US 2001/0043878 A1 · Involute spiral wrap device

An involute spiral wrap device adapted to operate in at least an expansion mode or a hybrid mode, said involute spiral wrap device comprising:

a hermetically sealable housing with a plurality of mounting surfaces disposed on an interior wall thereof, said housing defining an interior ambient environment, said housing including:
a working fluid inlet and at least one working fluid outlet, each disposed across a boundary of said hermetically sealable housing;
a throttle valve in fluid communication with at least one of a working fluid inlet or said working fluid outlet to regulate the flow of a working fluid crossing said boundary of said hermetically sealable housing;
and
at least one electrically conductive power line disposed across a boundary of said hermetically sealable housing;
a first pair of scroll members disposed within said housing, said first pair of scroll members comprising:
a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll, each with an end plate and an involute spiral wrap attached thereto;
at least one generally crescent-shaped translatable chamber formed by the juxtaposition of said orbiting scroll to said fixed scroll, said generally crescent-shaped translatable chamber capable of radial movement upon orbital motion of said orbiting scroll relative to said fixed scroll;
a fluid path defined by at least one scroll intake and at least one scroll discharge, each in respective fluid communication with said working fluid inlet and said at least one working fluid outlet, said at least one scroll intake and at least one scroll discharge separated from one another by said generally crescent-shaped translatable chamber such that said orbital motion of said orbiting scroll, and the passage of said working fluid from said at least one scroll intake, through said generally crescent-shaped translatable chamber, and out said at least one scroll discharge are operatively responsive to one another;
and
a rotation prevention apparatus mechanically coupled to said orbiting scroll and at least one of said fixed scroll or one of said plurality of mounting surfaces;
a second pair of scroll members substantially axially aligned with and configurationally similar to said first pair of scroll members save that said second pair of scroll members are oriented in the opposing axial direction from said first pair of scroll members;
a rotatable shaft disposed between said first and second orbiting scroll members such that said shaft maintains them in an axially spaced relationship;
a linkage coupled to said shaft such that said linkage is eccentrically mounted relative to a central rotation axis of said shaft;
an electric motor/generator in cooperative engagement with said rotatable shaft, said motor/generator comprising:
a rotor disposed on said shaft;
and
a stator in electrical communication with said rotor, said stator mounted to said housing and electrically connected to said at least one electrically conductive power line;
at least one heat exchanger in thermal communication with said stator;
an auxiliary power source adapted to provide additional power to at least one component within said housing;
and
at least one differential pressure valve in fluid communication with said translatable chamber and said internal ambient environment, said differential pressure valve operably responsive to select differences in static pressure between said translatable chamber and said internal ambient environment.

19 more elements

A hybrid scroll device comprising:

a hermetically sealable housing, said housing defining an interior ambient environment and including:
at least one working fluid inlet and at least one working fluid outlet, each disposed across a boundary of said hermetically sealable housing;
and
at least one electrically conductive power line disposed across a boundary of said hermetically sealable housing;
a scroll expander pair disposed within said housing, said scroll expander pair comprising:
a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll, each with an end plate and an involute spiral wrap attached thereto;
at least one generally crescent-shaped translatable chamber formed by the juxtaposition of said orbiting scroll to said fixed scroll, said generally crescent-shaped translatable chamber capable of radial movement upon orbital motion of said orbiting scroll relative to said fixed scroll;
a fluid path comprising:
a scroll intake in fluid communication with said at least one working fluid inlet;
and
a scroll discharge in fluid communication with said at least one working fluid outlet, said scroll intake and discharge separated from one another by said generally crescent-shaped translatable chamber such that said orbital motion of said orbiting scroll, and the radially outward passage of a working fluid from said scroll intake, through said generally crescent-shaped translatable chamber, and out said scroll discharge are operatively responsive to one another;
and
a rotation prevention apparatus mechanically coupled to said orbiting scroll;
a scroll compressor pair substantially axially aligned with, and oriented in the opposing axial direction from, said scroll expander pair, said scroll compressor pair comprising substantially similar scroll configuration as that of said scroll expander pair save that said scroll compressor pair is adapted to flow said working fluid in a radially inward direction;
a rotatable shaft disposed between said scroll expander pair and said scroll compressor pair such that said shaft maintains them in an axially spaced relationship;
an electric motor in cooperative engagement with said rotatable shaft, and
a linkage coupled to said shaft such that said linkage is eccentrically mounted relative to a central rotation axis of said shaft.

