WO2011043761A1

WO2011043761A1 - Systems, devices, and/or methods to provide cooling

Info

Publication number: WO2011043761A1
Application number: PCT/US2009/059481
Authority: WO
Inventors: Victor Iannello
Original assignee: Victor Iannello
Priority date: 2009-10-05
Filing date: 2009-10-05
Publication date: 2011-04-14

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, and/or manufacture adapted for, and/or a method for, activities that can comprise, via a first evaporator (2015) of a heat engine subsystem, outputting a working fluid as a saturated vapor at a first temperature that is higher than ambient; and via a second evaporator (2060) of a heat pump subsystem, outputting said working fluid as a saturated vapor at a second temperature that is lower than ambient; wherein: said heat engine subsystem and said heat pump subsystem are integrated into a single thermodynamic cycle, said heat engine subsystem is adapted to supply work for said heat pump subsystem, and said heat engine subsystem and said heat pump subsystem are adapted to share a common condenser (2035) adapted to output said working fluid as a saturated fluid at a third temperature that approximates ambient.

Description

Systems, Devices, and/or Methods to Provide Cooling

Brief Description of the Drawings

[1] A wide variety of potential practical and useful embodiments will be more readily understood through the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings in which:

[2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an integrated thermodynamic cycle;

[3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of process for operating a solar-powered chiller;

[4] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a

compander; and

[5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a compander, taken at lines A-A of FIG. 3; and

[6] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method.

Detailed Description

[7] Certain exemplary embodiments relate to a solar-powered chiller (SPC) that can supply cold water and/or cold air for building air conditioning and/or other residential, commercial, and/or industrial uses. Solar thermal collectors, or other sources of thermal energy, can be used to supply the heat that creates a vapor that spins a turbine that can supply the shaft power for a refrigerant compressor in a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. At the heart of the system can be a hermetic compander (integrated compressor and turbine expander) that can be supported on magnetic bearings to reduce frictional losses, improve reliability, and/or eliminate contaminating and environmentally-hazardous lubricants. The SPC can feature an innovative thermodynamic cycle that can use a refrigerant such as R-134a as the working fluid for the compressor and turbine. R-134a has zero ozone depleting potential (ODP). Other potential refrigerants are: R-l 1, R- 12, R-22, and/or R-l 23, etc.. By using the SPC, the electrical power can be reduced from 0.6 kW per ton of cooling to 0.11 kW per ton of cooling, representing a reduction in input electrical power by a factor of 5.6. The SPC can be scalable to smaller and larger sizes.

[8] The SPC can be thought of as a combined heat engine and heat pump. This is shown graphically in Figure 1. A heat engine can produce mechanical power W_s by extracting heat (¾ from a high temperature source T and rejecting heat Q₀ to a lower temperature sink T₀. On the other hand, a heat pump used to provide cooling requires mechanical power W_s to extract heat Q_c from a low temperature source T_c and to reject heat Q₀ to a higher temperature sink T₀. Theoretically, if the low temperature T₀ of the heat engine is the same as the high temperature T₀ of the heat pump, the two cycles can be combined into an single integrated cycle in which no net shaft power is required.

[9] The SPC can use a refrigerant such as R-134a, R-l 1, R-12, R-22, and/or R-123, etc. as the working fluid because the vapor pressure is in a useful range for the temperatures of interest. As such, the heat engine can take the form of a Rankine cycle, in which mechanical power is produced by expanding a vapor through a turbine. On the other hand, the refrigeration cycle can take the form of a vapor compression cycle in which mechanical power is used to compress a vapor. Both cycles can need an evaporator and/or condenser. In the integrated cycle, the condenser can be shared so that only one condenser is required.

