US 11,859,549 B2
Thermodynamic apparatus
James William Spain, Barrow (GB)
Assigned to BAE SYSTEMS PLC, London (GB)
Appl. No. 17/907,420
Filed by BAE SYSTEMS plc, London (GB)
PCT Filed Mar. 16, 2021, PCT No. PCT/GB2021/050656
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 27, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/191588, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 20275068 (EP), filed on Mar. 27, 2020; and application No. 2004470 (GB), filed on Mar. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0122100 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. F02C 7/10 (2006.01); F02C 1/10 (2006.01); F25B 30/02 (2006.01)
CPC F02C 7/10 (2013.01) [F02C 1/10 (2013.01); F25B 30/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thermodynamic apparatus comprising:
a compressor module;
a turbine module; and
a regenerative heat exchanger;
wherein the compressor module, turbine module, and regenerative heat exchanger define a working fluid flow duct which extends, in series, through (i) a compressor module inlet to a compressor module outlet, (ii) a path through the regenerative heat exchanger, and (iii) a turbine module inlet to a turbine module outlet;
wherein each of the compressor module, turbine module, and regenerative heat exchanger are centered on a central axis, and arranged in series along the central axis such that the regenerative heat exchanger is provided between the compressor module and the turbine module;
wherein the compressor module comprises:
a first heat exchanger and a compressor module rotor, each provided in the working fluid flow duct, the first heat exchanger provided in flow series between the compressor module inlet and the compressor module rotor, and the compressor module rotor provided in flow series between the first heat exchanger and the compressor module outlet; and
a first heat transfer unit,
wherein the first heat exchanger is in heat transfer communication with the first heat transfer unit via a first main passage for a first heat transfer medium;
wherein the turbine module comprises
a second heat exchanger and a turbine module rotor, each provided in the working fluid flow duct, the second heat exchanger provided in flow series between the turbine module inlet and the turbine module rotor, the turbine module rotor provided in flow series between the second heat exchanger and the turbine module outlet, and
a second heat transfer unit,
wherein the second heat exchanger is in heat transfer communication with the second heat transfer unit via a second main passage for a second heat transfer medium.