Work recovery in a shape memory alloy heat pump
AssigneeExergyn Ltd.
InventorGreg PITTAM
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Shape-Memory Alloy heat pump system (20) and method comprising a first Shape-Memory Alloy core (21) and a second Shape-Memory Alloy core (22). A power converter (23) is connected to the first Shape-Memory Alloy core and the second Shape-Memory Alloy core and a flywheel device (24) is configured to recover and store energy from an unloading first Shape-Memory Alloy core via the power converter and provide the stored energy back to a loading second Shape-Memory Alloy core via the power converter.
Claims21
A Shape-Memory Alloy heat pump system comprising
- a first Shape-Memory Alloy core;
- a second Shape-Memory Alloy core;
- a power converter connected to the first Shape-Memory Alloy core and the second Shape-Memory Alloy core;
- and
- a flywheel device configured to recover and store energy from an unloading first Shape-Memory Alloy core via the power converter and provide the stored energy back to a loading second Shape-Memory Alloy core via the power converter.
The heat pump system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first and second cores are loaded and unloaded 180° out of phase with respect to each other.
The heat pump system as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a pressure relief valve connected to a high pressure fluid line of the first and/or second core and configured to prevent a build-up of pressure in the heat pump system.
The heat pump system as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a check valve connected to a low pressure fluid line and configured to allow the power converter to draw fluid from a tank.
The heat pump system as claimed in any preceding claim comprising an electric motor connected to the flywheel to provide an energy input.
The heat pump system as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a hydraulic motor connected to the flywheel to provide an energy input.
The heat pump system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the flywheel device provides a torque to the power converter, wherein the torque is converted to a pressure, which in turn is converted to a force by the hydraulic cylinder on the core and applied to the core during loading.
The heat pump system as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a gearbox positioned on one side of the flywheel device and configured to optimise the speed of the flywheel and energy input devices.
The heat pump system as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a valve assembly connected to each Shape-Memory Alloy core.
The heat pump system as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a third Shape-Memory Alloy core and a fourth Shape-Memory Alloy core.
A method of controlling the operation of a Shape-Memory Alloy heat pump comprising the steps of:
- positioning a first Shape-Memory Alloy core with a a second Shape-Memory Alloy core connected via a power converter;
- configuring a flywheel device to recover and store energy from an unloading Shape-Memory Alloy core via the power converter;
- and
- providing the stored energy to the loading Shape-Memory Alloy core via the power converter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.