| CPC F02C 7/10 (2013.01) [F02C 1/10 (2013.01); F25B 30/02 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A thermodynamic apparatus comprising:
a compressor module;
a turbine module;
a regenerative heat exchanger; and
a casing which extends around the compressor module, turbine module, and regenerative heat exchanger;
wherein the compressor module, the turbine module, and the regenerative heat exchanger are arranged in series along a central axis such that the regenerative heat exchanger is provided between the compressor module and the turbine module;
wherein the compressor module, the turbine module, and the regenerative heat exchanger define a working fluid flow duct which extends, in series, through
a compressor module inlet to a compressor module outlet,
a first path through the regenerative heat exchanger,
a turbine module inlet to a turbine module outlet,
a first intermediate duct provided in the turbine module to a second path through the regenerative heat exchanger, which is in heat transfer communication with the first path, and
a second intermediate duct provided in the compressor module to the compressor module inlet; and
wherein the compressor module and the turbine module each comprise an inlet plenum and an outlet plenum, the inlet plenum and outlet plenum of the compressor module being in fluid flow communication via a first sub-passage defined by a first portion of the working fluid flow duct, the inlet plenum and outlet plenum of the turbine module being in fluid flow communication via a second sub-passage defined by a second portion of the working fluid flow duct, each inlet plenum having an inlet for communication with a different source of heat transfer medium, and each outlet plenum having an outlet to exhaust the respective heat transfer medium.
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