Ericsson cycle device improvements
AssigneeInventherm, LLC
InventorJason Hugenroth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to improvements to thermodynamic devices that approximate the Ericsson cycle, Brayton cycle, or regenerated Brayton cycle. These cycles and various ways of implementing them are known in the art. They can operate as engines or refrigerators. The Ericsson cycle is attractive since it can theoretically operate at the Carnot efficiency, which is the maximum possible efficiency for a heat engine or refrigerator.
Claims56
A thermodynamic system that approximates an Ericsson cycle comprising:
- a compressor configured to compress a fluid, said compressor configured to reject heat from the fluid such that isothermal compression is approached;
- an expander configured to expand the fluid, said expander configured to introduce heat to the fluid such that isothermal expansion is approached;
- a recuperator in fluid communication with the compressor and expander configured to transfer heat between the fluid received from the compressor and the fluid received from the expander and wherein the thermodynamic system is a micro scale device.
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.