Dual compression-expansion pumps and related methods
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDavid Raju Yamarthi, Rodrigo Rodriguez Erdmenger, Maysaa Rizk, Adam Joseph Wangler, Ismail Hakki Sezal
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Abstract
Dual compression-expansion pumps and related methods are disclosed. An example fluid pump includes a shaft, a motor coupled to the shaft, the motor to drive a rotation of the shaft, a compressor coupled to a first end of the shaft, a turbine coupled to a second end of the shaft opposite the first end, and a housing including a first inlet, a second inlet, a third inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, the first outlet fluidly coupled to the second inlet, the second outlet fluidly coupled to the third inlet.
Claims19
A fluid pump comprising:
- a shaft;
- a motor coupled to the shaft, the motor to drive a rotation of the shaft;
- a compressor coupled to a first end of the shaft;
- a turbine coupled to a second end of the shaft opposite the first end;
- a housing including a first inlet, a second inlet, a third inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, the first outlet fluidly coupled to the second inlet, the second outlet fluidly coupled to the third inlet, wherein the housing is defined by a compressor casing, a motor casing, and a turbine casing, the compressor casing including the first inlet and the first outlet, the turbine casing including the second inlet and the second outlet, the motor casing including the third inlet;
- and
- foil bearings to support the shaft on opposite sides of the motor, wherein a fluid that enters the fluid pump via the third inlet is positioned between the foil bearings and the shaft, and wherein the fluid flows into at least one of the compressor casing or the turbine casing in response to flowing between the foil bearings and the shaft.
A system comprising:
- at least one conduit to transport a fluid;
- a pump including:
- a rotatable shaft;
- a compressor casing defining a first inlet and a first outlet in fluid connection with the at least one conduit;
- a compressor positioned in the compressor casing, the compressor coupled to a first end of the rotatable shaft;
- a turbine casing defining a second inlet and a second outlet in fluid connection with the at least one conduit;
- a turbine positioned in the turbine casing, the turbine coupled to a second end of the rotatable shaft opposite the first end, wherein the fluid has a first temperature at the second inlet, wherein the compressor causes the fluid to have a second temperature at the first outlet, the second temperature less than the first temperature;
- a motor casing defining a third inlet;
- and
- a motor positioned in the motor casing, the motor coupled to the rotatable shaft between the first end and the second end.
An apparatus comprising:
- means for pumping a fluid, the means for pumping including:
- means for compressing the fluid;
- first means for housing the means for compressing;
- means for expanding the fluid;
- second means for housing the means for expanding;
- means for driving the means for compressing and the means for expanding;
- third means for housing the means for driving;
- and
- means for supporting the means for driving, wherein the fluid flows between the means for supporting and the means for driving in response to entering the third means for housing, and wherein the fluid flows into at least one of the first means for housing or the second means for housing in response to flowing between the means for supporting and the means for driving;
- first means for transporting the fluid from the first means for housing to the second means for housing;
- and
- second means for transporting the fluid from the second means for housing to the third means for housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.