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US 10,138,907 B2Granted
Rotary energy recovery device
AssigneeEnergy Recovery, Inc.
InventorsJuan Miguel Pinto, Jeremy G. Martin, Richard L. Stover
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary energy recovery device (11) wherein a multi-channel cylindrical rotor (15) revolves with its end faces (32) juxtaposed in sealing relationship with end surfaces (33) of a pair of flanking end covers (19, 21), and wherein inlet and outlet fluid passageways (27, 29) are provided in each end cover. Fluid may be directed into the rotor channels (16) and allowed to exit therefrom in an axial direction parallel to the axis of the rotor; however, rotor revolution is self-driven as a result of the interior design of the channels (16) which extend axially through the rotor and are shaped so that fluid flow therethrough creates a torque.
Claims22
A system comprising:
- a rotor disposed in a rotary energy recovery device and comprising:
- a plurality of blades circumferentially spaced apart and each blade of the plurality of blades having a respective longitudinal length extending from a first longitudinal end to a second longitudinal end and a respective radial width extending from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end, wherein each blade of the plurality of blades comprises a first wall having a first face and a second face that is substantially opposite the first face in a circumferential direction relative to the respective longitudinal length, wherein the first face has a curved surface extending the respective longitudinal length from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end and the second face has a substantially flat surface extending the respective longitudinal length and the respective radial width from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end;
- a plurality of channels that extend from a first end of the rotor to a second end of the rotor wherein at least one channel of the plurality of channels has a first radial cross-sectional area and a second radial cross-sectional area having a total area different from a total area of the first radial cross-sectional area relative to a longitudinal axis of the at least one channel of the plurality of channels, and wherein the at least one channel of the plurality of channels forms a low pressure region that creates torque to rotate the rotor using axial fluid flow through the rotor, wherein the at least one channel is disposed between the first face of a first blade of the plurality of blades and the second face of a second blade of the plurality of blades that is adjacent the first blade;
- a housing in which the rotor rotates;
- and
- first and second end covers in the housing comprising interior faces arranged in a sealing relationship with first and second rotor end faces.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- a housing;
- a rotor within the housing, the rotor comprising:
- a hub;
- an outer wall extending circumferentially about the hub;
- a plurality of blades, wherein each blade of the plurality of blades has a respective longitudinal length extending from a first longitudinal end to a second longitudinal end and a respective radial width extending from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end, wherein the plurality of blades are circumferentially spaced apart and radially extending between the hub and the outer wall, wherein each blade of the plurality of blades comprises a first sidewall having a first face having a curved surface extending the respective longitudinal length from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end and a second face that is substantially opposite the first face in a circumferential direction relative to the respective longitudinal length, wherein the second face has a substantially flat surface extending the respective longitudinal length and the respective radial width from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end such that a wall thickness of each blade of the plurality of blades varies along the respective longitudinal length from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end;
- axial channels disposed between adjacent blades of the plurality of blades and extending between a first end of the rotor and a second end of the rotor, wherein at least one axial channel of the axial channels comprises a first radial cross-sectional area and a second radial cross-sectional area having a total area different from a total area of the first radial cross-sectional area relative to a longitudinal axis of the at least one axial channel, and wherein the first radial cross-sectional area is configured to form a low pressure region that rotates the rotor as a fluid flows through the rotor;
- and
- a first end cover and a second end cover in the housing, wherein the first and second end covers comprise at least one inlet passageway and at least one outlet passageway.
5 more elements
A rotary energy recovery device comprising:
- a pressure exchanger configured to transfer pressure from a first liquid to a second liquid having a lower pressure relative to the first liquid, wherein the pressure exchanger comprises:
- a plurality of channels disposed within a rotor and each channel of the plurality of channels having a respective longitudinal length extending from a first longitudinal end to a second longitudinal end and a respective radial width extending from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end, wherein the plurality of channels is configured to receive a flow of the first and second liquid, wherein at least one channel of the plurality of channels comprises a first wall having a first face having a curved surface extending the respective longitudinal length from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end and a second wall spaced apart from and substantially opposite the first wall having a second end face having a substantially flat surface extending the respective longitudinal length and the respective radial width from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end such that the at least one channel of the plurality of channels comprises a first radial cross-sectional area and a second radial cross sectional area having a total area that is different from a total area of the first radial cross-sectional area relative to a longitudinal axis of the at least one channel of the plurality of channels and a sidewall region that is oriented generally radially to the longitudinal axis, wherein the sidewall region is configured to form a low pressure region that creates torque for the rotary energy recovery device as liquid flows through the at least one channel of the plurality of channels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.