14 more elements

A hermetically sealed scroll expander with integral output regulation comprising:

a hermetically sealed housing with an interior volume defining an internal ambient environment;
a throttle valve mounted to said hermetically sealed housing, said throttle valve in fluid communication with both an inlet manifold and an externally disposed working fluid supply;
an involute spiral wrap device disposed within said hermetically sealed housing, said involute spiral wrap device including first and second pairs of meshed, axially-spaced involute scroll members, each pair comprising:
a fixed scroll defined by a spiral wrap extending from a fixed scroll end plate, and a central axis;
a scroll intake disposed in said fixed scroll end plate;
an orbiting scroll adapted to move relative to said fixed scroll, said orbiting scroll defined by a spiral wrap extending from an orbiting scroll end plate;
at least one translatable chamber formed between said fixed and said orbiting scroll;
a scroll discharge in intermittent fluid communication with said scroll intake via said at least one translatable chamber;
and
a rotation prevention device for preventing rotational motion of said orbiting scroll relative to said fixed scroll;
a linkage to effect mechanical communication between said orbiting scrolls of said first and second pairs of meshed axially-spaced involute spiral wrap members, said linkage movable in an eccentric motion relative to said central axis of said fixed scroll;
and
a shaft rotatably responsive to said eccentric motion of said linkage,
an electric generator with a rotor and a stator coil, said electric generator in inductive electrical communication with said shaft such that, upon rotation of said shaft, an alternating current electrical output of first frequency is produced in said stator coil;
a speed sensor adapted to measure said first frequency;
and
a controller in signal communication with said throttle valve and said speed sensor such that, upon difference between a predetermined second frequency and said first frequency, said controller is adapted to reposition said throttle valve until said first and second frequencies are the same.

14 more elements

A method of operating a scroll expander comprising:

defining a housing containing an expansion volume;
positioning a throttle valve on said housing such that said throttle valve is in fluid communication with both an inlet manifold and an externally disposed working fluid supply;
positioning an involute spiral wrap device within said housing, said involute spiral wrap device including first and second pairs of axially-spaced scroll members, each pair comprising:
a fixed scroll defined by a central axis;
a working fluid intake disposed adjacent said central axis;
an orbiting scroll meshed with and adapted to move relative to said fixed scroll;
at least one crescent-shaped translatable chamber meshedly formed between said fixed and said orbiting scroll;
a working fluid discharge in fluid communication with said expansion volume;
and
a rotation prevention device operably responsive to said orbiting scroll;
using a linkage to effect mechanical communication between said pair of axially-spaced scroll members, said linkage movable in an eccentric motion relative to said central axis of said fixed scroll;
mechanically joining said linkage to a shaft;
rotating said shaft in response to said eccentric motion of said linkage;
introducing a working fluid from said working fluid supply into said housing through said throttle valve;
expanding said working fluid through said first and second pairs of axially spaced scroll members;
generating an electrical output by operating an electric generator with a rotor and a stator coil in inductive electrical communication with said shaft such that, upon rotation of said shaft due to said expansion of said working fluid, an alternating current electrical output of first frequency is produced in said stator coil;
using a speed sensor adapted to measure said first frequency;
operating a controller in signal communication with said throttle valve and said speed sensor such that, upon difference between a predetermined second frequency and said first frequency, said controller is adapted to reposition said throttle valve until said first and second frequencies are the same.

15 more elements

A method of operating a scroll device comprising:

defining an internal ambient environment of a housing containing an expansion volume;
positioning a throttle valve on said housing such that said throttle valve is in fluid communication with both an inlet manifold and an externally disposed working fluid supply;
positioning an involute spiral wrap device within said housing, said involute spiral wrap device including first and second pairs of axially-spaced scroll members, each pair comprising:
a fixed scroll defined by a central axis;
a working fluid intake;
an orbiting scroll meshed with and adapted to move relative to said fixed scroll;
at least one crescent-shaped translatable chamber meshedly formed between said fixed and said orbiting scroll;
a working fluid discharge;
and
a rotation prevention device operably responsive to said orbiting scroll;
configuring said first pair of axially spaced scroll members to operate in a working fluid compression mode;
configuring said second pair of axially spaced scroll members to operate in a working fluid expansion mode;
using a linkage to effect mechanical communication between said pair of axially-spaced scroll members, said linkage movable in an eccentric motion relative to said central axis of said fixed scroll;
mechanically joining said linkage to a shaft;
introducing a portion of said working fluid into each said working fluid intake;
simultaneously compressing said portion of said working fluid introduced into said first pair of axially spaced scroll members and expanding said portion of said working fluid introduced into said second pair of axially-spaced scroll members;
rotating said shaft in response to said eccentric motion of said linkage;
generating an electrical output by operating an electric generator with a rotor and a stator in inductive electrical communication with said shaft such that, upon rotation of said shaft, an alternating current electrical output of first frequency is produced in said stator;
using a speed sensor adapted to measure said first frequency;
and
operating a controller in signal communication with said throttle valve and said speed sensor such that, upon difference between a predetermined second frequency and said first frequency, said controller is adapted to reposition said throttle valve until said first and second frequencies are the same.

18 more elements

Involute spiral wrap device

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Involute spiral wrap device

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Abstract

Claims30