Compact energy cycle construction utilizing some combination of a scroll type expander, pump, and compressor for operating according to a rankine, an organic rankine, heat pump, or combined organic rankine and heat pump cycle

Abstract

A compact energy cycle construction that operates as or in accordance with a Rankine, Organic Rankine, Heat Pump, or Combined Organic Rankine and Heat Pump Cycle, comprising a compact housing of a generally cylindrical form with some combination of a scroll type expander, pump, and compressor disposed therein to share a common shaft with a motor or generator and to form an integrated system, with the working fluid of the system circulating within the housing as a torus along the common shaft and toroidally within the housing as the system operates.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A compact energy cycle construction that utilizes a working fluid in its operation, comprising:
 a compact housing of a generally cylindrical form,   a plurality of energy cycle devices disposed within said housing and interconnected to form an integrated system operable in accordance with an energy cycle, at least two of which energy cycle devices include a rotatable shaft shared thereby as a common shaft, and   said system effecting circulation of the working fluid in a torus within said housing as said system operates.   
     
     
         2 . The construction of  claim 1  wherein said energy cycle is one of a Rankine Cycle, an Organic Rankine Cycle, a Heat Pump Cycle, or a Combined Heat Pump and Organic Rankine Cycle. 
     
     
         3 . The construction of  claim 1  wherein said common shaft is hollow and includes a central passageway therethrough for the transit through said hollow shaft of the working fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The construction of  claim 3  including a heat transfer portion that employs a heat transfer fluid during its operation, said heat transfer portion disposed along said hollow shaft and including a heat transfer fluid conduit spirally wrapped about said hollow shaft, said conduit being spaced outwardly from said hollow shaft to define a space therebetween and having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and heat transfer fins disposed along said hollow shaft and said conduit in the space therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The construction of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of energy cycle devices includes a scroll type expander, a generator, and a pump, all sharing said common shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The construction of  claim 5  wherein said generator is disposed along said common shaft intermediate said expander and said pump. 
     
     
         7 . The construction of  claim 6  wherein said system operates in accordance with one of a Rankine Cycle or Organic Rankine Cycle. 
     
     
         8 . The construction of  claim 7  wherein said housing includes an outer working fluid passageway along the inside of said container housing between said expander and said pump, with condensation occurring along said passageway and evaporation occurring along the interior of said hollow shaft as said system operates. 
     
     
         9 . The construction of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of energy cycle devices includes a scroll type compressor, a motor, and an expander, all sharing said common shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The construction of  claim 9  wherein said motor is disposed along said common shaft intermediate said compressor and said expander. 
     
     
         11 . The construction of  claim 10  wherein said system operates in accordance with a Heat Pump Cycle. 
     
     
         12 . The construction of  claim 11  wherein said housing includes an outer working fluid passageway along the inside of said container housing between said compressor and said expander, with evaporation occurring along said passageway and condensation occurring along the interior of said hollow shaft as said system operates. 
     
     
         13 . The construction of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of energy cycle devices includes a scroll type compressor-expander, a generator/motor, and a pump-expander, all sharing said common shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The construction of  claim 13  wherein said generator/motor is disposed along said common shaft intermediate said compressor-expander and said pump-expander. 
     
     
         15 . The construction of  claim 14  wherein said system operates in accordance with a Combined Refrigeration and Rankine Cycle. 
     
     
         16 . The construction of  claim 15  wherein said housing includes an outer working fluid passageway along the inside of said container housing between said compressor-expander and said pump-expander, with intermediate condensation occurring along said passageway and high pressure evaporation occurring along the interior of said hollow shaft as said system operates. 
     
     
         17 . The construction of  claim 16  including a low pressure working fluid passageway construction between said compressor-expander and said pump-expander, said low pressure working fluid passageway construction including a passageway along which low pressure evaporation occurs as said system operates. 
     
     
         18 . The construction of  claim 17  wherein said low pressure passageway construction is disposed within a cool space and includes an internal spiral fin configuration along said passageway and an external fin configuration along said passageway construction. 
     
     
         19 . The construction of  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of energy cycle devices includes a scroll type compressor and a motor, sharing said common shaft, and a capillary tube. 
     
     
         20 . The construction of  claim 19  wherein said system operates in accordance with a Heat Pump Cycle. 
     
     
         21 . The construction of  claim 4  wherein said plurality of energy cycle devices includes a scroll type compressor-expander and a generator/motor, sharing said common shaft, and a capillary tube. 
     
     
         22 . The construction of  claim 19  wherein said system operates in accordance with a Combined Refrigeration and Organic Rankine Cycle. 
     
     
         23 . The construction of  claim 3 . wherein said container housing has an external fin array disposed about the periphery of said container housing. 
     
     
         24 . The construction of  claim 24  wherein said container housing has a generally cylindrical configuration and said external fin array includes a plurality of fins of a generally straight vertical fin configuration extending generally radially from said container housing. 
     
     
         25 . The construction of  claim 3  wherein said container housing includes an inner wall surface and an internal fin construction disposed about said inner wall surface. 
     
     
         26 . The construction of  claim 25  wherein said internal fin construction includes a spiral fin extending along said inner wall surface. 
     
     
         27 . The construction of  claim 3  including a fin system disposed in and along said central passageway of said hollow shaft. 
     
     
         28 . The construction of  claim 27  wherein said fin system includes a spiral fin extending along at least a portion of said central passageway. 
     
     
         29 . The construction of  claim 27  wherein said fin system includes a series of offset fins along at least a portion of said central passageway.