Hybrid thermodynamic compressor
11754061 · 2023-09-12
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
F04B39/0022
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B17/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B19/22
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B35/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03G4/045
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F02G2280/50
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B9/125
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B39/0094
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B2015/0818
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B35/01
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B9/123
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B9/1295
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B35/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B9/1372
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F04B35/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03G4/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B15/08
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B17/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B19/22
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B19/24
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B35/01
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B39/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B9/125
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F04B9/129
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
Hybrid thermodynamic compressor (8) for compressing a working fluid, the compressor comprising a volumetric cylinder (1) and a thermal cylinder (2) connected to one another mechanically by a connecting rod system (5) and pneumatically by a connecting circuit (12) optionally with a valve (4), a reversible electric machine (6), the volumetric cylinder comprising a first piston (81) that separates a first chamber (Ch1) from a second chamber (Ch2), the thermal cylinder comprising a second piston (82) which separates a third chamber (Ch3) from a fourth chamber (Ch4), which can be brought into thermal contact with a heat source (21) to thereby generate a cycled movement in the thermal cylinder, and concerning the connecting rod system (5), the first and second pistons are connected to a rotor (52) by first and second respective connecting rods (91,92), with a predetermined angular offset (θd), the volumetric cylinder being equipped with non-return valves (61,62), the power produced in the thermal cylinder being transmitted to the volumetric cylinder essentially via the connecting circuit and not via the rod system.
Claims
1. A hybrid thermodynamic compressor for compressing a working fluid, the compressor comprising: one volumetric cylinder and one thermal cylinder connected to each other mechanically by a connecting rod system and pneumatically by a connection circuit; and one reversible electric machine connected to the connecting rod system, the volumetric cylinder comprising a cylindrical enclosure with a first piston which separates a first chamber from a second chamber, the thermal cylinder comprising a cylindrical enclosure with a second piston which separates a third chamber, called cold chamber, from a fourth chamber, which can be brought into thermal contact with a heat source to become a hot chamber, and thus generate a cycled movement in the thermal cylinder, the connection circuit connecting the second chamber with the third chamber, wherein the first piston is connected to a rotor by a first connecting rod assembly, and the second piston is connected, directly or indirectly, to said rotor by a second connecting rod assembly, with a predetermined angular offset provided by the connecting rod system between a cycle of the first piston and the cycle of the second piston, the volumetric cylinder being equipped with an inlet path with a first non-return valve and an outlet path with a second non-return valve, to deliver the working fluid at a second pressure, and wherein the power produced in the thermal cylinder is transmitted to the volumetric cylinder essentially via the connection circuit and not via the connecting rod system.
2. The hybrid thermodynamic compressor according to claim 1, wherein the same working fluid is used in the thermal cylinder and in the volumetric cylinder.
3. The hybrid thermodynamic compressor according to claim 1, wherein: in an electric compression mode, the heat source is deactivated and the electric machine operates as a motor and in a thermal compression mode in which the heat source is activated and pulses a reciprocating cycle in the thermal cylinder, the movement of the first piston being imparted by the reciprocating movement of the working fluid in the connection circuit, and in which the connecting rod system transmits only an auxiliary portion of the thermodynamic power and the electric machine operates as a generator.
4. The hybrid thermodynamic compressor according to claim 3, wherein in a mixed mode, the movement of the first piston in the volumetric cylinder is caused by the heat cycle supply in the first chamber and by the electric machine operating as a motor.
5. The hybrid thermodynamic compressor according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined angular offset is between 80° and 120°, the volumetric cylinder first piston cycle being in delay of this predetermined offset phase shift relative to the thermal cylinder second piston.
6. The hybrid thermodynamic compressor according to claim 1, wherein an axis (Y1) of the volumetric cylinder and an axis (Y2) of the thermal cylinder are arranged substantially perpendicular to each other, and wherein a complementary offset is provided based on the position of the respective connecting crankpins of the first connecting rod assembly of the second connecting rod assembly.
7. The hybrid thermodynamic compressor according to claim 1, wherein the volumetric cylinder is used as a single-acting cylinder, and wherein only the first chamber is used for sucking and discharging while the second chamber operates only in a reciprocating mode with the third chamber through the connection circuit, the inlet path with the first non-return valve and the outlet path with the second non-return valve being coupled to the first chamber.
