COMPANDER

Abstract

A compander comprises a bull gear connected to a generator a first pinion member comprising at least one first pinion provided on one side of the bull gear; and a second pinion member comprising at least one second pinion provided on the other side of the bull gear, wherein a first compressor and a first expander are mounted on the first pinion of the first pinion member, and a second compressor and a second expander are mounted on the second pinion of the second pinion member.

Claims

1. A compander comprising: a bull gear connected to a generator; a first pinion member comprising at least one first pinion provided on one side of the bull gear; and a second pinion member comprising at least one second pinion provided on the other side of the bull gear, wherein a first compressor and a first expander are mounted on the first pinion of the first pinion member, and a second compressor and a second expander are mounted on the second pinion of the second pinion member.

2. The compander of claim 1, wherein the first compressor having a relatively low pressure and low temperature layout and the first expander having a relatively low pressure and low temperature layout are mounted on the first pinion, and the second compressor having a relatively high pressure and high temperature layout and the second expander having a relatively high pressure and high temperature layout are mounted on the second pinion.

3. The compander of claim 2, wherein the pressure and temperature of a working fluid increase from the first compressor toward the second compressor.

4. The compander of claim 2, wherein the pressure and temperature of the working fluid decrease from the second expander toward the first expander.

5. The compander of claim 2, wherein the first expander and the second expander are disposed on one side of the first pinion and one side of the second pinion to be adjacent to the generator, and the first compressor and the second compressor are disposed on the other side of the first pinion and the other side of the second pinion where the first compressor and the second compressor relatively do not interfere with the generator.

6. The compander of claim 2, wherein the first compressor and the second compressor are disposed on one side of the first pinion and one side of the second pinion to be adjacent to the generator, and the first expander and the second expander are disposed on the other side of the first pinion and the other side of the second pinion where the first expander and the second expander relatively do not interfere with the generator.

7. The compander of claim 1, wherein the first pinion member comprising the first pinion and at least one third pinion is disposed in multiple stages on the one side of the bull gear, and the second pinion member comprising the second pinion and at least one fourth pinion is disposed in multiple stages on the other side of the bull gear.

8. The compander of claim 7, wherein the first compressor and the first expander mounted on the first pinion disposed in multiple stages on the one side of the bull gear and a third compressor and a third expander of the third pinion are provided in a number of stages equal to the number of stages of the second compressor and the second expander mounted on the second pinion disposed in multiple stages and a fourth compressor and a fourth expander disposed on the fourth pinion, so that the first compressor and the first expander, the third compressor and the third expander, the second compressor and the second expander, and the fourth compressor and the fourth expander are disposed on both sides of the first pinion and the second pinion by similar pressure levels.

9. The compander of claim 8, wherein the first and third expanders and the second and fourth expanders are disposed on one side of the first pinion and one side of the second pinion to be adjacent to the generator, and the first and third compressors and the second and fourth compressors are disposed on the other side of the first pinion and the other side of the second pinion where the first and third compressors and the second and fourth compressors relatively do not interfere with the generator.

10. The compander of claim 8, wherein the first and third compressors and the second and fourth compressors are disposed on one side of the first pinion and one side of the second pinion to be adjacent to the generator, and the first and third expanders and the second and fourth expanders are disposed on the other side of the first pinion and the other side of the second pinion where the first and third expanders and the second and fourth expanders relatively do not interfere with the generator.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0042] FIG. 1A schematically illustrates the planar arrangement of a gearbox having compressors and expanders in a general integral geared (IG) type compander;

[0043] FIG. 1B schematically illustrates the front arrangement of the gearbox having the compressors and the expanders in the general IG type compander;

[0044] FIG. 2A schematically illustrates the planar arrangement of compressors and expanders in a compander according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0045] FIG. 2B schematically illustrates the front arrangement of the compressors and the expanders in the compander according to the embodiment of the present disclosure:

