 first heat exchanger and the compressor module outlet; and a heat transfer unit which defines the 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 such that it is operable to transfer heat to the heat transfer unit from working fluid passing the heat exchanger.

6 . The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the portion of the working fluid flow duct is a first portion of the working fluid flow duct, the heat exchanger is a first heat exchanger, the heat transfer unit is a first heat transfer unit, the main passage is a first main passage, the heat transfer medium is a first heat transfer medium, and the turbine module defines a second portion of the working fluid flow duct which extends between a turbine module inlet and a turbine module outlet configured to expand a working fluid as the working fluid passes along the working fluid flow duct, and 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, and the turbine module rotor being provided in flow series between the second heat exchanger and the turbine module outlet; and a second heat transfer unit which defines the second portion of the working fluid flow duct in flow series between the turbine module rotor and the turbine module outlet; 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, 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.

7 . The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 6 , 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.

8 . The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 7 , 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.

9 . The thermodynamic apparatus claim 5 , 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 in the heat transfer unit, and the second heat exchanger is configured such that it is operable to transfer heat to the heat transfer unit from the working fluid passing the second heat exchanger.

10 . The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 6 , wherein a third 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 second heat transfer unit, and the third 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 third heat exchanger.

11 . The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 7 , 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 such that it is 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.

12 . The thermodynamic apparatus of claim 11 , 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 fi

Assignees

• Bae Systems Plc

Inventors

• Spain James William

Classifications

• F25B30/02

  of the compression type · CPC title

• Y02E20/16

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

• F02C7/10 Primary

  by means of regenerative heat-exchangers · CPC title

• F02C1/105

  construction; details · CPC title

• F02C3/085

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