8. The hybrid thermodynamic compressor according to claim 1, wherein the volumetric cylinder is used as a double-acting cylinder, with the connection circuit which then selectively connects via a valve the second chamber with the third chamber, and wherein a transfer passage is provided from the first chamber to the second chamber, the first chamber being equipped with the inlet path with the first non-return valve, to admit the working fluid at a first pressure, the transfer passage comprising a buffer stock volume with a third non-return valve between the first chamber and the buffer stock and a fourth non-return valve between the buffer stock and the second chamber, the outlet path with the second non-return valve being coupled to the second chamber.
9. A thermodynamic boiler, for supplying/removing calories in/from a room of interest, comprising a hybrid thermal compressor according to claim 1, the thermal compressor forming a compression function of a reversible heat pump type loop comprising at least one general working fluid circuit, an expander and at least one outdoor unit.
10. The thermodynamic boiler according to claim 9, said boiler being a cogeneration machine with electricity production, wherein: in an electric compression mode, the heat source is deactivated and the electric machine operates as a motor, and in a thermal compression mode, the heat source is activated and pulses a reciprocating cycle in the thermal cylinder, the movement of the first piston being imparted by the reciprocating movement of the working fluid in the connection circuit, and in which the connecting rod system transmits only an auxiliary portion of the thermodynamic power and the electric machine operates as a generator.
11. The hybrid thermodynamic compressor according to claim 2, wherein the working fluid is CO.sub.2.
12. The hybrid thermodynamic compressor according to claim 1, wherein the thermal cylinder comprises a cylinder sleeve and the fourth chamber is fluidly coupled to the third chamber through a fluid circuit outside the cylinder sleeve via a regenerator.
13. The hybrid thermodynamic compressor according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined angular offset phase shift is substantially equal to 95°.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Other aspects, aims and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of a non-limiting example. The invention will also be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
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DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
(10) In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements. For reasons of clarity of the presentation, certain elements are not necessarily represented to scale.
(11) Overview, Compressor Heat Pump
(12)
(13) Such a heat pump system as illustrated herein comprises a heat transfer fluid circuit 85, a first heat exchanger 87 and a second heat exchanger 88, and an expander 86 which plays a reverse role of the compressor. In the case of a reversible system, the expander 86 can be doubled, each portion operative in one direction and inoperative in the other. A four-way valve 89 allows reversing the direction of circulation of the fluid in the exchangers and the expander. In a first configuration, the system takes calories from the first heat exchanger 87 and returns these calories to the second heat exchanger 88, and in the opposite configuration, the system takes calories from the second heat exchanger 88 and returns these calories to the first heat exchanger 87.
(14) Particular interest is given to the case of a boiler incorporating a heat pump function, with calorie sampling on an outdoor unit and delivery of these calories in a room of interest or a house of interest.
(15) In this case, the proposed system is based on a hybrid thermal compressor 8 which will be further described in detail, with a general working fluid circuit (or ‘refrigerant’), an expander and at least one outdoor unit. The boiler comprises the hybrid thermal compressor 8 for the heat pump type loop and can also deliver calories to the room/house of interest from a burner.
(16) Generally, the compressor is equipped with an inlet path with a first non-return valve 61 (called in the art “inlet valve”) and an outlet path with a second non-return valve 62 (called in the art “discharge valve”). Relative to the primary circuit 85, the compressor sucks the working fluid through the inlet path at a first pressure Pin and delivers the working fluid at a second pressure Pout through the outlet.
(17) Compressor—Overview—Volumetric and Thermal Cylinders
(18) The hybrid thermal compressor 8 comprises a volumetric cylinder 1, a thermal cylinder 2 and a reversible electric machine 6, (M/G for: Motor Generator, both functions being possible).
(19) As will be seen further, the volumetric cylinder 1 and a thermal cylinder 2 are interconnected mechanically by a connecting rod system 5 and pneumatically by a connection circuit 12.
(20) With regard to the volumetric cylinder 1, it comprises a first piston denoted 81 which separates a first chamber denoted Ch1 from a second chamber denoted Ch2, which will be dealt with later. The first piston denoted 81 is displaced in a cylindrical sleeve 71 of revolution about a first axis Y1.
(21) The volumetric cylinder 1 forms at least one volumetric type compressor stage for the primary circuit 85 of the heat pump system.
