Patent · US Expired

Solar-powered turbocompressor heat pump system

US4464908A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
13References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 12, 1982
Grant dateAug 14, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 12, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25B11/00
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The turbocompressor comprises a power turbine (14) and a compressor turbine (16) having respective rotors (18) and (20) on a common shaft (22), rotatably supported by bearings (26) and (28). A first working fluid is supplied by a power loop (32) and is expanded in the turbine (14). A second working fluid is compressed in the turbine (16) and is circulated in a heat pump loop (70). A lubricant is mixed with the second working fluid but is excluded from the first working fluid. Bearings (26) and (28) are cooled and lubricated by a system which circulates the second working fluid and the intermixed lubricant through the bearings (26) and (28). Such system includes a pump (126), a thermostatic expansion valve (150) for expanding the working fluid into the space (152) between the bearings (26) and (28), and a return conduit system (154, 156, 158) for withdrawing the expanded working fluid after it passes through the bearings and for returning the working fluid to the evaporator (82). A shaft seal (30) excludes the lubricant from the power turbine (14). The power loop (32) includes a float (208) operable by liquid working fluid in the condenser (46) for controlling a recirculation valve …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.