Pressure control in a turboexpander
AssigneeSapphire Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJeremy Liu, John Stout, James Ryan Yates
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A turboexpander with a turbine wheel coupled to drive a generator in response to a flow of incoming gas. A housing assembly of the turboexpander defines a sealed space, sealed from the incoming gas. The sealed space is in fluid communication with a surface of the turbine wheel such that pressure in the sealed space acts on the turbine wheel. A bypass passage communicates pressure between the sealed space and a space in communication with an outlet of the turbine wheel. The bypass passage includes an changeable flow area to control the communication of pressure between the sealed space and the outlet of the turbine wheel.
Claims21
An electric power generation system, comprising:
- a turbogenerator housing assembly defining an inlet passage and an outlet passage;
- a turbine wheel within the housing assembly, the turbine wheel positioned to receive gas from the inlet passage into an inlet of the turbine wheel and to expel gas from an outlet of the turbine wheel into the outlet passage, the turbine wheel configured to rotate in response to expansion of the gas between the inlet and outlet of the turbine wheel;
- an electric stator and electric rotor, the electric rotor coupled to the turbine wheel to rotate with the turbine wheel and generate electricity in the stator;
- a seal in the housing assembly configured to seal with the turbine wheel and seal the received gas from a sealed space in the housing assembly, the sealed space being in fluid communication with a back face of the turbine wheel;
- and
- a bypass passage between the sealed space and the outlet of the turbine wheel, the bypass passage comprising a changeable flow area configured to cause a pressure drop between the sealed space and the outlet of the turbine wheel when the turbine wheel is operated to expand the gas.
A method, comprising:
- receiving a flow of gas at an inlet of a turbine wheel of a turbogenerator and rotating the turbine wheel in response to expansion of the gas through the turbine wheel;
- rotating a rotor of the turbogenerator in a stator of the turbogenerator with the turbine wheel to generate electricity in the stator;
- and
- communicating pressure between a sealed space and an outlet of the turbine wheel via a passage with a changeable flow area configured to cause a pressure drop between the sealed space and the outlet of the turbine wheel when the turbine wheel is operated to expand the gas, the sealed space sealed from the inlet of the turbine wheel and in fluid communication with a surface of the turbine wheel.
A turbogenerator, comprising:
- a turbine wheel coupled to drive a generator in response to a flow of incoming gas;
- a housing assembly defining a sealed space, sealed from the incoming gas and in fluid communication with a surface of the turbine wheel;
- and
- a bypass passage communicating pressure between the sealed space and a space in communication with an outlet of the turbine wheel, the bypass passage comprising a changeable flow area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.