(22) With regard to the thermal cylinder 2, it comprises a cylindrical enclosure with a second piston denoted 82 which separates a third chamber denoted Ch3, called cold chamber, from a fourth chamber denoted Ch4. The first piston denoted 81 is displaced in a cylindrical sleeve 72 of revolution about a second axis Y2.
(23) The third chamber Ch3 can be cooled by a cooling circuit, symbolically represented in the figures by the reference 26.
(24) The fourth chamber Ch4 can be brought into thermal contact with a heat source 21 to become a hot chamber, and thus generate a cycled movement in the thermal cylinder.
(25) The third and fourth chambers Ch3, Ch4 are brought into fluid communication by a circuit external to the cylinder sleeve in which the second piston 82 is displaced. In particular, a regenerator 29 is provided which maintains a temperature gradient between the cold portion and the hot portion.
(26) The axis Y2 is vertical with the fourth chamber disposed above the third chamber Ch3.
(27) Outside the cylinder 72, a passage is provided allowing the fluid to flow from the third chamber to the fourth and vice versa. More specifically, at the top of the fourth chamber Ch4, there is provided an inlet outlet orifice of the fluid, denoted 23, then an annular passage 24 in the hot part up to the regenerator 29.
(28) The passage continues below the regenerator through an annular passage 25 in the cold portion, a passage which opens from below into the cold chamber. At this location, the passage is also connected to an external inlet outlet orifice, denoted 27.
(29) The constitution and operation of such a thermal regenerative compressor is described in the document WO2014/202885 issued by the applicant and the teachings of these documents will be resumed herein with regard to the principle and operation of such a thermal regenerative compressor.
(30) The difference relative to this reference is that herein, in the cold chamber Ch3, there is not distinct suction inlet and discharge outlet, but a single coupling to the outside which successively sucks and discharges in a reciprocating movement of fluid in the connection circuit 12.
(31) Thanks to the regenerator 29, the temperature difference between the fourth chamber Ch4 and the third chamber Ch3 remains greater than 500° C. Typically the fourth chamber is at a temperature close to 600° while the third chamber remains around 50° due to the effect of the cooling system. It is this temperature gradient, and its temporal maintenance, which actuates the thermal regenerative compressor.
(32) The hot source 21 is a burner, for example a gas burner. However, it should be noted that the hot source can burn any other type of fuel in addition to gas. In other configurations, the hot source can be from a heat source of another type, solar or other, without combustion. A non-fossil fuel is preferred.
(33) The connection circuit 12 selectively connects the second chamber Ch2 with the third chamber Ch3. A valve 4, optional in some cases as will be seen later, allows selectively closing or opening the fluid passage between the second chamber Ch2 and the third chamber Ch3. The valve 4 can be a solenoid valve or a manually operated valve.
(34) It is noted that the connection circuit makes the working fluid flow between the second and third chambers Ch2, Ch3, in addition it is the same fluid which goes into the fourth chamber Ch4.
(35) Furthermore, advantageously, it is also the same fluid which is used in the first chamber Ch1. It is noted that thanks to the use of a single fluid, even if there are leaks at the segmentation 78, this does not cause any problem except a very slightly affected performance, this consideration is true both for the thermal cylinder than for the volumetric cylinder.
(36) It is also the same fluid which is used in the primary circuit 85 of the heat pump system discussed in
(37) In addition to the primary circuit 85, there may be auxiliary circuits (represented partially and in dotted lines in
(38) A gas can be selected as a working fluid, preferably but not exclusively, CO2 (R744 in the jargon of heating/refrigeration engineers). However, the principle of the present invention can be applied to other working fluids.
(39) Connecting Rod System and Mechanical Arrangement
(40)
(41)
(42) The connecting rod system 5 mechanically interconnects the volumetric cylinder 1 and the thermal cylinder 2.
(43) In this first example (
(44) The inlet path with the first non-return valve 61 and the outlet path with the second non-return valve 62 are both coupled to the first chamber Ch1.
(45) Compressor—Connecting Rod System
(46) The connecting rod system 5 comprises a rotor 5 which is rotatably mounted on a compressor casing about the axis X. This rotor 5 forms a crankshaft, but transmits little mechanical effort, unlike a conventional crankshaft.
