Integrated Power, Cooling, and Heating Device and Method Thereof

Abstract

A heating, cooling, and power device includes a shaft and an expander coupled to the shaft to rotate the shaft. A first conduit is coupled to the expander and configured to transport a working fluid. A heater is coupled through the first conduit to the expander. A heat pump is coupled to the shaft. An electric machine is coupled to the shaft to produce electricity or mechanical shaft power. A recuperator includes a second conduit coupled between the expander and recuperator. The heat pump includes a first heat exchanger including a second conduit coupled between the expander and the first heat exchanger. An expansion device includes a third conduit coupled between the first heat exchanger and the expansion device. A second heat exchanger includes a fourth conduit coupled between the expansion device and second heat exchanger. A compressor is coupled to the shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making a heating, cooling, and power device, comprising:
 coupling a first heater to receive a first working fluid and transfer thermal energy from the first working fluid to a second working fluid;   providing a second heater coupled to receive the second working fluid from the first heater and provide additional thermal energy to the second working fluid;   coupling an expander to receive the second working fluid from the first heater and second heater;   coupling an electrical machine to the expander;   mechanically coupling a heat pump to the expander and electrical machine through a shaft;   mechanically coupling a clutch to the shaft between the expander and electrical machine; and   engaging the clutch to transfer mechanical energy from the expander to the heat pump, wherein the second working fluid includes thermal energy from the first heater and second heater that powers the expander.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the heat pump includes providing a valve to switch a mode of the heat pump. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the heat pump includes coupling a compressor to the expander through the shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further including coupling a battery to the electrical machine. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second working fluid flows from the expander to a condenser of the heat pump. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further including providing a fan blowing on the condenser to transfer thermal energy from the second working fluid to an atmosphere surrounding the condenser. 
     
     
         7 . A method of making a heating, cooling, and power device, comprising:
 providing a second heater to provide thermal energy to a second working fluid;   coupling an expander to receive the second working fluid from the second heater;   coupling an electrical machine to the expander;   mechanically coupling a heat pump to the expander and electrical machine through a shaft;   mechanically coupling a clutch to the shaft between the expander and electrical machine; and   engaging the clutch to transfer mechanical energy from the expander to the heat pump.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further including providing the heat pump by providing a condenser coupled to receive the second working fluid from the expander. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further including coupling the second heater to receive the second working fluid from the condenser. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further including coupling a first heater to receive the second working fluid from the condenser in series with the second heater. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first heater is configured to transfer thermal energy from a first working fluid to the second working fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further including electrically coupling a battery to the electrical machine. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further including providing the heat pump by coupling a compressor to the shaft. 
     
     
         14 . A heating, cooling, and power device, comprising:
 a second heater configured to add thermal energy to a second working fluid;   an expander coupled to receive the second working fluid from the second heater;   an electrical machine coupled to the expander through a shaft;   a heat pump coupled to the expander and electrical machine through the shaft; and   a clutch coupled to the shaft between the expander and electrical machine.   
     
     
         15 . The heating, cooling, and power device of  claim 14 , wherein the heat pump includes a condenser coupled to receive the second working fluid from the expander. 
     
     
         16 . The heating, cooling, and power device of  claim 15 , wherein an output of the condenser is coupled to an input of the second heater to transfer the second working fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The heating, cooling, and power device of  claim 16 , further including a first heater coupled to receive the second working fluid from the condenser in series with the second heater. 
     
     
         18 . The heating, cooling, and power device of  claim 14 , wherein the second heater is a gas heater. 
     
     
         19 . The heating, cooling, and power device of  claim 14 , further including a battery electrically coupled to the electrical machine. 
     
     
         20 . The heating, cooling, and power device of  claim 14 , wherein the heat pump includes a compressor coupled to the shaft. 
     
     
         21 . A heating, cooling, and power device, comprising:
 a second heater configured to add thermal energy to a second working fluid;   an expander coupled to receive the second working fluid from the second heater;   an electrical machine coupled to the expander through a shaft; and   a heat pump coupled to the expander and electrical machine through the shaft.   
     
     
         22 . The heating, cooling, and power device of  claim 21 , wherein the heat pump includes a condenser coupled to receive the second working fluid from the expander. 
     
     
         23 . The heating, cooling, and power device of  claim 22 , wherein an output of the condenser is coupled to an input of the second heater to transfer the second working fluid. 
     
     
         24 . The heating, cooling, and power device of  claim 23 , further including a first heater coupled to receive the second working fluid from the condenser in series with the second heater. 
     
     
         25 . The heating, cooling, and power device of  claim 21 , wherein the second heater is a gas heater.