[0046] FIG. 3A schematically illustrates the planar arrangement of compressors and expanders according to another embodiment in the compander according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0047] FIG. 3B schematically illustrates the front arrangement of the compressors and the expanders according to another embodiment in the compander according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0048] FIG. 4A schematically illustrates the planar arrangement of compressors and expanders according to another embodiment in the compander according to the embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0049] FIG. 4B schematically illustrates the front arrangement of the compressors and the expanders according to another embodiment in the compander according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

MODE FOR INVENTION

[0050] Various changes may be made to embodiments the present disclosure, and the present disclosure may have various embodiments which will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments according to concepts of the present disclosure are not construed as limited to the described embodiments, and include all changes, equivalents, or substitutes that do not depart from the spirit and technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0051] The terms used in the present disclosure are for the purpose of describing particular non-limiting example embodiments only and are not intended to be limiting. The singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0052] The term “include” or “has” used in the present disclosure is to indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or a combination thereof described in the specifications, and does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or a combination thereof.

[0053] All of the terms used herein including technical or scientific terms have the same meanings as those generally understood by an ordinary skilled person in the related art unless they are defined otherwise. The terms defined in a generally used dictionary should be interpreted as having meanings that are the same as or similar with the contextual meanings of the relevant technology and should not be interpreted as having ideal or exaggerated meanings unless they are clearly defined in the present disclosure.

[0054] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings for explaining companders 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0055] FIG. 2A schematically illustrates the planar arrangement of compressors and expanders in a compander 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0056] FIG. 2B schematically illustrates the front arrangement of the compressors and the expanders in the compander 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0057] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the compander 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a generator 110, a bull gear 120, a pinion member 150, a compression member 160, and an expander member 170.

[0058] The bull gear 120 may be connected to the generator 110, and the pinion member 150 on which the compression member 160 and the expander member 170 are mounted may be provided on both sides of the bull gear 120 with respect to an axis of the generator 110.

[0059] The pinion member 150 may include a first pinion 151 and a second pinion 152.

[0060] The first pinion 151 may be disposed in one or more stages on one side of the bull gear 120. The second pinion 152 may be disposed in one or more stages on the other side of the bull gear 120.

[0061] For example, one first pinion 151 and one second pinion 152 may be respectively disposed on one side and the other side of the bull gear 120 as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B as swell as in FIGS. 3A and 3B to be described later, or two first pinions 151 and two second pinions 152 may be respectively disposed on one side and the other side of the bull gear 120 as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B to be described later.

[0062] The compression member 160 may consume power (electricity) to compress a working fluid and increase pressure and may be disposed on one of both sides of each of the first pinion 151 and the second pinion 152.

[0063] The expander member 170 may generate power (electricity) by expanding a high-temperature, high-pressure working fluid and may be disposed on the other one of both sides of each of the first pinion 151 and the second pinion 152, together with the compression member 160.

[0064] Specifically, as in the present disclosure, one first pinion 151 may be configured on one side of the bull gear 120, and one second pinion 152 may be configured on the other side of the bull gear 120. In this case, the compression member 160 may include a first compressor 161 and a second compressor 162 configured on the one first pinion 151 and the one second pinion 152, respectively. In addition, the expander member 170 may include a first expander 171 and a second expander 172 configured on the one first pinion 151 and the one second pinion 152, respectively.

[0065] In addition, the first compressor 161 of the compression member 160 and the first expander 171 of the expander member 170 may be mounted on the first pinion 151, and the second compressor 162 of the compression member 160 and the second expander 172 of the expander member 170 may be mounted on the second pinion 152.

[0066] The compander 100 of the present disclosure may be configured to have a layout in which the pressure and temperature of a working fluid increase from the first compressor 161 toward the second compressor 162. In addition, it may be configured to have a layout in which the pressure and the temperature of the working fluid decrease from the second expander toward the first expander 171.

[0067] That is, the first compressor 161 having a relatively low pressure and low temperature layout and the first expander 171 having a relatively low pressure and low temperature layout may be mounted on the first pinion 151. In addition, the second compressor 162 having a relatively high pressure and high temperature layout and the second expander 172 having a relatively high pressure and high temperature layout may be mounted on the second pinion 152.