[10] An exemplary mode of operation of the SPC is described in FIG. 2, which along with Table 1 below, describes exemplary approximate flow rates, powers, and thermodynamic conditions throughout the system for an exemplary chiller sized for approximately 176 kW (approximately 50 tons). The exemplary flow rates and powers shown in the figure can vary proportionally with the capacity of the chiller. The chiller can include a compander, which can combine a turbine and compressor on a single shaft. [11] A fluid, such as water 2005, can be circulated between a solar collector 2010 and a high temperature evaporator 2015. Fluid 2005 can be heated by solar collector 2010 with an exemplary power of approximately 232 kW such that a working fluid (refrigerant) 2020 in high temperature evaporator 2015 boils at an exemplary temperature of approximately 95 °C (203 °F) and a pressure of approximately 3600 kPa (approximately 522 psia). The refrigerant vapor 2020 can leave evaporator 2015 where it can be admitted to a turbine 2025 of a compander 2030. At the exit of turbine 2025, the refrigerant 2020 can be at approximately 37.5 °C (approximately 100 °F) and/or approximately 950 kPa (approximately 13.8 psia) with a vapor quality of approximately 0.90. Expanding this refrigerant vapor 2020 can produce approximately 26 kW of shaft power W_s in compander 2030. The exhaust of turbine 2025 then can be led to condenser 2035 where it can be cooled to a liquid refrigerant 2020. The heat from condenser 2035 can be transferred via a water loop 2045 to a cooling tower 2050, or some other heat exchanger, where it can be rejected to ambient air. Some liquid refrigerant 2020 from condenser 2035 then can be sent via pump 2040 back to high temperature evaporator 2015, where it can boil, flow to the turbine 2025, and continue the cycle. This part of the cycle can produce approximately 26.2 kW of shaft power (W_s) in compander 2030 for use by compressor 2075, while approximately 4.9 kW (W_p) can be consumed by condensate pump 2040.

[12] The shaft power from turbine 2025 can be used to compress the refrigerant vapor 2020 to a pressure of approximately 950 kPa (approximately 13.8 psia) and a temperature of approximately 40.7 °C (approximately 105 °C), which represents a superheat of approximately 3.2 °C (approximately 5.8 °F). The superheated refrigerant vapor 2020 from compressor 2075 then can combine with the exhaust from turbine 2025 and can raise the quality of this exhaust from approximately 0.90 to approximately 0.96. This combined flow then can enter condenser 2035. Some liquid refrigerant 2020 from condenser 2035 can flow to an expansion valve 2055, where the pressure can be reduced from approximately 950 kPa

(approximately 13.8 psia) to approximately 360 kPa (approximately 52 psia). The throttling of pressure in expansion valve 2055 can reduce the temperature of the refrigerant 2020 from approximately 37.5 °C (approximately 99.5 °F) to approximately 5.8 °C (approximately 42.4 °F) and a quality of approximately 0.23. The two-phase refrigerant mixture 2020 then can flow to a low temperature evaporator 2060, where it can boil, which thereby can remove approximately 176 kW of heat from a water loop 2065. This part of the cycle can consume approximately 26.2 kW of shaft power and can produce approximately 176 kW (approximately 50 tons) of cooling to a cooling coil 2070.

[13] An exemplary embodiment of the SPC, because the shaft power that can be

derived from turbine 2025 can require only approximately 4.9 kW of shaft power (for pump 2040) to produce approximately 50 tons of cooling. An additional approximately 0.5 kW can be required for the magnetic bearing system of compander 2030. Therefore, the input power can be approximately (4.9+0.5) kW / 50 tons = 0.11 kW/ton.

[14] The following Table 1 lists values for several variables of process 2000 at various logical locations shown on FIG. 2:

Location Pressure (kPa) Temperature (C) Condition

A 3600 95.2 saturated vapor

B 950 37.5 quality = 0.90,

where quality is the vapor mass fraction

C 950 37.5 saturated liquid

D 360 5.8 quality = 0.23

E 360 5.8 saturated vapor

F 950 40.7 superheated vapor

G 950 37.5 quality = 0.96

H 3600 37.7 subcooled liquid [15] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a compander 4000 (also sometimes called a turboexpander), and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of that compander 4000, taken at lines A- A of FIG. 3. A first working fluid stream can entire compander 4000 at inlet 4100, spin turbine 4200, and exit at outlet 4300. A second working fluid stream can enter compander 4000 at inlet 4500, be guided by inlet guide vanes 4550, be compressed by compressor 4600, and exit at outlet 4700. Compressor 4600 can be located at one end portion of shaft 4400 and/or compander 4000 and turbine 4200 can be located at the other. The shaft or rotor 4400 of compander 4000 can be positioned and/or supported by two radial magnetic bearings, each of which can include a radial magnetic bearing rotor 4820 and a radial magnetic bearing stator 4840, one thrust bearing disk 4860 and corresponding stator 4830, and/or one auxiliary bearing 4850. Shaft 4400 can spin at approximately 40,000 rpm for the approximate conditions described in FIG. 2. By using magnetic bearings, no oil lubrication system is necessarily required. The magnetic bearings can improve the efficiency of compander 4000 by eliminating the viscous drag created by the oil lubricants. Compander 4000 can be hermetic, i.e., it does not require shaft seals to prevent the escape of refrigerant from compander 4000. Compander 4000 can achieve high speed operation without the need for a variable frequency drive (VFD).

[16] Other components of the SPC can include two evaporators, a condenser, an

expansion valve, and/or a cooling tower. All of those components are available and relatively inexpensive. The condenser and cooling tower can be about twice the size of the condenser and cooling tower of a conventional chiller of the same cooling capacity because heat can be rejected from the refrigeration as well as the heat engine parts of the cycle.

[17] The high temperature heat for the chiller can be supplied by radiant power from one or more solar collectors. Because the heat required from the collectors can be approximately 95 °C (200 °F), a relatively inexpensive "flat plate collector" design can be used. This type of collector is often used for solar-assisted space heating and hot water.

[18] To gauge the size of the chiller required, it can be helpful to know the solar

insolation of and/or the efficiency of the collector. Knowing this size and the cooling requirements of a typical building, we can more easily determine whether a roof-top collector is sufficient or additional solar collectors might be required.

[19] At sea level on a clear day, the amount of insolation for a surface facing the sun is approximately 1 kW/m2. This quantity typically varies throughout the day, and is essentially zero at night. For preliminary sizing of the collector, we can use this peak value because we can expect the peak demand in air conditioning will coincide with the peak in solar insolation (i.e., a sunny day). Typical solar collector efficiency is approximately 60%, i.e., approximately 60% of the solar flux is transferred to the water circulating in the collector. For an exemplary 50- ton chiller, the solar input required can be approximately 232 kW, and the size of the collector can be approximately 387 m2 (approximately 4160 ft2).

[20] We now can estimate the size of the building that can be cooled by an

approximately 50-ton chiller. The sizing of a chiller can be based on many factors, including construction materials, number of windows and doors, heat sources in the building, etc. However, a rule of thumb in the construction industry is that approximately 500 ft² of space can be cooled with each ton of air conditioning. Using this rule of thumb translates to a building size of

approximately 2323 m² (approximately 25,000 ft²) for a 50-ton chiller. For a single story building, this means that approximately 17% of the roof area can be covered with solar collectors. This means that a system of roof-top collectors can be sufficient.

