Liquid ring rotor

Abstract

Liquid ring systems are known for compressing gasses. However, known systems include seals on moving surfaces that require high precision manufacturing. A liquid ring rotor is provided and methods of operating the same. A liquid ring rotor for a liquid ring system is provided and comprises a shaft, and one or more fluid diverting members. The shaft includes a hollow interior portion, the hollow interior portion having a first opening and a second opening, the second opening disposed in a surface that extends along a length of the shaft and spaced apart from the first opening in the length of the shaft, wherein the shaft is configured to enable a working fluid to pass along the shaft through the hollow interior portion between the openings.

1 . A liquid ring rotor, for a liquid ring system, comprising:
 a shaft with a hollow interior portion, the hollow interior portion having a first opening and a second opening, the second opening disposed in a surface that extends along a length of the shaft and spaced apart from the first opening in the length of the shaft, wherein the shaft is configured to enable a working fluid to pass along the shaft through the hollow interior portion between the openings; and   one or more fluid diverting members extending at least partially radially from the shaft and fixedly attached thereto, wherein the one or more fluid diverting members are configured to divert fluid along the shaft when rotated about the shaft in use.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid ring rotor of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid diverting members are configured to divert fluid along the shaft with one or more helical flow paths around the shaft when the one or more fluid diverting members are rotated about the shaft in use, and/or wherein the fluid diverting members comprise a first set of fluid diverting members and a second set of fluid diverting members, the first set of fluid diverting members configured to divert a working fluid with a first helical flow path, and the second set of fluid diverting members configured to divert the working fluid with a second helical flow path that mirrors the rotational direction and/or direction of propagation of the first helical flow path, and/or wherein the first and second sets of fluid diverting members are configured to divert the working fluid toward the second opening or the first and second sets of fluid diverting members are configured to divert the working fluid away from the second opening. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid ring rotor of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid diverting members comprise:
 a first plurality of plates, each extending at least partially radially from the shaft and fixedly attached to the shaft between the first opening and the second opening, wherein each plate of the first plurality of plates includes at least one plate opening therethrough, and wherein each plate of the first plurality of plates is spaced apart from other plates of the first plurality of plates;   a first vane set comprising one or more vanes disposed between adjacent plates of the first plurality of plates; and   a first chamber set comprising at least one chamber, wherein a first chamber of the chamber set is bounded at least by a pair of adjacent plates of the first plurality of plates and one or more vanes of the first vane set, the first chamber configured to admit liquid through a first chamber opening disposed further from the shaft than the at least one plate opening of each plate, and wherein a plate opening of the at least one plate opening of each of the pair of adjacent plates opens into the first chamber.   
     
     
         4 . The liquid ring rotor of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid diverting members comprise:
 a second plurality of plates, each extending at least partially radially from the shaft and fixedly attached to the shaft in positions further from the first opening than the second opening is from the first opening, wherein each plate of the second plurality of plates includes at least one plate opening therethrough, and wherein each plate of the second plurality of plates is spaced apart from other plates of the second plurality of plates; and   a second vane set comprising one or more vanes, wherein each vane of the second vane set is impermeable to the working fluid, and wherein each vane of the second vane set extends between adjacent plates of the second plurality of plates and the shaft; and/or   wherein the at least one plate opening of the first plurality of plates has an overlapping area of zero with the at least one plate opening of another plate of the first plurality of plates and the at least one plate opening of the second plurality of plates has an overlapping area of zero with the at least one plate opening of another plate of the second plurality of plates.   
     
