Compact energy cycle construction utilizing some combination of a scroll type expander, pump, and compressor for operating according to a rankine, an organic rankine, heat pump, or combined organic rankine and heat pump cycle

A compact energy cycle construction that utilizes a working fluid in its operation, comprising:

• a compact housing of a generally cylindrical form;
• a scroll expander having an inlet;
• a central shaft which is driven by the expander;
• a generator having a rotor and a stator with the central shaft being mounted to the rotor for rotating the rotor relative to the stator;
• a pump mounted to the central shaft;
• an evaporator positioned between the expander and the generator and surrounding the central shaft, the evaporator having a discharge;
• an external tube for transporting a working fluid from the discharge of the evaporator, outside of the compact housing, and to the inlet of the expander;
• and
• the scroll expander, the central shaft, the generator, the pump, and the evaporator being housed within the compact housing to form an integrated system operable in accordance with an energy cycle.

A compact energy cycle construction that utilizes a working fluid in its operation, comprising:

• a compact housing of a generally cylindrical form;
• a scroll expander;
• a central shaft which is driven by the expander;
• a generator having a rotor and a stator with the central shaft being mounted to the rotor for rotating the rotor relative to the stator;
• a pump mounted to the central shaft;
• an evaporator positioned between the expander and the generator and surrounding the central shaft;
• an external condenser surrounding a portion of the housing;
• and
• the scroll expander, the central shaft, the generator, the pump, and the evaporator being housed within the compact housing to form an integrated system operable in accordance with an energy cycle;
• wherein the external condenser comprises a shroud and a fan connected to the housing.

A compact energy cycle construction that utilizes a working fluid in its operation, comprising:

• a compact housing of a generally cylindrical form;
• a scroll expander;
• a central shaft which is driven by the expander;
• a generator having a rotor and a stator with the central shaft being mounted to the rotor for rotating the rotor relative to the stator;
• a generator housing for covering the generator, the generator housing having a passage positioned around the generator, wherein a refrigerant flows through the passage to cool the generator;
• a pump mounted to the central shaft, wherein the pump further comprises a discharge connected to the passage, and the refrigerant is discharged from the pump for cooling the generator and for reclaiming any heat produced by the generator to improve the efficiency of the compact energy cycle construction;
• an evaporator positioned between the expander and the generator and surrounding the central shaft;
• and
• the scroll expander, the central shaft, the generator, the generator housing, the pump, and the evaporator being housed within the compact housing to form an integrated system operable in accordance with an energy cycle.