[21] It can be possible to power the SPC on sources of thermal energy other than solar power. For instance, the chiller can be powered by geothermal energy whereby, instead of circulating water to a solar collector, a fluid can be circulated underground to absorb energy from an underground heat source. It also can be possible to power the SPC using low-grade waste heat that can be available from various industrial processes. Other examples include using steam from an industrial boiler or from a cogeneration electrical power plant. {Incorporate into claims?} In all cases, a fluid such as water can be circulated between the high temperature evaporator and the source of thermal energy.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 5000. At activity 5100, heat can be input to a heat engine subsystem, such as via a solar collector, geothermal collector, waste heat exchanger, etc., which can transfer that heat via a first heat transfer fluid, such as water, to a high temperature and/or first evaporator of the heat engine subsystem. At activity 5200, via the first evaporator, the input heat can be transferred to a working fluid, such as R-134a, which can be output from the first evaporator as a saturated vapor at a first temperature that is higher than ambient. At activity 5300, the saturated vapor can impact a turbine, thereby generating shaft work that can power a compressor adapted to compress a different (heat pump) stream of the working fluid. At activity 5400, the exhaust of the turbine can mix with the output of the compressor and then flow to a common condenser. At activity 5500, the condenser can remove sufficient heat from the working fluid (via, e.g., a second heat transfer fluid, such as a water loop flowing through a cooling tower or the like) to condense the working fluid to a liquid, a first (heat engine) portion of which can be pumped back to the first evaporator to continue that cycle, and a second (heat pump) portion of which can flow through an expansion valve and then arrive at a low temperature and/or second evaporator. At activity 5600, via the second evaporator, the working fluid can cool a third heat transfer fluid, such as water, which can flow from the evaporator to a cooling coil, chiller, refrigerator, etc. At activity 5700, heated working fluid from the second evaporator can return to the compressor, thereby completing the heat pump subsystem. [23] Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, and/or manufacture adapted for, and/or a method for, activities that can comprise, via a first evaporator of a heat engine subsystem, outputting a working fluid as a saturated vapor at a first temperature that is higher than ambient; and via a second evaporator of a heat pump subsystem, outputting said working fluid as a saturated vapor at a second temperature that is lower than ambient; wherein: said heat engine subsystem and said heat pump subsystem are integrated into a single thermodynamic cycle, said heat engine subsystem is adapted to supply work for said heat pump subsystem, and said heat engine subsystem and said heat pump subsystem are adapted to share a common condenser adapted to output said working fluid as a saturated fluid at a third temperature that approximates ambient.

[24] Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, and/or manufacture can comprise:

a heat engine subsystem comprising a first evaporator that outputs a working fluid as a saturated vapor at a first temperature that is higher than ambient; and

a heat pump subsystem comprising a second evaporator that outputs said working fluid as a saturated vapor at a second temperature that is lower than ambient; and/or

a compander comprising:

a turbine adapted to receive said working fluid from said first evaporator and adapted to expand said working fluid to supply said work for said heat pump subsystem; and/or

a compressor adapted to receive said working fluid from said second evaporator and adapted to compress said working fluid using work supplied by said heat engine subsystem;

wherein: said working fluid output from said turbine is mixed with said working fluid output from said compressor before being delivered to said common condenser;

said turbine is mounted to a shaft of said compander;

said compressor is mounted to said shaft of said

compander;

said shaft is supported on magnetic bearings. said turbine is a radial inflow turbine; and/or said compressor is a centrifugal compressor; wherein:

said heat engine subsystem is adapted to supply work for said heat pump subsystem, and said heat engine subsystem and said heat pump subsystem are adapted to share a common condenser adapted to output said working fluid as a saturated fluid at a third temperature that approximates ambient;

said heat engine subsystem comprises a solar collector adapted to supply heat for evaporating said working fluid within said first evaporator; said heat engine subsystem comprises a geothermal heat collector adapted to supply heat for evaporating said working fluid within said first evaporator;

said heat engine subsystem comprises a waste heat collector adapted to supply heat for evaporating said working fluid within said first evaporator;

said heat pump subsystem comprises a chiller adapted to, via a stream of fluid, supply heat for evaporating said working fluid within said second evaporator, thereby cooling said stream of fluid;

said heat pump subsystem comprises a refrigerator adapted to, via a stream of fluid, supply heat for evaporating said working fluid within said second evaporator, thereby providing cooling for said stream of fluid; said heat pump subsystem comprises a cooling coil adapted to supply heat for evaporating said working fluid within said second evaporator;

said working fluid is R-134a; and/or

said heat engine subsystem and said heat pump subsystem are integrated into a single thermodynamic cycle.