     
         5 . The liquid ring rotor of  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of plates is arranged to mirror an arrangement of the first plurality of plates about the second opening. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid ring rotor of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of plates includes at least three plates, and a first spacing between a first plate of the first plurality of plates and a second plate of the first plurality of plates is different to a second spacing between the second plate of the first plurality of plates and a third plate of the first plurality of plates. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid ring rotor of  claim 1 , wherein the vanes of each vane set are connected to the adjacent plates and the shaft to prevent the working fluid from bypassing said connections. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid ring rotor of  claim 1 , comprising a heat exchanger with a first port arranged to exchange the working fluid with the first opening of the shaft, such that in use the working fluid is able to pass between the hollow interior portion of the shaft and the heat exchanger, and wherein the heat exchanger is fixedly connected to the shaft to rotate with the shaft in use. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid ring rotor of  claim 8 , the rotor further comprising:
 a companion shaft with a companion hollow interior portion, the companion hollow interior portion having a companion first opening and a companion second opening, the companion second opening disposed in a surface that extends along a length of the companion shaft and spaced apart from the companion first opening in the length of the companion shaft, wherein the companion shaft is configured to enable the working fluid to pass along the companion shaft through the companion hollow interior portion between the openings, and wherein the companion first opening is arranged to exchange working fluid with a second port of the heat exchanger that is in fluid communication with the first port of the heat exchanger, such that in use the working fluid is able to pass between the companion hollow interior portion and the heat exchanger, and wherein the heat exchanger is fixedly connected to the companion shaft to rotate with the companion shaft in use;   a companion first plurality of plates, each extending at least partially radially from the companion shaft and fixedly attached to the companion shaft between the companion first opening and the companion second opening, wherein each plate of the companion first plurality of plates includes at least one plate opening therethrough, and wherein each plate of the companion first plurality of plates is spaced apart from other plates of the companion first plurality of plates and each plate opening of the companion first plurality of plates has an overlapping area of zero with the plate openings of another plate of the companion first plurality of plates; and   a companion first vane set comprising one or more vanes, wherein each vane of the companion first vane set is impermeable to the working fluid, and wherein each vane of the companion first vane set extends between adjacent plates of the companion first plurality of plates and the shaft.   
     
     
         10 . The liquid ring rotor of  claim 9 , the rotor further comprising:
 a companion second plurality of plates, each extending at least partially radially from the companion shaft and fixedly attached to the companion shaft in positions further from the companion first opening than the companion second opening is from the companion first opening, wherein each plate of the companion second plurality of plates includes at least one plate opening therethrough, and wherein each plate of the companion second plurality of plates is spaced apart from other plates of the companion second plurality of plates and each plate opening of the companion second plurality of plates has an overlapping area of zero with the plate openings of another plate of the companion second plurality of plates, and wherein the companion second plurality of plates is arranged to mirror an arrangement of the companion first plurality of plates about the companion second opening;   a companion second vane set comprising one or more vanes, wherein each vane of the companion second vane set is impermeable to the working fluid, and wherein each vane of the companion second vane set extends between adjacent plates of the companion second plurality of plates and the companion shaft; and/or   wherein the companion first plurality of plates includes at least three plates, and a first spacing between a first plate of the companion first plurality of plates and a second plate of the companion first plurality of plates is different to a second spacing between the second plate of the companion first plurality of plates and a third plate of the companion first plurality of plates.   
     
     
         11 . A liquid ring system arrangement, the arrangement comprising:
 the liquid ring rotor of claim  10 ;   a vessel configured to enclose a container and a companion container;   the container disposed inside the vessel and arranged to surround each edge of the plates of the first plurality of plates and each edge of the plates of the second plurality of plates, and wherein the container is configured to retain a sealing liquid;   the companion container disposed inside the vessel and arranged to surround each edge of the plates of the companion first plurality of plates and each edge of the plates of the companion second plurality of plates, and wherein the companion container is configured to retain a sealing liquid; and   an insulation wall disposed inside the vessel between the container and the companion container to reduce the direct flow of working fluid and/or thermal energy therebetween, such that a majority of working fluid and/or thermal energy passed between the container and the companion container is passed via the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         12 . The liquid ring system arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the vessel encloses one or more reservoirs to collect sealing liquid spillages from the container and/or companion container in use, and wherein a sealing liquid return system is configured to transport the spillage into the container and/or companion container. 
     
     
         13 . A method for operating a liquid ring rotor comprising:
 providing the liquid ring rotor of  claim 1 ; and   causing the liquid ring rotor to rotate about the shaft using a drive system.   
     
     
         14 . A method for operating a liquid ring system arrangement comprising:
 providing the liquid ring system arrangement of  claim 11 ; and   causing the liquid ring rotor to rotate about the shaft using a drive system.