Valve apparatus

Abstract

A rotating valve apparatus including a cylindrical casing, a shaft arranged symmetrically in the casing, a member fixedly attached to the shaft and in close fit with the cylindrical casing, defining separated chambers within the casing, at least one outlet fixedly arranged along the circumference of the casing and a plurality of axially arranged inlets, each of which is constantly in fluid communication with a respective one of the separated chambers. The axially arranged inlets are alternately in fluid connection with the outlet fixedly arranged along the circumference of the casing in response to rotation of the shaft and the member with respect to the casing. The member has an elliptically shaped cross section.

1 . A valve apparatus, comprising:
 a cylindrical casing;   a shaft arranged symmetrically in said casing;   a member fixedly attached to said shaft and in close fit with said cylindrical casing, thereby defining separated chambers within the casing;   a plurality of axially arranged inlets, each of which being constantly in fluid communication with a respective one of said separated chambers; and   at least one outlet fixedly arranged along the circumference of said casing,   wherein the separated chambers and thereby the axially arranged inlets are alternately in fluid connection with a circumferential reference point of said at least one outlet in response to rotation of said shaft and said member with respect to said casing, and wherein said member has an elliptically shaped cross section.   
   
   
       2 . The valve apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said member is in close fit with said cylindrical casing in the plane of said elliptically shaped cross section. 
   
   
       3 . The valve apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said member is a plate. 
   
   
       4 . The valve apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said member is a slantingly cut solid cylinder having a diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the cylindrical casing. 
   
   
       5 . The valve apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve apparatus comprises a plurality of outlets fixedly arranged along the circumference of said casing. 
   
   
       6 . The valve apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said plurality is at least three, preferably at least four, and more preferably at least six. 
   
   
       7 . The valve apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve apparatus comprises a single outlet fixedly arranged along the circumference of said casing. 
   
   
       8 . A generator system for converting thermal energy to electric energy, comprising:
 the valve apparatus according to  claim 1 .   
   
   
       9 . The generator system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the generator system is a three-phase generator system; and   the valve apparatus comprises 3*N outlets fixedly arranged along the circumference of said casing, where N is an integer, preferably an even integer.   
   
   
       10 . The generator system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the generator system is a single-phase generator system; and   the valve apparatus comprises a single outlet fixedly arranged along the circumference of said casing.   
   
   
       11 . An electric power plant, comprising:
 the generator system according to  claim 8 .   
   
   
       12 . Use of the apparatus according to  claim 1  in a method or system for producing electric power. 
   
   
       13 . A valve apparatus, comprising:
 a cylindrical casing;   a shaft arranged symmetrically in said casing;   a member fixedly attached to said shaft and in close fit with said cylindrical casing, thereby defining separated chambers within the casing;   a plurality of axially arranged inlets, each of which being constantly in fluid communication with a respective one of said separated chambers; and   at least one outlet fixedly arranged along the circumference of said casing,   wherein the separated chambers and thereby the axially arranged inlets are alternately in fluid connection with a circumferential reference point of said at least one outlet in response to rotation of said shaft and said member with respect to said casing, and wherein the number of said chambers is at least four.   
   
   
       14 . The valve apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein
 said member comprises sidewalls extending axially and radially from the shaft to the casing, and end covers extending radially from the shaft to the casing and circumferentially between neighboring ones of said sidewalls; and   each of the chambers is delimited by two of said sidewalls, one of said end covers, and said cylindrical casing.   
   
   
       15 . A valve apparatus, comprising:
 a cylindrical casing;   a shaft arranged symmetrically in said casing;   a member fixedly attached to said shaft and in close fit with said cylindrical casing, thereby defining separated chambers within the casing;   a plurality of axially arranged inlets, each of which being constantly in fluid communication with a respective one of said separated chambers; and   a plurality of outlets fixedly arranged along the circumference of said casing,   wherein the separated chambers and thereby the axially arranged inlets are alternately in fluid connection with said plurality of outlets in response to rotation of said shaft and said member with respect to said casing, and wherein the number of said plurality of outlets fixedly arranged along the circumference of said casing is at least three.   
   
   
       16 . The valve apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the number of said plurality of outlets fixedly arranged along the circumference of said casing is at least six. 
   
   
       17 . A generator system for converting thermal energy to electric energy, comprising:
 the valve apparatus according to  claim 13 .   
   
   
       18 . The generator system according to  claim 17 , wherein
 the generator system is a three-phase generator system; and   the valve apparatus comprises 3*N outlets fixedly arranged along the circumference of said casing, where N is an integer, preferably an even integer.   
   
   
       19 . Use of the apparatus according to  claim 13  in a method or system for producing electric power. 
   
   
       20 . A valve apparatus, comprising:
 a cylindrical casing;   a shaft arranged symmetrically in said casing;   a member fixedly attached to said shaft and in close fit with said cylindrical casing, thereby defining separated chambers within the casing; and   a plurality of axially arranged inlets, each of which being constantly in fluid communication with a respective one of said separated chambers,   wherein said valve apparatus comprises a single outlet fixedly arranged along the circumference of said casing, and wherein he separated chambers and thereby the axially arranged inlets are alternately in fluid connection with a circumferential reference point of said single outlet in response to rotation of said shaft and said member with respect to said casing.   
   
   
       21 . The valve apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said single outlet extends along a major part of the circumference of said casing. 
   
   
       22 . A single-phase generator system for converting thermal energy to electric energy, comprising:
 the valve apparatus according to  claim 20 .   
   
   
       23 . Use of the apparatus according to  claim 20  in a method or system for producing electric power. 
   
   
       24 . An arrangement, comprising:
 at least two of the valve apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the members of the at least two valve apparatuses are fixedly attached to a single shaft and are adapted to be rotated simultaneously, optionally with a selected phase shift there in between.   
   
   
       25 . A method for producing electric power, the method comprising:
 providing a generator comprising a valve comprising a cylindrical casing, a shaft arranged symmetrically in said casing, a member fixedly attached to said shaft and in close fit with said cylindrical casing, thereby defining separated chambers within the casing, a plurality of axially arranged inlets, each of which being constantly in fluid communication with a respective one of said separated chambers, and at least one outlet fixedly arranged along the circumference of said casing, wherein the separated chambers and thereby the axially arranged inlets are alternately in fluid connection with a circumferential reference point of said at least one outlet in response to rotation of said shaft and said member with respect to said casing, and wherein said member has an elliptically shaped cross section; and   generating electric power with the generator.