초록 ▼

A compressor system has a compression stage, a coolant circuit and a refrigerant circuit. The compression stage compresses ambient air and generates compressed air and heat. A coolant removes heat from the compression stage and the heat is transferred from the coolant to a refrigerant. A refrigerant

A compressor system has a compression stage, a coolant circuit and a refrigerant circuit. The compression stage compresses ambient air and generates compressed air and heat. A coolant removes heat from the compression stage and the heat is transferred from the coolant to a refrigerant. A refrigerant expansion device is incorporated into the refrigerant circuit. The expansion device expands the pressurized refrigerant utilizing a rotary expander. Energy generated during refrigerant expansion is captured and used to drive components of the cooling system.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An air compressor system comprising: a compressor for receiving and compressing a supply of air; a lubricant circuit for delivering lubricant to said compressor to lubricate and cool components in said compressor, said lubricant moving from the compressor into a heat exchange

What is claimed is: 1. An air compressor system comprising: a compressor for receiving and compressing a supply of air; a lubricant circuit for delivering lubricant to said compressor to lubricate and cool components in said compressor, said lubricant moving from the compressor into a heat exchanger; and a refrigerant circuit for moving a refrigerant into said heat exchanger to cool the lubricant, refrigerant moving from said heat exchanger through a refrigerant expander, said refrigerant expander being driven by the refrigerant, and the refrigerant expander being utilized to drive a system component. 2. A method of operating a compressor system comprising: compressing a supply of air with a compressor; delivering lubricant to said compressor to lubricate and cool components in said compressor and moving lubricant from the compressor into a heat exchanger; and delivering refrigerant into said heat exchanger to cool the lubricant, refrigerant moving from said heat exchanger through a refrigerant expander, said refrigerant expander being driven by the refrigerant, and refrigerant expander being utilized to drive a system component. 3. The air compressor system as described in claim 1, wherein said refrigerant expander generates electrical power. 4. The air compressor system as described in claim 1, wherein said refrigerant expander drives at least one fan. 5. The air compressor system as described in claim 4, wherein said refrigerant expander electrically powers said at least one fan. 6. The air compression system as described in claim 4, wherein said at least one fan moves air over a condenser to cool said refrigerant. 7. The air compressor system as described in claim 1, wherein said refrigerant expander is a rotary expander. 8. An air compressor system comprising: a compressor; a coolant circuit having coolant in communication with said compressor and a heat exchanger; a refrigerant circuit having refrigerant in communication with said heat exchanger and a refrigerant expander, wherein said refrigerant expander expands said refrigerant to drive a system component; and wherein said refrigerant expander drives a fluid pump. 9. The air compressor system as described in claim 8, wherein said fluid pump is in said refrigerant circuit. 10. The method as recited in claim 2, comprising: e) moving fluid with said at least one component. 11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said fluid is air. 12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said fluid is said refrigerant. 13. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said step c) includes expanding said refrigerant using a rotary expander. 14. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said step c) includes generating electrical power with said rotating device.