[0068] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first expander 171 and the second expander 172 may be respectively mounted on one side of the first pinion 151 and one side of the second pinion 152 so that they are adjacent to the generator 110. Accordingly, the first compressor 161 and the second compressor 162 may be respectively mounted on the other side of the first pinion 151 and the other side of the second pinion 152 where they relatively do not interfere with the generator 110.

[0069] Therefore, as described above, in the compander 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first compressor 161 and the first expander 171 corresponding to low temperature and low pressure are mounted on the same pinion member 150, specifically the first compressor 151. In addition, the second compressor 162 and the second expander 172 corresponding to high temperature and high pressure are mounted on the same pinion member 150, specifically, the second pinion 152. Accordingly, the pressure applied to an impeller of the first compressor 161 and the pressure applied to a wheel of the first expander 171 become similar, and the pressure applied to an impeller of the second compressor 162 and the pressure applied to a wheel of the second expander 172 become similar. Since the pressure applied to the impeller of the pressure member and the pressure applied to the wheel of the expander member 170 become similar as described above, pressure distribution, which determines thrust, becomes similar around the bull gear 120, thus reducing the thrust.

[0070] In addition, since the compression member 160 and the expander member are disposed on one pinion gear, it is possible to make the distribution of pressure applied to left and right ends of the bull gear 120 similar and accordingly make a leakage mechanism similar for a seal located in the middle, specifically, a dry gas seal (DGS) or a labyrinth seal. Therefore, the same seal can be used.

[0071] In addition, even in a transitional operation region of the compander 100, the pressure applied to both ends of one pinion is similar. Therefore, the amount of unbalance of thrust in the transitional operation region can be significantly reduced.

[0072] In addition, since a compressor and an expander are disposed at both ends of one pinion as described above, the power consumed by the first compressor 161 and the power generated by the first expander 171 cancel each other out, and the power consumed by the second compressor 162 and the power generated by the second expander 172 cancel each other out. Therefore, only net power of the first expander 171 or the second expander 172 excluding the power consumed by the first compressor 161 or the second compressor 152 is finally transmitted to each of the first pinion 151 and the second pinion 152. Accordingly, this reduces a corresponding mechanical loss. For example, it is possible to achieve a breakthrough efficiency improvement that reduces machine loss by more than 40% and increases the efficiency of the entire sCO.sub.2 engine by about 1.5%.

[0073] FIG. 3A schematically illustrates the planar arrangement of compressors and expanders according to another embodiment in the compander 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0074] FIG. 3B schematically illustrates the front arrangement of the compressors and the expanders according to another embodiment in the compander 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0075] First, the compander 100 of the present disclosure in FIGS. 3A and 3B discloses the same configuration as the compander 100 of FIGS. 2A and 2B. However, they are different in mounting positions of a compression member 160 and an expander member 170 on a pinion member 150. Therefore, in the description of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the description of the previous embodiment may apply to the same configurations and structures as those of the previous embodiment. In addition, configurations and structures different from those of the previous embodiment may be described below.

[0076] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the compander 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has all of the elements of the compander 100 according to the previous embodiment, but is different from the previous embodiment in the mounting positions of the compression member 160 and the expander member 170 on the pinion member 150.

[0077] That is, when the expander member 170 interferes with the generator 110 due to the arrangement of a shaft and other elements of the generator 110, the expander member 170 may be mounted at a position where it does not interfere with the generator 110, that is, may be mounted on the other side of the pinion member to additionally secure a space.

[0078] Specifically, a first compressor 161 and a second compressor 162 may be disposed on one side of a first pinion 151 and one side of a second pinion 152 so that they are adjacent to the generator 110, and a first expander 171 and a second expander 172 may be disposed on the other side of the first pinion 151 and the other side of the second pinion 152 where they relatively do not interfere with the generator 110.

