Combustion engine waste heat powered air-conditioning system

Abstract

An air conditioning system in which a high-pressure refrigerant vapor turbine is driving a low-pressure high-speed centrifugal compressor both supported on liquid refrigerant hydrostatic journal bearings. Due to required turbine miniaturization, the turbine blades surface finish and blade accuracy are of critical importance in order to produce high turbine adiabatic efficiency.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioning system powered by waste heat of a combustion engine having a coolant pump, a radiator and a coolant flow control valve said air conditioning system comprising:
 A) refrigerant boiler in fluid communication with hot coolant exiting said combustion engine,   B) a hot coolant flow control valve adapted to control flow of the hot coolant to the refrigerant boiler,   C) a coolant return line for returning fluid exiting the refrigerant boiler to an inlet of the coolant pump,   D) a high-pressure refrigerant pump adapted to provide the refrigerant boiler with high-pressure refrigerant,   E) a low-pressure high-speed refrigerant compressor defining a low-pressure refrigerant vapor inlet and a high-pressure fluid refrigerant outlet,   F) a first high-pressure refrigerant vapor turbine, in vapor communication with the refrigerant boiler, driven by high-pressure refrigerant vapor produced by the refrigerant boiler and adapted to drive the refrigerant compressor,   G) a refrigerant condenser adapted to condense refrigerant vapor discharged by the first refrigerant vapor turbine and the refrigerant compressor, and   H) a refrigerant evaporator in high-pressure refrigerant fluid communication with the refrigerant compressor outlet and in low pressure refrigerant vapor communication with the low-pressure refrigerant compressor inlet and adapted to provide cooling of an enclosed space as a consequence of evaporation of evaporation to the high-pressure refrigerant,   
       wherein the high-pressure refrigerant vapor turbine and the low-pressure high-speed centrifugal compressor are both supported on liquid refrigerant hydrostatic journal bearings. 
     
     
         2 . The system as in  claim 1  wherein the high-pressure refrigerant pump is and electric powered pump. 
     
     
         3 . The system as in  claim 1  wherein the high-pressure refrigerant pump is an engine shaft powered pump. 
     
     
         4 . The system as in  claim 1  and also comprising a second refrigerant vapor turbine adapted to drive the high-pressure refrigerant pump. 
     
     
         5 . The system as in  claim 4  wherein the second refrigerant vapor turbine comprises a rotor supported on liquid refrigerant hydrostatic journal bearings. 
     
     
         6 . The system as in  claim 1  wherein the first refrigerant vapor turbine comprises a rotor supported on liquid refrigerant hydrostatic journal bearings. 
     
     
         7 . The system as in  claim 1  wherein the system is adapted to provide about 4 tons of air conditioning. 
     
     
         8 . The system as in  claim 1  wherein the first refrigerant vapor turbine is designed in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,286.