Vane-type Compressors and Expanders with Minimal Internal Energy Losses

Abstract

Current piston based air-conditioning system compressors only have isentropic efficiencies near 50%. Making internal leakage and friction negligible, via detailed design of the vane machine, would almost halve power consumption. In addition, by recovering expansion energy that is normally wasted via an expander, the system Coefficient of Performance COP can be improved up to an additional 30%.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A rotating vane compressor operating on an air-conditioning, heat pump, or refrigeration cycle, wherein compression of a refrigerant fluid occurs within a stationary casing having a circular profile, and that contains a cylindrical rotor with essentially flat end faces, said rotor being driven via a shaft supported in bearings that receives power from an external energy source, said rotor being mounted in said casing such that a minimal clearance occurs at one point separating the inlet low pressure region and high pressure discharge region, said rotor containing a plurality of radial slots containing substantially rectangular vanes having a close fitting arrangement with adjacent components, and a profiled tip where touching said casing, said rotor being composed of hardened cylindrical discs mounted on the flat rotor ends that have a circular outer diameter on which a seal mounted in said casing rubs, said seal consisting of a circular sleeve having good wear properties with a fine cut or lap joint or if uncut a deformable shaped tip, pressed against said rotor mounted disc by a squeezed elastomeric ring, axial alignment of said rotor and said vanes with said casing being controlled via thrust bearings. 
     
     
         2 . A rotating vane machine operating on an air-conditioning, heat pump, or refrigeration cycle, wherein compression occurs in a compressor section and at least part of the expansion step occurs in an expander section, said compressor and expander sections being located axially relative to each other within a casing machined to provide separate compressor and expander cavities on assembly and having a smooth internal profile, said casing containing a cylindrical rotor being driven by a shaft supported in bearings that receives power from an external energy source, said rotor being mounted in said casing such that a minimal clearance occurs at one point for compressor and expander sections separating high pressure refrigerant fluid from low pressure refrigerant respectively, said rotor containing a plurality of radial slots containing substantially rectangular compressor and expander vanes having a close fitting arrangement with adjacent components and profiled tips where touching said casing, said rotor being composed of hardened cylindrical discs mounted on the flat rotor ends and another separating compressor and expander sections, on which seals mounted in said casing rub, said seals consisting of a circular sleeve having good wear properties with a fine cut or lap joint or if uncut a deformable shaped tip, pressed against said rotor circular discs by a squeezed elastomeric ring, axial alignment of said rotor and vanes with said casing being controlled via thrust bearings. 
     
     
         3 . A rotating vane compressor, or compressor component of a compressor/expander assembly, operating on an air-conditioning, heat pump, or refrigeration cycle, wherein compression of a refrigerant fluid occurs within a stationary casing having a non-circular profile, and that contains a cylindrical rotor with essentially flat end faces, said rotor being driven via a shaft supported in bearings that receives power from an external energy source, said rotor being mounted in said casing such that two minimal clearances occur separating the inlet low pressure region and high pressure discharge regions, said rotor containing a plurality of radial slots containing substantially rectangular vanes having a close fitting arrangement with adjacent components, and a profiled tip where touching said casing, said rotor being composed of hardened cylindrical discs mounted on the flat rotor ends that have a circular outer diameter on which a seal mounted in said casing rubs, said seal consisting of a circular sleeve having good wear properties with a fine cut or lap joint or if uncut a deformable shaped tip, pressed against said rotor mounted disc by a squeezed elastomeric ring, axial alignment of said rotor and said vanes with said casing being controlled via thrust bearings. 
     
     
         4 . A rotating vane expander operating on an air-conditioning, heat pump, or refrigeration cycle, wherein expansion of a refrigerant fluid occurs within a stationary casing having a circular profile, and that contains a cylindrical rotor with essentially flat end faces, said rotor providing energy to a shaft supported in bearings that gives power to an external energy system, said rotor being mounted in said casing such that a minimal clearance occurs at one point separating the inlet high pressure region and low pressure discharge region, said rotor containing a plurality of radial slots containing substantially rectangular vanes having a close fitting arrangement with adjacent components, and a profiled tip where touching said casing, said rotor being composed essentially of cylindrical discs mounted on the flat rotor ends that have a circular outer diameter on which a seal mounted in said casing rubs, said seal consisting of a circular sleeve having good wear properties with a fine cut or lap joint or if uncut a deformable shaped tip, pressed against said rotor mounted disc by a squeezed elastomeric ring, axial alignment of said rotor and said vanes with said casing being controlled via thrust bearings. 
     
     
         5 . The vane-type compressor of  claim 1 , in which the minimal clearance, vane edges, and clearance adjacent to the seals with elastomeric ring, is flooded by oil supplied from a shaft driven pump via orifices, said oil being controlled at a steady pressure via an appropriate relief valve that can allow for rpm changes of about a factor of ten, and where the oil can be cooled as needed to increase viscosity thus limiting excessive oil flow, and where sufficient oil is spread over the casing interior to promote hydrodynamic lubrication of vane tips for minimal friction. 
     
     
         6 . The vane-type compressor with integral expander of  claim 2 , in which the minimal clearance, vane edges, casing interior on which the vanes rub, and clearance adjacent to the seals with elastomeric ring, of both the compressor section and expander section, are flooded by oil supplied from a shaft driven pump via orifices, said oil being controlled at a steady pressure via an appropriate relief valve that can allow for rpm changes of about a factor of ten, and where the oil can be cooled as needed to limit excessive oil flow, and where sufficient oil is spread over the casing interior to promote hydrodynamic lubrication of vane tips for minimal friction. 
     
     
         7 . The vane-type compressor of  claim 3 , in which the minimal clearance, vane edges, casing interior on which the vanes rub, and clearance adjacent to the seals with elastomeric ring, is flooded by oil supplied from a shaft driven pump via orifices, said oil being controlled at a steady pressure via an appropriate relief valve that can handle rpm changes of about a factor of ten, and where the oil can be cooled as needed to limit excessive flow, and where sufficient oil is spread over the casing interior to promote hydrodynamic lubrication of vane tips for minimal friction. 
     
     
         8 . The vane-type expander of  claim 4 , in which the minimal clearance, vane edges, casing interior on which the vanes rub, and clearance adjacent to the seals with elastomeric ring, is flooded by oil supplied from a shaft driven pump via orifices, said oil being controlled at a steady pressure via an appropriate relief valve that can handle rpm changes of about a factor of ten, and where the oil can be cooled as needed to limit excessive flow, and where sufficient oil is spread over the casing interior to promote hydrodynamic lubrication of vane tips for minimal friction. 
     
     
         9 . A reversible heat pump with a compressor and expander, containing a 6-way reversing valve enabling the unit to function as a cooler or heater, as desired.