Heat pump

Abstract

A refrigeration apparatus ( 7200 ) includes a heat pump circuit ( 7201 ) and a power generation circuit ( 7100 ). The power generation circuit ( 7100 ) includes an evaporator ( 701 ) including a first and a second heat exchanger ( 710 a, 710 b ), a turbine ( 702 ), a condenser ( 703 ) and a pump ( 704 ). The first heat exchanger ( 710 a ) absorbs heat rejected from the heat pump circuit ( 7201 ) into a power generation circuit ( 7100 ) while the second heat exchanger ( 710 b ) further heats the fluid. The power generation circuit ( 7100 ) includes a bypass ( 707 ) which allows a portion of working liquid to enter the turbine ( 702 ) without passing through the evaporator ( 701 ). A heat pump ( 704 ) with similar bypass is also disclosed. Also disclosed are dual stage turbine design and a nozzle ( 10300 ) for a turbine which includes two fluid paths ( 1011, 1014 ) that adapted to receive and mix the liquid and vapour streams of working fluid, so that the liquid working fluid is vaporized by the heat from the vapour working fluid.

1 .- 40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . A heat pump comprising a first working fluid circuit including, in order, a compressor, a first turbine, a condenser, a receiver, a throttling means, and an evaporator, the circuit further including a bypass for transferring a proportion of a working fluid within said working fluid circuit from upstream and of said throttling means to said first turbine without passing through the throttling means or the evaporator, the first turbine including a nozzle which, in use, mixes working fluid vapor and liquid working fluid so that at least part of the liquid working fluid is vaporized by heat from the working fluid vapor, the heat pump further including a second working fluid circuit including a boiler, a second turbine, a condenser, a receiver and a first working fluid pump, wherein the heat pump is further provided with a heat exchange means for transferring heat from the working fluid exiting the first turbine to the working fluid entering the boiler. 
   
   
       42 . The heat pump of  claim 41 , wherein the first working fluid circuit includes a third turbine between the evaporator and the compressor. 
   
   
       43 . The heat pump of  claim 42 , including a second working fluid pump to pump liquid working fluid through the bypass means. 
   
   
       44 . The heat pump of  claim 41 , wherein the nozzle includes a first flow path for the working fluid vapor and a second flow path, which is concentric with the first flow path, for the liquid working fluid. 
   
   
       45 . The heat pump of  claim 44 , wherein the first fluid path has a converging section adapted to accelerate the stream of working fluid vapor to a mean velocity below the local speed of sound. 
   
   
       46 . The heat pump of  claim 45 , wherein substantially all of the liquid working fluid flowing through the nozzle is vaporized with heat from the working fluid vapor flowing through the nozzle. 
   
   
       47 . The heat pump of  claim 41 , wherein the first fluid path has a converging/diverging section adapted to accelerate the stream of working fluid vapor to a mean velocity above the local speed of sound. 
   
   
       48 . The heat pump of  claim 47 , wherein substantially all of the liquid working fluid flowing through the nozzle is vaporized with heat from the working fluid vapor flowing through the nozzle. 
   
   
       49 . The heat pump of  claim 41 , wherein the second working fluid circuit includes a bypass for transferring a portion of the working fluid from upstream of the boiler means to the second turbine without passing through the boiler means, and the second turbine includes a nozzle which, in use, mixes the liquid working fluid with the working fluid vapor so that at least part of the liquid working fluid is vaporized by heat from the working fluid vapor.