Combined heat exchanger expander mounting system
AssigneeDresser-Rand Company
InventorWilliam C. Maier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat engine system is disclosed and includes first and second condensers fluidly and structurally coupled to first and second recuperators. An expansion device is coupled to the condensers at a drive end and suspended from the recuperators at a non-drive end. The recuperators can be printed circuit heat exchangers which provide superior heat transfer capabilities but are also robust enough to support the expansion device, and thereby form an integral part of a structural baseplate for mounting and aligning various components of the heat engine system. Exhaust conduits extending between the expansion device and the recuperators also provide added structural support for the expansion device.
Claims20
A support structure for a heat engine system, comprising:
- one or more condensers mounted to a gearbox mount and extending vertically therefrom;
- one or more recuperators structurally and fluidly coupled to the one or more condensers and extending horizontally from the one or more condensers;
- and
- a structural component extending from the one or more recuperators and supporting a non-drive end of an expansion device, the expansion device further being coupled to the one or more condensers at a drive end.
A method for supporting an expansion device in a heat engine system, comprising:
- mounting first and second condensers to a gearbox mount in a vertical disposition, the first condenser being mounted adjacent the second condenser;
- coupling a first recuperator to the first condenser such that the first recuperator extends horizontally from the first condenser, the first recuperator being fluidly and structurally coupled to the first condenser;
- coupling a second recuperator to the second condenser adjacent the first recuperator such that the second recuperator extends horizontally from the second condenser, the second recuperator being fluidly and structurally coupled to the second condenser;
- coupling the expansion device to the first and second condensers at a drive end of the expansion device;
- and
- supporting the expansion device at a non-drive end of the expansion device with a structural component coupled to the non-drive end and at least one of the first or second recuperators.
A heat engine system, comprising:
- a first condenser mounted to a gearbox mount and defining a first condenser outlet for discharging a first target fluid flow;
- a second condenser mounted to the gearbox mount adjacent the first condenser and defining a second condenser outlet for discharging a second target fluid flow;
- a first recuperator structurally and fluidly coupled to the first condenser such that the first recuperator extends horizontally from the first condenser, the first recuperator defining a first exhaust inlet, a first target fluid inlet, and a first target fluid outlet, wherein the first target fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the first target fluid outlet;
- a second recuperator structurally and fluidly coupled to the second condenser adjacent the first recuperator such that the second recuperator extends horizontally from the second condenser, the second recuperator having a second exhaust inlet, a second target fluid inlet, and a second target fluid outlet, wherein the second target fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the second target fluid outlet;
- an expansion device coupled to the first and second condensers at a drive end with a flange mount and supported by the first and second recuperators at a non-drive end with a structural component that extends between the non-drive end and the first and second recuperators, the expansion device having first and second inlets and first and second outlets;
- a first exhaust conduit fluidly coupling the first outlet of the expansion device with the first exhaust inlet of the first recuperator;
- and
- a second exhaust conduit fluidly coupling the second outlet of the expansion device with the second exhaust inlet of the second recuperator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.