# US 9,039,349 B2 · Turbocompressor and system for a supercritical-fluid cycle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,349 B2 - Document ID: US9039349B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/265,505 - Filed: 2010-04-27 - Published: 2012-02-09 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-28 - Assignees: Concepts ETI, Inc. - Applicants: Elia P. Demetri; Oleg Dubitsky; Louis Larosiliere; Robert Pelton; Karl Wygant - Inventors: Elia P. Demetri; Oleg Dubitsky; Louis Larosiliere; Robert Pelton; Karl Wygant - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039349B2 ## CPC - F02B 39/14: Lubrication of pumps; Safety measures therefor - F02B 39/10: electric - F04D 25/04: the pump being fluid-driven {(pumps driven by exhaust gases F02B37/00, F02B39/00; turbochargers F02C6/12)} - F04D 29/063: specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) ## Abstract A turbocompressor for use with a process fluid and including an axial expansion turbine for expanding the process fluid and a centrifugal compressor for compressing the process fluid. The turbine and compressor share a common shaft, all of which can be housed by a common housing that encloses sealed spaces. The axial expansion turbine has a rotor located between two main bearings, and the centrifugal compressor includes an impeller mounted to one end of the shaft. In one embodiment, the main bearings are lubricated by a portion of the process fluid so that the only fluid in the sealed spaces is the process fluid. The turbocompressor can be used in a power-cycle system that includes a heat source and, optionally, an electrical generator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A turbocompressor for use with a process fluid in a closed thermodynamic cycle, comprising: a pair of main bearings spaced from one another along a central rotational axis; a rotational shaft rotatably supported by said pair of main bearings so as to be rotatable about said central rotational axis, said rotational shaft having a first end and a second end spaced from said first end along said central rotational axis; an axial expansion turbine that includes a rotor located between said pair of main bearings, said rotor including turbine blades coupled to said rotational shaft so as to be rotatable therewith about said central rotational axis, said axial expansion turbine for expanding the process fluid; a centrifugal compressor that includes an impeller secured to said first end of said rotational shaft so as to be rotatable therewith about said central rotational axis, said centrifugal compressor for compressing the process fluid; a combined housing that houses said rotor of said axial expansion turbine, said pair of main bearings, and said impeller of said centrifugal compressor; and a seal disposed between said combined housing and said rotational shaft to thereby seal said turbocompressor from atmosphere. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A turbocompressor according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of thrust bearings located on opposite sides of said rotor of said axial expansion turbine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A turbocompressor according to claim 2, wherein said common shaft has a first diameter at each of said pair of main bearings and said rotor includes a disk having a second diameter larger than said first diameter, wherein said thrust bearings work against said disk. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A turbocompressor according to claim 1, wherein said main bearings are lubricated by a portion of the process fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A turbocompressor according to claim 1, wherein said combined housing includes an endpiece located opposite said centrifugal compressor, said endpiece having an opening through which said common shaft extends and said seal being disposed in said opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A turbocompressor according to claim 5, wherein the only fluid said combined housing contains during normal operation of the turbocompressor is the process fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A turbocompressor according to claim 5, wherein said seal is a dry-gas seal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A turbocompressor according to claim 1, wherein a first one of said pair of main bearings is located between said impeller and said rotor such that said impeller is cantilevered from said first main bearing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A turbocompressor according to claim 1, wherein said turbine blades are located approximately midway between said pair of main bearings. ### Claim 10 A system, comprising: a working fluid; a heat source for providing heat to said working fluid; and a turbocompressor having a central rotational axis and that includes: a pair of main bearings spaced from one another along said central rotational axis; a rotational shaft rotatably supported by said pair of main bearings so as to be rotatable about said central rotational axis, said rotational shaft having a first end and a second end spaced from said first end along said central rotational axis; an axial expansion turbine that includes a rotor located between said pair of main bearings, said rotor including turbine blades coupled to said rotational shaft so as to be rotatable therewith about said central rotational axis, said axial expansion turbine located downstream of said heat source for expanding said process fluid after said process fluid has been heated by said heat source; and a centrifugal compressor that includes an impeller secured to said first end of said rotational shaft so as to be rotatable therewith about said central rotational axis, said centrifugal compressor located upstream from said heat source for compressing said process fluid before said process fluid is heated by said heat source, wherein a first one of said pair of main bearings is located between said impeller and said rotor such that said impeller is cantilevered from said first main bearing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A system according to claim 10, further comprising a pair of thrust bearings located on opposite sides of said rotor of said axial expansion turbine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A system according to claim 11, further comprising a combined housing that houses said rotor of said axial expansion turbine, said pair of main bearings, said pair of thrust bearings, and said impeller of said centrifugal compressor so as to thereby seal said axial expansion turbine and said centrifugal compressor from atmosphere. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A system according to claim 12, wherein said main bearings are lubricated by a portion of the process fluid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A system according to claim 13, wherein said combined housing includes an endpiece located opposite said centrifugal compressor, said endpiece having an opening through which said common shaft extends, said combined housing further including a seal at said opening for sealing said combined housing from atmosphere. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A system according to claim 14, wherein said working fluid comprises supercritical carbon dioxide. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A system according to claim 15, wherein said heat source includes a nuclear reactor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A system according to claim 14, wherein said seal is a dry-gas seal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) A system according to claim 11, wherein said common shaft has a first diameter at each of said pair of main bearings and said rotor includes a disk having a second diameter larger than said first diameter, wherein said thrust bearings work against said disk. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) A system according to claim 10, wherein said working fluid comprises supercritical carbon dioxide. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A system according to claim 19, wherein said heat source includes a nuclear reactor.