Closed loop scroll expander engine
AssigneeSECCO2 Engines, Inc.
InventorPreston Henry Carter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatuses and methods related to an engine for converting heat into mechanical output using a working fluid in a closed circulating system are disclosed. In some embodiments, the engine includes a pump to pressurize the working fluid, a regenerative heat exchanger to transfer heat from a first portion of the working fluid to a second portion, a heating device to heat the working fluid, and first and second scroll expanders to expand the working fluid and generate the mechanical output. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
Claims20
An engine for converting heat into mechanical output using a working fluid in a closed circulating system, the engine comprising:
- at least one pump to pressurize the working fluid from a first pressure to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is higher than the first pressure;
- a heat receiving portion of a regenerative heat exchanger;
- said heat receiving portion configured to receive the working fluid from said pump, said regenerative heat exchanger configured to add heat to the working fluid;
- a heating device to supply additional heat to the working fluid to raise the working fluid to a desired working temperature substantially above its critical temperature;
- a first scroll expander coupled with a shaft and having an inlet coupled with the heating device to receive the working fluid, the first scroll expander to generate the mechanical output to rotate the shaft through the expansion of the working fluid from the inlet to an outlet of the first scroll expander;
- a second scroll expander coupled with the shaft and having an inlet coupled with the outlet of the first scroll expander, the second scroll expander to further generate the mechanical output to rotate the shaft through further expansion of the working fluid from the inlet of the second scroll expander to an outlet of the second scroll expander;
- a heat transmitting portion of said regenerative heat exchanger configured to receive the expanded working fluid from the outlet of said second scroll expander and pass it therethrough;
- a condenser connected between an outlet of said heat transmitting portion of said regenerative heat exchanger and said at least one pump to reduce temperature of the working fluid to a low cycle temperature;
- and
- a power control valve to adjust the mechanical output of the engine by adjusting a mass flow of the working fluid in the closed circulating system;
- wherein the at least one pump is adapted to compensate for the adjustment of the mass flow rate by maintaining the second pressure in a specified range.
A method of converting heat into mechanical output using a working fluid in a closed circulating system, comprising:
- supplying said working fluid at a low cycle temperature;
- raising the pressure of said working fluid with a pump from a first pressure to a second pressure;
- adding heat to said working fluid at substantially its second pressure to raise said working fluid to a high cycle temperature substantially above its critical temperature;
- expanding said working fluid through first and second scroll expanders, wherein an outlet of the first scroll expander is coupled with an inlet of the second scroll expander and both the first and second scroll expanders are coupled with a shaft, said expanding of the working fluid to generate the mechanical output, applied to the shaft, and reduce a pressure of the working fluid;
- cooling said working fluid substantially down to its low cycle temperature;
- transferring a major portion of the heat contained in the expanded working fluid to the pressurized working fluid using a regenerative heat exchanger during the cooling;
- controlling the mechanical output of the engine by regulating a mass flow rate of the working fluid with a power control valve;
- and
- maintaining the second pressure in a specified range wherein said pump is able to compensate for adjustments to the mass flow rate of said working fluid by maintaining the second pressure in a specified range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.