(47) This rotor 5 is formed as a rotating portion with cranks; more specifically, crankpins are disposed at a distance from the axis X. A first crankpin is fastened on the rotor at a distance T1/2 from the axis X; on this first crankpin is fixed the foot of a first connecting rod 91. A second crankpin is fastened on the rotor at a distance T2/2 of the axis X; on this second crankpin the foot of a second connecting rod 92 is fastened.
(48) The first connecting rod 91 is connected by the head thereof to a first rod secured to the first piston 81. The second connecting rod 92 is connected by the head thereof to a second rod secured to the second piston 82.
(49) T1 is therefore the stroke of the first piston 81. The cubic capacity of the volumetric cylinder is T1×S1, S1 being the section of the first sleeve 71.
(50) T2 is therefore the stroke of the second piston 82. The cubic capacity of the thermal cylinder is T2×S2, S2 being the section of the second sleeve 72.
(51) At the bottom dead centre of the first piston, the residual volume of the first chamber Ch1 is very small, less than 5% of the cubic capacity, preferably less than 2% of the cubic capacity.
(52) At the top dead centre of the first piston, the residual volume of the second chamber Ch2 can also be small, less than 5% of the cubic capacity, preferably less than 2% of the cubic capacity.
(53) However, in a particular single-stage configuration, as the second chamber Ch2 is not used for the volumetric compression function, the residual volume of the second chamber Ch2 at the top dead centre of the first piston may be smaller, for example between 5% and 15% of the cubic capacity.
(54) At the bottom dead centre of the second piston 82, the residual volume of the third chamber Ch3 is very small, less than 4% of the cubic capacity, preferably less than 2% of the cubic capacity. At the top dead centre of the first piston, the residual volume of the fourth chamber Ch4 is also very small, less than 4% of the cubic capacity, preferably less than 2% of the cubic capacity.
(55) The first piston is connected to the rotor by the first connecting rod assembly 91, in
(56) The second piston is connected (indirectly via a belt in the schematic “flat” case of
(57) In Figures, the rotation occurs in a clockwise direction for the two connecting rod assemblies. The volumetric cycle 1 in delay by a certain angle relative to thermal cylinder 2.
(58) The presence of an angular offset denoted θd between the cycle of the first piston and the cycle of the second piston is observed.
(59) This angular offset 6 d is predetermined and is inherently provided by the linkage system. The predetermined phase shift Od will generally be selected to be comprised between 80° and 120°. The inventors have discovered that the optimum is close to 95°, the volumetric cycle being in delay of this predetermined phase shift relative to the thermal cylinder. Such an offset allows obtaining an optimum efficiency.
(60) In
(61) Whereby, with this right angle arrangement, one can have a rotating rotor with respective crankpins for each cylinder at close or even identical angular positions, with a complementary offset of the crankpins which is then expressed in the form θd—90 (see
(62) Generally, there is a real angular offset close to 90° and therefore the physical offset of the first and second crankpins remains relatively small, thus the machining of such a part remains conventional and at controlled cost.
(63) In a variant, instead of having a part with conventional cranks, it is possible to have two eccentrics associated with each other and adjustable in the angular position relative to each other in order to be able to adjust the predetermined angular offset Od depending on the application.
(64) Pneumatic Circuit—Single-Stage
(65) In the single-stage version, in
(66) In single-acting, the second chamber Ch2 operates only in the reciprocating mode with the third chamber Ch3 through the connection circuit 12.
(67) In this configuration, the first chamber Ch1 sucks in the working fluid through the inlet path at a first pressure Pin and delivers the working fluid at a second pressure Pout through the outlet path.
(68) Two-Stage
(69) In this configuration (see
(70) A transfer passage 7 connects the first chamber Ch1 to the second chamber Ch2. The first chamber is equipped with the inlet path with the first non-return valve 61 already mentioned, to admit the working fluid at a first pressure Pin.
(71) It is the second chamber Ch2 to which the outlet path is connected with the second non-return valve 62.
(72) The transfer passage 7 comprises a buffer stock volume 3. The transfer passage comprises a third non-return valve 63 for transferring the fluid from the first chamber Ch1 to the buffer stock 3 and a fourth non-return valve 64 for transferring the fluid from the buffer stock 3 to the second chamber Ch2. The outlet path with the second non-return valve 62 is connected to the second chamber.
(73) The buffer stock 3 has a sufficient volume so that the volume introduced and withdrawn during a cycle of one revolution of the rotor represents an amount of fluid of at most 10% of the volume present in the buffer stock 3.
