# US 12,007,154 B2 · Heat pump systems with pressure exchangers

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- Number: US 12,007,154 B2
- Document ID: US12007154B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/834,834
- Filed: 2022-06-07
- Published: 2022-12-15
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-06-09
- Assignees: Energy Recovery, Inc.
- Applicants: Energy Recovery, Inc.
- Inventors: Azam Mihir Thatte; Farshad Ghasripoor; Kuo-Chiang Chen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007154B2

## CPC

- F25B 1/10: with multi-stage compression (with cascade operation F25B7/00)
- F25B 7/00: Compression machines, plants or systems, with cascade operation, i.e. with two or more circuits, the heat from the condenser of one circuit being absorbed by the evaporator of the next circuit (F25B9/00 takes precedence)
- F03G 7/00: Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for
- F04F 13/00: Pressure exchangers
- F25B 6/04: arranged in series
- F25B 9/008: {the refrigerant being carbon dioxide}
- F25B 11/02: as expanders (F25B9/06 takes precedence)
- F25B 13/00: Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle (defrosting cycles F25B47/02)
- F25B 30/02: of the compression type
- F25B 39/00: Evaporators; Condensers
- F25B 39/04: Condensers
- F25B 41/00: Fluid-circulation arrangements
- F25B 41/20: Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves (expansion valves F25B41/31)
- F25B 49/02: for compression type machines, plants or systems
- F25B 49/022: {Compressor control arrangements}
- F04B 41/06: Combinations of two or more pumps
- F25B 5/02: arranged in parallel
- F25B 2309/061: with cycle highest pressure above the supercritical pressure
- F25B 2341/0012: Ejectors with the cooled primary flow at high pressure
- F25B 2341/0014: Ejectors with a high pressure hot primary flow from a compressor discharge
- F25B 2400/05: Compression system with heat exchange between particular parts of the system
- F25B 2400/054: between the suction tube of the compressor and another part of the cycle
- F25B 2400/06: Several compression cycles arranged in parallel
- F25B 2400/0751: the compressors having different capacities
- F25B 2400/13: Economisers
- F25B 2400/14: Power generation using energy from the expansion of the refrigerant
- F25B 2400/141: the extracted power is not recycled back in the refrigerant circuit
- F25B 2400/23: Separators
- F25B 2400/25: Liquid pumps
- F25B 2600/025: by controlling speed
- F25B 2600/13: Pump speed control
- F25B 2600/2513: Expansion valves
- F25B 2700/13: Mass flow of refrigerants
- F25B 2700/151: of the compressor motor
- F25B 2700/1931: Discharge pressures
- F25B 2700/1933: Suction pressures
- F25B 2700/195: of the condenser
- F25B 2700/21152: at the discharge side of the compressor
- F25B 2700/21172: at the inlet
- F25B 2700/21173: at the outlet
- Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00)
- F04F: PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED {(evacuating by sorption F04B)}; SIPHONS {(conveying materials in bulk by flows of gas, liquid of foam B65G53/00)}
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A system includes a pressure exchanger (PX) configured to receive a first fluid at a first pressure, receive a second fluid at a second pressure, and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid. The first fluid is to exit the PX at a third pressure and the second fluid is to exit the PX at a fourth pressure. The system further includes a first heat exchanger configured to provide the first fluid to the PX and provide corresponding thermal energy from the first fluid to a third fluid. The system further includes a turbine configured to receive the third fluid output from the first heat exchanger. The turbine is further configured to convert corresponding thermal energy of the third fluid into kinetic energy.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a pressure exchanger (PX) configured to receive a first fluid of a heat pump cycle at a first pressure via a first inlet of the PX, receive a second fluid at a second pressure via a second inlet of the PX, and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid, wherein the first fluid is to exit the PX at a third pressure via a first outlet of the PX to a chamber of a receiver of the heat pump cycle, and wherein the second fluid is to exit the PX at a fourth pressure via a second outlet of the PX;
a first heat exchanger configured to provide the first fluid to the PX via the first inlet and provide corresponding thermal energy from the first fluid of the heat pump cycle to a third fluid of a power generation cycle; and
a turbine configured to receive the third fluid from the first heat exchanger, and wherein the turbine is further configured to convert corresponding thermal energy of the third fluid into kinetic energy.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a generator mechanically coupled to the turbine, wherein the generator is configured to generate electricity responsive to the turbine converting corresponding thermal energy of the third fluid into kinetic energy.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a second heat exchanger configured to receive the third fluid from the turbine and provide corresponding thermal energy from the third fluid to a fourth fluid to decrease temperature of the third fluid.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising:
the receiver configured to receive the first fluid from the first outlet of the PX, wherein the receiver forms chamber, and the chanber is configured to separate the first fluid into a first gas and a first liquid.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4 further comprising a bypass valve configured to:
receive a portion of the first gas of the first fluid from the receiver;
decrease pressure of the portion of the first gas; and
provide the portion of the first gas to be combined with output of an evaporator.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4 further comprising:
a first booster configured to:
receive a portion of the first gas from the receiver and increase pressure of the portion of the first gas to form the second fluid at the second pressure; and
provide the second fluid at the second pressure to the PX via the second inlet.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4 further comprising:
a second booster configured to:
receive the second fluid from the second outlet of the PX and increase pressure of the second fluid; and
provide the second fluid to be combined with output of a compressor and input to the first heat exchanger to form the first fluid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system is one or more of a refrigeration system or a heat pump system, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid comprise carbon dioxide (CO2), wherein the first pressure is higher than the second pressure, and wherein the third pressure is lower than the fourth pressure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a second heat exchanger configured to receive the first fluid from the first heat exchanger and provide the first fluid to the PX via the first inlet of the PX, wherein the second heat exchanger is further configured to provide corresponding thermal energy from the first fluid to a corresponding environment.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising:
an evaporator configured to provide corresponding thermal energy from a third corresponding environment to at least a portion of the first fluid via the first outlet of the PX; and
a compressor configured to receive the at least a portion of the first fluid from the evaporator, increase a corresponding pressure of the at least a portion of the first fluid, and provide the at least a portion of the first fluid to the first heat exchanger.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a compressor configured to receive the third fluid from the turbine, wherein the compressor is configured to increase pressure of the third fluid; and
a second heat exchanger configured to receive the third fluid from the compressor and the third fluid from the turbine, wherein the second heat exchanger is further configured to provide corresponding thermal energy from the third fluid from the turbine to the third fluid from the compressor.

