초록 ▼

A heat-actuated space conditioning system comprising a sub-atmospheric natural-gas-fired Brayton cycle engine driving a Rankine cycle heat pump. A centrifugal Freon compressor is driven directly from the Brayton engine rotating group through a permanent magnet coupling. The system utilizes an in-lin

A heat-actuated space conditioning system comprising a sub-atmospheric natural-gas-fired Brayton cycle engine driving a Rankine cycle heat pump. A centrifugal Freon compressor is driven directly from the Brayton engine rotating group through a permanent magnet coupling. The system utilizes an in-line combustor which is operated to burn natural gas at atmospheric pressure by virtue of the associated sub-atmospheric Brayton cycle engine. Ambient stoichiometric air is drawn through an associated recuperator where it is preheated before being introduced into the combustor. Compressor discharge gas is also cycled through the recuperator and used as diluent to provide added flow and the desired turbine inlet temperature. Waste heat is used to power a boiler for the Freon in the Rankine cycle side, and this converted energy is used to drive a second turbine providing added power to the Freon compressor. A boiler feed pump is included which also serves as a starting mechanism for the rotating assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

Space conditioning apparatus comprising: a Brayton cycle circuit including a combustor and a turbo-compressor comprising a turbine coupled to the output of the combustor for expanding combustor exhaust to sub-atmospheric levels and driving an associated compressor mounted together with the turbine o

Space conditioning apparatus comprising: a Brayton cycle circuit including a combustor and a turbo-compressor comprising a turbine coupled to the output of the combustor for expanding combustor exhaust to sub-atmospheric levels and driving an associated compressor mounted together with the turbine on a single shaft; a recuperator connected to the outlet of the turbine for preheating combustion air supplied to the combustor, the exhaust gas flow outlet of the recuperator being connected to the inlet of the compressor; a Rankine cycle heat pump circuit comprising indoor and outdoor heat exchanger coils, a centrifugal compressor coupled to a compressor drive shaft for directing refrigeration fluid through the coils, and a transfer valve for selecting operation of the system in the heating or cooling mode; means for deriving power to drive the Rankine cycle compressor from the Brayton cycle circuit including a bidirectional coupling for driving one shaft from the other shaft; means for developing useful power from waste heat in the Brayton cycle circuit including a boiler interconnecting the Brayton cycle circuit and the Rankine cycle circuit to vaporize the refrigeration fluid from waste heat in the Brayton cycle circuit, and a second turbine coupled to the compressor shaft and connected to the boiler to be driven by the pressurized refrigeration fluid; and means for starting the apparatus prior to firing off the combustor by pumping refrigerant fluid to the second turbine to initiate rotation of the turbo-compressor through the coupling.