(74) Operation and Control
(75) The compressor is referred to as a “hybrid”; indeed, it can operate according to at least the following two operating modes, electric and thermal.
(76) Electric mode: this is an electric compression mode in which the heat source 21 is deactivated, the electric machine operates as a motor and the valve 4 (if it is present) is closed. In this electric mode, there is no power produced in the thermal cylinder. It should be noted that the thermal cylinder 2 does not have a significant brake, the second piston operates in simple displacer mode.
(77) Thermal and cogeneration mode: this is a thermal compression mode in which the valve 4 is open (if present), the heat source 21 is activated and pulses a reciprocating cycle in the thermal cylinder 2, the movement of the first piston 81 being imparted by the reciprocating movement of the working fluid in the connection circuit, and in which the connecting rod system 5 transmits only an auxiliary portion of the thermodynamic power and the electric machine operates as a generator.
(78) In this configuration, the power produced in the thermal cylinder 2 is transmitted to the volumetric cylinder 1 essentially via the connection circuit 12 and not via the connecting rod system 5. Typically, more than 60% of the power produced in the thermal cylinder 2 can be transmitted to the volumetric cylinder 1 through the connection circuit 12.
(79) According to one configuration, the control logic can impose a binary choice, namely exclusively either the electric mode or the thermal mode.
(80) According to another configuration, the control logic can use a mixed mode with any contribution from the thermal source and the electrical source. It is thus possible to take advantage of a local electric surplus supplemented by calories from the thermal source, all this in order to move the compressor.
(81)
(82) As explained in more detail in the aforementioned document WO2014/202885, the surface embraced by the curve 94 (ABCD cycle) of
(83) In
(84) In the single-stage, the pressures Pmin and Pmax do not have a constraint relationship relative to the pressure values Pin and Pout.
(85) In the thermal mode, the thermal power and therefore the amplitude P2max—P2min, as well as the section and the stroke of the piston are dimensioned so that the thermal power is greater than or equal to the pumping power to be developed in the volumetric cylinder 1.
(86) That is to say: W2>W1, where
(87) W1 represents the pumping power developed in the volumetric cylinder 1 and W2 represents the thermodynamic power developed in the thermal cylinder 2. The power generated by the thermal cylinder is proportional to its average pressure (P2max+P2min)/2.
(88) If W6 expresses the motive power of the electric machine 6, then in the thermal mode, it can be express: W1=W2+W6,
(89) And by virtue of W2>W1, we have W6 negative, and therefore the electric machine 6 which operates as a generator. W6 represents the power of cogeneration.
(90) In the electric mode, W2=0 (source 21 stopped and valve 4 closed) and it is the electric machine 6 which operates as a motor and consequently W1=W6. The controller of the electric machine adjusts the control signals to reach a speed setpoint value, for example on the operation of the volumetric cylinder 1.
(91) In the single-stage configuration, the valve 4 may or may not be present. In the electric mode, the chambers Ch3 and Ch4 can be used as compensation chambers in relation to the second chamber Ch2. Otherwise we can also provide a sufficient residual volume of Ch2 at the top port point of the first piston 81.
(92) In
(93) The pressure P1 evolves between Pin and P3. The pressure P2 evolves between P3 and Pout.
(94)
(95) A sequential opening of the valves 61 then 62 then 63 then 64 is observed, with a temporal overlap which can be greater or lesser according to the respective calibrations of the non-return valves.
(96) At the top of the Figure, the respective positions of the pistons 81, 82 show the predetermined angular offset θd, with herein a delay of 90° C. of the volumetric cylinder.
(97) On the example of
(98) On the example of
(99) Other Considerations
(100) In general, for the pressures, Pin is typically comprised between 15 and 40 bars and Pout is typically between 60 and 90 bars.
(101) The cubic capacities can be selected depending on the power requirement. In some typical cases, the cubic capacity of the thermal cylinder can be comprised between 1 litre and 5 litres. According to one configuration, the cubic capacity of the volumetric cylinder can be comprised between 1 litre and 5 litres.
(102) In some typical cases, the stroke T1 is greater than T2. In some other typical cases, the section S1 is greater than S2.
(103) In some typical cases, the buffer stock volume 3 can be comprised between 10 litres and 25 litres.
(104) it is noted that in the two-stage version, the sealing stresses at the segmentation 78 can be released because the average pressures on either side of the piston 81 are equal.