### Claim 12

A method comprising:
causing, via a pressure exchanger (PX), pressure to be exchanged between a first fluid of a heat pump cycle and a second fluid, wherein the first fluid is to exit the PX to a chamber of a receiver of the heat pump cycle;
causing, via a heat exchanger, corresponding thermal energy to be provided from the first fluid of the heat pump cycle to a third fluid of a power generation cycle; and
causing, via a turbine, conversion of corresponding thermal energy of the third fluid into kinetic energy.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the PX is to receive the first fluid at a first pressure via a first inlet of the PX and the PX is to receive the second fluid at a second pressure via a second inlet of the PX, wherein the PX is to exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid, wherein the first fluid is to exit the PX at a third pressure via a first outlet of the PX to the chamber of the receiver, and wherein the second fluid is to exit the PX at a fourth pressure via a second outlet of the PX.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the first pressure is higher than the second pressure, and wherein the third pressure is lower than the fourth pressure.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
causing, via the receiver, the first fluid to separate into a first gas and a first liquid; and
causing, via a booster, a pressure increase of a portion of the first gas to form the second fluid and provide the second fluid to the PX.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid comprise carbon dioxide (CO2).

### Claim 17

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:
causing, via a pressure exchanger (PX), pressure to be exchanged between a first fluid of a heat pump cycle and a second fluid, wherein the first fluid is to exit the PX to a chamber of a receiver of the heat pump cycle;
causing, via a heat exchanger, corresponding thermal energy to be provided from the first fluid of the heat pump cycle to a third fluid of a power generation cycle; and
causing, via a turbine, conversion of corresponding thermal energy of the third fluid into kinetic energy.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the PX is to receive the first fluid at a first pressure via a first inlet of the PX and the PX is to receive the second fluid at a second pressure via a second inlet of the PX, wherein the PX is to exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid, wherein the first fluid is to exit the PX at a third pressure via a first outlet of the PX to the chamber of the receiver, and wherein the second fluid is to exit the PX at a fourth pressure via a second outlet of the PX.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the processing device is to perform operations further comprising:
causing, via receiver, the first fluid to separate into a first gas and a first liquid; and
causing, via a booster, a pressure increase of a portion of the first gas to form the second fluid and provide the second fluid to the PX.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the processing device is to perform operations further comprising:
cause, via an evaporator, corresponding thermal energy to be provided from a corresponding environment to at least a portion of the first fluid via a first outlet of the PX; and
cause, via a compressor, an increase in corresponding pressure of the at least a portion of the first fluid and provide the at least a portion of the first fluid to the heat exchanger.