Scroll-Type Expander And Fluid Machine Provided With Same

Abstract

To provide a scroll-type expander having a relatively simple structure, small energy loss, and high durability and reliability. A pump-integrated expander 27 includes an expansion unit 50 configured as a scroll-type expander. In the expansion unit 50, a working fluid passage 51 e extending from a suction port 51 c open to the outside to an inlet 51 d open to an expansion chamber 54 is formed in a base 51 a of a fixed scroll 51. A working fluid supplied from the outside is guided to the expansion chamber 54 by the working fluid passage 51 e. In order to receive a thrust force acting on an orbiting scroll 53 and to prevent the rotation of the orbiting scroll 53, a ball-coupling anti-rotation mechanism 56 using balls as rolling members is disposed between a stepped face 52 c of an expander housing 52 and a base 53 a of the orbiting scroll 53.

1 . A scroll-type expander that has a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll, each of which has a scroll portion rising upright on a base thereof, the scroll-type expander generating a drive force by causing a working fluid to expand in an expansion chamber formed between the scroll portion of the fixed scroll and the scroll portion of the orbiting scroll, the scroll-type expander comprising:
 a working fluid passage that is formed in the base of the fixed scroll and that extends from a suction port open to the outside to an inlet open to the inside of the expansion chamber so as to guide the working fluid, which has flowed into the suction port, to the expansion chamber; and   an anti-rotation mechanism that is disposed between a fixed portion of the scroll-type expander and the base of the orbiting scroll, that receives a thrust force acting on the orbiting scroll, and that prevents a rotation of the orbiting scroll,   wherein the anti-rotation mechanism is a ball-coupling anti-rotation mechanism using balls as rolling members.   
     
     
         2 . The scroll-type expander according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-rotation mechanism includes:
 a fixed-side plate that is attached to the fixed portion;   an orbiting-side plate that is attached to the base of the orbiting scroll; and   balls that are rollably supported between the fixed-side plate and the orbiting-side plate,   wherein annular race grooves having an arc-like groove cross-section are formed in at least the fixed-side plate of the fixed-side plate and the orbiting-side plate and the balls roll along the annular race grooves.   
     
     
         3 . The scroll-type expander according to  claim 2 , wherein a gap allowing elastic deformation of the orbiting-side plate is formed between the base of the orbiting scroll and the orbiting-side plate. 
     
     
         4 . The scroll-type expander according to  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid passage extends in a substantially horizontal direction from the suction port and is connected to the inlet. 
     
     
         5 . The scroll-type expander according to  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid passage includes a vertical passage extending in a substantially vertical direction from the suction port and a horizontal passage extending in a substantially horizontal direction from the vertical passage and connected to the inlet. 
     
     
         6 . A fluid machine in which a scroll-type expander and a pump unit that is driven with a drive force generated from the scroll-type expander so as to draw in and discharge a working fluid are integrated as a unified body,
 wherein the scroll-type expander has a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll, each of which has a scroll portion rising upright on a base thereof, and generates the drive force by causing the working fluid to expand in an expansion chamber formed between the scroll portion of the fixed scroll and the scroll portion of the orbiting scroll,   wherein the scroll-type expander includes:
 a working fluid passage that is formed in the base of the fixed scroll and that extends from a suction port open to the outside to an inlet open to the inside of the expansion chamber so as to guide the working fluid, which has flowed into the suction port, to the expansion chamber; and 
 an anti-rotation mechanism that is disposed between a fixed portion of the scroll-type expander and the base of the orbiting scroll, that receives a thrust force acting on the orbiting scroll, and that prevents a rotation of the orbiting scroll, 
   wherein the anti-rotation mechanism is a ball-coupling anti-rotation mechanism using balls as rolling members.   
     
     
         7 . A fluid machine in which a scroll-type expander and a power generation unit that is driven with a drive force generated from the scroll-type expander so as to generate electric power are integrated as a unified body,
 wherein the scroll-type expander has a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll, each of which has a scroll portion rising upright on a base thereof, and generates the drive force by causing the working fluid to expand in an expansion chamber formed between the scroll portion of the fixed scroll and the scroll portion of the orbiting scroll,   wherein the scroll-type expander includes:
 a working fluid passage that is formed in the base of the fixed scroll and that extends from a suction port open to the outside to an inlet open to the inside of the expansion chamber so as to guide the working fluid, which has flowed into the suction port, to the expansion chamber; and 
 an anti-rotation mechanism that is disposed between a fixed portion of the scroll-type expander and the base of the orbiting scroll, that receives a thrust force acting on the orbiting scroll, and that prevents a rotation of the orbiting scroll, 
   wherein the anti-rotation mechanism is a ball-coupling anti-rotation mechanism using balls as rolling members.