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method for activities that can comprise:

via a first evaporator of a heat engine subsystem, outputting a working fluid as a saturated vapor at a first temperature that is higher than ambient;

via a second evaporator of a heat pump subsystem, outputting said working fluid as a saturated vapor at a second temperature that is lower than ambient;

supplying said work for said heat pump subsystem from said heat engine subsystem;

condensing said working fluid to said third temperature in said common condenser;

expanding said working fluid in a turbine of a compander to supply said work for said heat pump subsystem;

compressing said working fluid in a compressor of a compander using said work supplied by said heat engine subsystem;

expanding said working fluid received from said first evaporator in a turbine of a compander to supply said work for said heat pump subsystem;

using said work supplied by said heat engine subsystem, compressing said working fluid received from said second evaporator in a compressor of a compander, said compressor sharing a common shaft with said turbine; and/or mixing an output from said turbine with an output from said compressor to create an input for said common condenser;

wherein: said heat engine subsystem and said heat pump subsystem are integrated into a single thermodynamic cycle, said heat engine subsystem is adapted to supply work for said heat pump subsystem, and said heat engine subsystem and said heat pump subsystem are adapted to share a common condenser adapted to output said working fluid as a saturated fluid at a third temperature that approximates ambient;

said heat engine subsystem comprising a first evaporator that outputs a working fluid as a saturated vapor at a first temperature that is higher than ambient;

said heat pump subsystem comprising a second evaporator that outputs said working fluid as a saturated vapor at a second temperature that is lower than ambient; and/or

said compander comprises:

wherein:

said working fluid output from said turbine is mixed with said working fluid output from said compressor before being delivered to said common condenser;

said turbine is mounted to a shaft of said compander;

said compressor is mounted to said shaft of said compander;

said shaft is supported on magnetic bearings, said turbine is a radial inflow turbine; and/or said compressor is a centrifugal compressor; said heat engine subsystem is adapted to supply work for said heat pump subsystem, and said heat engine subsystem and said heat pump subsystem are adapted to share a common condenser adapted to output said working fluid as a saturated fluid at a third temperature that approximates ambient;

said working fluid is R-134a; and/or

Definitions

[26] When the following terms are used substantively herein, the accompanying

definitions apply. These terms and definitions are presented without prejudice, and, consistent with the application, the right to redefine these terms via amendment during the prosecution of this application or any application claiming priority hereto is reserved. For the purpose of interpreting a claim of any patent that claims priority hereto, each definition in that patent functions as a clear and unambiguous disavowal of the subject matter outside of that definition.

[27] a - at least one.

[28] activity - an action, act, step, and/or process or portion thereof.

[29] adapted - suitable, fit, and/or capable of performing a specified function.

[30] adapted to - suitable, fit, and/or capable of performing a specified

function.

[31] adapter - a device used to effect operative compatibility between

different parts of one or more pieces of an apparatus or system.

[32] ambient - pertaining to the status of the enveloping and/or surrounding environment.

[33] and/or - either in conjunction with or in alternative to.

[34] apparatus - an appliance or device for a particular purpose

[35] approximate - nearly the same as.

[36] approximately - about and/or nearly the same as.

[37] associate - to join, connect together, and/or relate.

[38] bearing - a device that supports, guides, and/or reduces the friction of motion between fixed and moving machine parts.

[39] can - is capable of, in at least some embodiments.

[40] cause -to bring about, provoke, precipitate, produce, elicit, be the reason for, result in, and/or effect.

[41] centrifugal - tending to move away from a center of rotation.

[42] chiller - a machine that removes heat from a liquid via a vapor- compression or absorption refrigeration cycle.

[43] coil - a heat exchanger.

[44] common - same and/or single.

[45] compander - a machine and/or device adapted to compress one stream of a vapor form of working fluid and to expand another stream of a vapor form of the working fluid. [46] compressor - a machine that decreases the volume of a vapor by the application of pressure.

[47] comprising - including but not limited to.

[48] condenser - a heat exchanger adapted to cool a fluid from a vapor state to a liquid state.

[49] configure - to make suitable or fit for a specific use or situation.

[50] connect - to join or fasten together.

[51 ] containing - including but not limited to.

