System and method of wrapping flow in a fluid working apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9574563-B2
Application number	US-201313859106-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2013
Priority date	Apr 9, 2013
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

A fluid working apparatus ( 100 ) including a housing structure ( 130 ) with an inlet ( 132 ) and an outlet ( 133 ). A working assembly positioned in the housing ( 130 ) has an inlet side and an outlet side with the at least one rotor ( 114 ) having a plurality of blades ( 115 ) positioned between the inlet and outlet sides. At least one return assembly ( 140, 142 ) is configured to return fluid flow from the outlet to the inlet side of the working assembly whereby a working fluid passes through the housing inlet ( 132 ), from the inlet side of the working assembly to the outlet side thereof while workingly engaging a first subset of the rotor blades ( 115 ), through the at least one return assembly ( 140, 142 ), from the inlet side of the working assembly to the outlet side thereof while workingly engaging a second subset of the rotor blades ( 115 ), and out of the housing outlet ( 133 ). A method of working a fluid is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a housing structure with a first housing inlet and a first housing outlet;
a working assembly having an inlet side and an outlet side with at least one first rotor having a plurality of rotor blades positioned between the inlet and outlet sides, the working assembly positioned in the housing structure such that the at least one first rotor is rotatably supported therein;
at least one single return chamber returning fluid flow from the outlet side of the working assembly to the inlet side of the working assembly; and
a whole quantity of working fluid which flows through elements of the apparatus in the sequential order and manner specified below:
(a) the first housing inlet in a direction towards a first circumferential portion of a circumferential inlet area defined between the housing structure and the inlet side of the working assembly;
(b) the first circumferential portion of the circumferential inlet area in a direction towards the outlet side of the working assembly while workingly engaging a first subset of the plurality of rotor blades;
(c) a first circumferential portion of a circumferential outlet area defined between the housing structure and the outlet side of the working assembly;
(d) the at least one single return chamber in a direction towards a second circumferential portion of the circumferential inlet area;
(e) the second circumferential portion of the circumferential inlet area in a direction towards the outlet side of the working assembly while exclusively workingly engaging a second subset of the plurality of rotor blades; and
(f) the first housing outlet.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the working assembly further includes at least one stator positioned adjacent to the at least one first rotor.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the working assembly includes at least one second rotor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein a stator is positioned in between each adjacent pair of rotors.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second rotors is supported on the same shaft.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one first rotor supported on a first shaft and the second rotor is supported on a second shaft, with the first and second shafts rotating in the same direction or opposite direction.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second shafts are configured to be selectively coupled or uncoupled from one another.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising at least N return assemblies, wherein N is an integer equal to 2 or more, such that the working fluid passes from the inlet side to the outlet side at least N+1 times and thereby workingly engages at least N+1 subsets of rotor blades before passing out of the first housing outlet.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the number of rotor blades in each subset of rotor blades is equal.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the number of rotor blades in at least one of the subsets of rotor blades is different from the number of rotor blades in another of the subsets of rotor blades.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the working assembly is an expander.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the working assembly is a compressor.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the housing structure includes an inner housing member and an outer housing member, and the at least one single return chamber is defined by boundary vanes extending radially between the inner and outer housing members.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein each boundary vane is circumferentially offset from the inlet side to the outlet side in a direction which is the same as the direction of rotation of the at least one first rotor to create a pro-grade return flow.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein each boundary vane is circumferentially offset from the inlet side to the outlet side in a direction opposite from the direction of rotation of the at least one first rotor to create a retro-grade return flow.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
X second housing inlets and X second housing outlets, wherein X is an integer equal to 2 or more, with a distinct flow path defined between each said second housing inlets and a corresponding one of said second housing outlets; and
at least one return assembly defined along each flow path such that the working fluid traveling along each flow path passes from the inlet side to the outlet side at least two times and thereby workingly engages at least two subsets of rotor blades before passing out of the respective first or second housing outlet.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a generating or motor unit supported within the housing structure and operating in association with rotation of the at least one first rotor.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the generating or motor unit is electrically associated with one or more fixed magnets supported within the housing adjacent to the working assembly and one or more rotating magnets mounted on the at least one first rotor in alignment with the fixed magnets.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the generating or motor unit converts mechanical energy to electrical energy.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the generating or motor unit is sealed within the housing.

21. A method of causing a fluid to flow through an apparatus, comprising:
causing a whole quantity of the fluid to flow through elements of the apparatus in the sequential order and manner specified below:
(a) a housing inlet of a housing structure in a direction towards a first circumferential portion of a circumferential inlet area defined between the housing structure and an inlet side of a working assembly, the working assembly including at least one rotor having a plurality of rotor blades;
(b) the first circumferential portion of the circumferential inlet area in a direction towards an outlet side of the working assembly while workingly engaging a first subset of the plurality of rotor blades;
(c) a first circumferential portion of a circumferential outlet area defined between the housing structure and the outlet side of the working assembly;
(d) a single return chamber in a direction towards a second circumferential portion of the circumferential inlet area;
(e) the second circumferential portion of the circumferential inlet area in a direction towards the outlet side of the working assembly while workingly engaging a second subset of the plurality of rotor blades; and
(f) a housing outlet of the housing structure.

Assignees

• Harris Corp

Inventors

• Palmer William Robert
• Brace Kenneth E

Classifications

• F04D1/06

  Multi-stage pumps (F04D1/02, F04D13/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• F04D17/12

  Multi-stage pumps · CPC title

• F04D5/002 Primary

  Regenerative pumps (for elastic fluids F04D23/008) · CPC title

• F04D23/008

  Regenerative pumps (for liquids or for liquids and elastic fluids F04D5/002) · CPC title

• H02K7/1823

  structurally associated with turbines or similar engines · CPC title