[0079] That is, the first compressor 161 having a relatively low pressure and low temperature layout and the first expander 171 having a relatively low pressure and low temperature layout may be mounted on the first pinion 151. Here, the first compressor 161 may be mounted on one side of the first pinion 151 which is adjacent to the generator 110, and the first expander 171 may be mounted on the other side of the first pinion 151.

[0080] In addition, the second compressor 162 having a relatively high pressure and high temperature layout and the second expander 172 having a relatively high pressure and high temperature layout may be mounted on the second pinion 152. Here, the second compressor 162 may be mounted on one side of the second pinion 152 which is adjacent to the generator 110, and the second expander 172 may be mounted on the other side of the second pinion 152.

[0081] Therefore, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the first compressor 161 and the second compressor 162 may be respectively mounted on the one side of the first pinion 151 and the one side of the second pinion 152 to be adjacent to the generator 110.

[0082] FIG. 4A schematically illustrates the planar arrangement of compressors and expanders according to another embodiment in the compander 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0083] FIG. 4B schematically illustrates the front arrangement of the compressors and the expanders according to another embodiment in the compander 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0084] First, the compander 100 of the present disclosure in FIGS. 4A and 4B discloses the same configuration as the compander 100 of FIGS. 3A and 3B. However, it is different from the previous structures in that a mounting member 150 on which a compression member 160 and an expander member 170 are mounted is mounted in plural numbers. Therefore, in the description of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the description of the previous embodiments may apply to the same configurations and structures as those of the previous embodiments. In addition, configurations and structures different from those of the previous embodiments may be described below.

[0085] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a first pinion 151 and a second pinion 152 may be disposed in two or more stages on one side and the other side of the bull gear 120, respectively. Here, a first compressor 161 and a first expander 171 may be provided in a number of stages equal to the number of stages of a second compressor 162 and a second expander 172, so that they are disposed on both sides of the first pinion 151 and the second pinion 152 by similar pressure levels.

[0086] Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, four pinions, two on each of both sides of the bull gear 120 with respect to the generator 110, may be provided (in the order of a first pinion 151, a third pinion 153, a fourth pinion 154 and a second pinion 152). Here, the first pinion 151 and the third pinion 153 may be disposed on one side of the bull gear 120, and the fourth pinion 154 and the second pinion 152 may be disposed on the other side of the bull gear 120.

[0087] In addition, a compressor and an expander may be mounted on both sides of each pinion (the first through fourth pinions 154), respectively.

[0088] Here, the lowest pressure and lowest temperature compressor (the first compressor 161) and the lowest pressure and lowest temperature expander (the first expander 171) may be disposed on the first pinion 151. In addition, the highest pressure and highest temperature compressor (the second compressor 162) and the highest pressure and highest temperature expander (the second expander 172) may be disposed on the second pinion 152.

[0089] In addition, the second lowest pressure and second lowest temperature compressor (the third compressor 163) and the second lowest pressure and second lowest temperature expander (the third expander 173) may be disposed on the third pinion 153, and the second highest pressure and second highest temperature compressor (the fourth compressor 164) and the second highest pressure and second highest temperature expander (the fourth expander 174) may be disposed on the fourth pinion 154.

[0090] In addition, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the compression member 160 becomes high temperature and high pressure from the first compressor 161 toward the fourth compressor 164, and the expander member 170 becomes low temperature and low pressure from the first expander 171 toward the fourth compressor 164.

[0091] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

EXPLANATION OF SIGNS

[0092] 100: compander [0093] 110: generator [0094] 111 axis [0095] 120: bull gear [0096] 150: pinion member [0097] 151: first pinion [0098] 152: second pinion [0099] 153: third pinion [0100] 154: fourth pinion [0101] 160: compression member [0102] 161: first compressor [0103] 162: second compressor [0104] 163: third compressor [0105] 164: fourth compressor [0106] 170: expander member [0107] 171: first expander [0108] 172: second expander [0109] 173: third expander [0110] 174: fourth expander