[52] convert - to transform, adapt, and/or change.

[53] cooling - reducing a temperature of a substance.

[54] coupleable - capable of being joined, connected, and/or linked together.

[55] coupling - linking in some fashion.

[56] create - to bring into being.

[57] define - to establish the outline, form, and/or structure of.

[58] deliver - to transport, bring to, present, hand over, and/or transfer

possession.

[59] determine - to find out, obtain, calculate, decide, deduce, ascertain,

and/or come to a decision, typically by investigation, reasoning, and/or calculation.

[60] device - a machine, manufacture, and/or collection thereof.

[61] engine - a device that converts thermal energy to mechanical work.

[62] estimate - (n) a calculated value approximating an actual value; (v) to calculate and/or determine approximately and/or tentatively.

[63] evaporate - to apply heat to a fluid in sufficient amount to convert at least a portion of that fluid from its liquid state to its vapor state.

[64] evaporator - a heat exchanger.

[65] expand - to simultaneously reduce a pressure of, and increase a volume of, a fluid in a vapor state.

[66] fluid - a liquid, slurry, vapor, mist, cloud, plume, and/or foam, etc.

[67] from - used to indicate a source.

[68] further - in addition. [69] generate - to create, produce, give rise to, and/or bring into existence.

[70] geothermal - heat that comes from within the Earth

[71 ] having - including but not limited to.

[72] heat - energy associated with the motion of atoms and/or molecules and capable of being transmitted through solid and fluid media by conduction, through fluid media by convection, and through a fluid and/or empty space by radiation.

[73] including - including but not limited to.

[74] inflow - the process of flowing in.

[75] initialize - to prepare something for use and/or some future event.

[76] install - to connect or set in position and prepare for use.

[77] integrated - formed or united into a whole or into another entity.

[78] into - to a condition, state, or form of.

[79] lower - smaller in magnitude.

[80] magnetic - having the property of attracting iron and certain other

materials by virtue of a surrounding field of force.

[81] may - is allowed and/or permitted to, in at least some embodiments.

[82] method - one or more acts that are performed upon subject matter to be transformed to a different state or thing and/or are tied to a particular apparatus, said one or more acts not a fundamental principal and not preempting all uses of a fundamental principal.

[83] mix - to combine, blend, desegregate, and/or bring together.

[84] mount - (n) that upon which a thing is attached, (v) to couple, fix, and/or attach on and/or to something.

[85] output - (n) something produced and/or generated; and/or the energy, power, work, signal, and/or information produced by a system, (v) to provide, produce, manufacture, and/or generate.

[86] plurality - the state of being plural and/or more than one.

[87] predetermined - established in advance.

[88] project - to calculate, estimate, or predict.

[89] provide - to furnish, supply, give, and/or make available. [90] pump - a machine adapted to raise, compress, and/or transfer a fluid.

[91 ] R-134a - 1,1,1 ,2-Tetrafluoroethane; a haloalkane refrigerant with

thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane), but without its ozone depletion potential, having the formula CH2FCF3, and a boiling point of -26.3 °C (-15.34°F).

[92] radial - pertain to that which radiates from and/or converges to a common center.

[93] receive - to gather, take, acquire, obtain, accept, get, and/or have

bestowed upon.

[94] receive - to get as a signal, take, acquire, and/or obtain.

[95] recommend - to suggest, praise, commend, and/or endorse.

[96] refrigerator - an appliance, cabinet, and/or room adapted for storing food and/or other substances at a low temperature.

[97] repeatedly - again and again; repetitively.

[98] request - to express a desire for and/or ask for.

[99] saturated vapor - a gaseous form of a fluid at a temperature that

corresponds to the boiling point of the fluid at the current pressure of that fluid.

[100] select - to make a choice or selection from alternatives.

[101] set - a related plurality.

[102] shaft - a long, generally cylindrical bar that is adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis and to transmit power.

[103] share - to participate in, use, enjoy, and/or or experience jointly and/or simultaneously.

[104] single - existing alone or consisting of one entity.

[105] solar collector - a device that converts solar radiation into heat and/or a device that heats a fluid using solar radiation.

[106] store - to place, hold, and/or retain data, typically in a memory.

[107] stream - a steady current of a fluid.

[108] substantially - to a great extent and/or degree.

[109] subsystem - a system that is comprised in a larger system. [110] supply - make available for use.

[I l l] support - to hold, bear, and/or carry the weight and/or mechanical load of, especially from below.

[112] system - a collection of mechanisms, devices, machines, articles of

manufacture, processes, data, and/or instructions, the collection designed to perform one or more specific functions.

[113] temperature - measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules in a sample of matter, expressed in terms of units or degrees designated on a standard scale.

[114] thermal - pertaining to temperature.

[115] thermodynamic cycle - a series of thermodynamic processes that returns a system to its initial state.

[116] transform - to change in measurable: form, appearance, nature, and/or character.

[117] transmit - to send as a signal, provide, furnish, and/or supply.

[118] turbine - any of various machines in which the kinetic energy of a

moving fluid is converted to mechanical power by the impulse or reaction of the fluid with a series of buckets, paddles, and/or blades arrayed about the circumference of a wheel and/or cylinder.

[119] use - to put into service, utilize, make work, and/or employ for a

particular purpose and/or for its inherent and/or natural purpose.

[120] vapor - a gaseous form of a fluid.

[121] via - by way of and/or utilizing.

[122] via - by way of and/or utilizing.

[123] waste - that which is unwanted, undesired, and/or otherwise unutilized.

[124] wherein - in regard to which; and; and/or in addition to.

[125] within - inside.

[126] work - a transfer of energy from one physical system to another,

especially the transfer of energy to a body and/or fluid by the application of a force that moves the body and/or fluid in the direction of the force.

[127] working fluid - a fluid used to transfer and/or transport heat energy. Note

[128] Various substantially and specifically practical and useful exemplary

embodiments of the claimed subject matter, are described herein, textually and/or graphically, including the best mode, if any, known to the inventors for carrying out the claimed subject matter. Variations (e.g., modifications and/or

enhancements) of one or more embodiments described herein might become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this application. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the claimed subject matter to be practiced other than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, as permitted by law, the claimed subject matter includes and covers all equivalents of the claimed subject matter and all improvements to the claimed subject matter. Moreover, every

combination of the above described elements, activities, and all possible variations thereof are encompassed by the claimed subject matter unless otherwise clearly indicated herein, clearly and specifically disclaimed, or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

[129] The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as")

provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate one or more embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of any claimed subject matter unless otherwise stated. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed subject matter as essential to the practice of the claimed subject matter.

[130] Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background,

summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via explicit definition, assertion, or argument, or clearly contradicted by context, with respect to any claim, whether of this application and/or any claim of any application claiming priority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise: [131] there is no requirement for the inclusion of any particular described or illustrated characteristic, function, activity, or element, any particular sequence of activities, or any particular interrelationship of elements;

[132] no characteristic, function, activity, or element is "essential";

[133] any elements can be integrated, segregated, and/or duplicated;

[134] any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by multiple entities, and/or any activity can be performed in multiple jurisdictions; and

[135] any activity or element can be specifically excluded, the sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of elements can vary.

[136] The use of the terms "a", "an", "said", "the", and/or similar referents in the

context of describing various embodiments (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted.

[137] Moreover, when any number or range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring

individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value and each separate subrange defined by such separate values is incorporated into the specification as if it were

individually recited herein. For example, if a range of 1 to 10 is described, that range includes all values therebetween, such as for example, 1.1, 2.5, 3.335, 5, 6.179, 8.9999, etc., and includes all subranges therebetween, such as for example, 1 to 3.65, 2.8 to 8.14, 1.93 to 9, etc. [138] When any claim element is followed by a drawing element number, that drawing element number is exemplary and non-limiting on claim scope. No claim of this application is intended to invoke paragraph six of 35 USC 112 unless the precise phrase "means for" is followed by a gerund.

[139] Any information in any material (e.g., a United States patent, United States patent application, book, article, etc.) that has been incorporated by reference herein, is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety to its fullest enabling extent permitted by law yet only to the extent that no conflict exists between such information and the other statements and drawings set forth herein. In the event of such conflict, including a conflict that would render invalid any claim herein or seeking priority hereto, then any such conflicting information in such material is specifically not incorporated by reference herein.

[140] Accordingly, every portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, other than the claims themselves, is to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and the scope of subject matter protected by any patent that issues based on this application is defined only by the claims of that patent.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:

a heat engine subsystem comprising a first evaporator that outputs a working fluid as a saturated vapor at a first temperature that is higher than ambient;

a heat pump subsystem comprising a second evaporator that outputs said working fluid as a saturated vapor at a second temperature that is lower than ambient; and

a compander comprising:

a turbine adapted to receive said working fluid from said first evaporator and adapted to expand said working fluid to supply said work for said heat pump subsystem; and

wherein:

said heat engine subsystem is adapted to supply work for said heat pump subsystem, and said heat engine subsystem and said heat pump subsystem are adapted to share a common condenser adapted to output said working fluid as a saturated fluid at a third temperature that approximates ambient; and

said working fluid output from said turbine is mixed with said working fluid output from said compressor before being delivered to said common condenser.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said turbine is mounted to a shaft; and

said compressor is mounted to said shaft. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said turbine is mounted to a shaft;

said compressor is mounted to said shaft; and

said shaft is supported on magnetic bearings.

The system of claim 1, wherein:

said turbine is a radial inflow turbine.

The system of claim 1, wherein:

said compressor is a centrifugal compressor.

The system of claim 1, wherein:

said heat engine subsystem comprises a solar collector adapted to supply heat for evaporating said working fluid within said first evaporator.

The system of claim 1, wherein:

said heat engine subsystem comprises a geothermal heat collector adapted to supply heat for evaporating said working fluid within said first evaporator.

The system of claim 1, wherein:

said heat engine subsystem comprises a waste heat collector adapted to supply heat for evaporating said working fluid within said first evaporator.

The system of claim 1, wherein:

said heat pump subsystem comprises a chiller adapted to, via a stream of fluid, supply heat for evaporating said working fluid within said second evaporator, thereby cooling said stream of fluid. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said heat pump subsystem comprises a refrigerator adapted to, via a stream of fluid, supply heat for evaporating said working fluid within said second evaporator, thereby providing cooling for said stream of fluid.

The system of claim 1, wherein:

said heat pump subsystem comprises a cooling coil adapted to supply heat for evaporating said working fluid within said second evaporator.

The system of claim 1, wherein:

said working fluid is R-134a.

The system of claim 1, wherein:

A method comprising:

via a first evaporator of a heat engine subsystem, outputting a working fluid as a saturated vapor at a first temperature that is higher than ambient; and via a second evaporator of a heat pump subsystem, outputting said working fluid as a saturated vapor at a second temperature that is lower than ambient;

wherein:

said heat engine subsystem is adapted to supply work for said heat pump subsystem, and said heat engine subsystem and said heat pump subsystem are adapted to share a common condenser adapted to output said working fluid as a saturated fluid at a third temperature that approximates ambient. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

supplying said work for said heat pump subsystem from said heat engine subsystem.

The method of claim 14, further comprising:

condensing said working fluid to said third temperature in said common condenser.

The method of claim 14, further comprising:

expanding said working fluid in a turbine of a compander to supply said work for said heat pump subsystem.

The method of claim 14, further comprising:

compressing said working fluid in a compressor of a compander using said work supplied by said heat engine subsystem.

The method of claim 14, further comprising:

using said work supplied by said heat engine subsystem, compressing said working fluid received from said second evaporator in a compressor of a compander, said compressor sharing a common shaft with said turbine; and

mixing an output from said turbine with an output from said compressor to create an input for said common condenser.