权利要求：
CLAIMS
A thermodynamic apparatus (10) comprising :
a compressor module (100),
a turbine module (200), and
a regenerative heat exchanger (300)
centred on a central axis (12), and
arranged in series along the central axis (12) such that the regenerative heat
exchanger (300) is provided between the compressor module (100) and the turbine
module (200).
2 A thermodynamic apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1 further comprising :
a shaft (14) centred on, and rotatable about, the central axis (12);
the shaft (14) extending through the compressor module (100), the turbine module (200),
and regenerative heat exchanger (300);
the compressor module (100) comprising a rotor (120);
the turbine module (200) comprising a rotor (220);
both rotors (120, 220) being carried on and rotatable with the shaft (14).
3 A thermodynamic apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the
thermodynamic apparatus (10) further comprises a casing (400),
wherein the casing (400) extends around the compressor module (100),
turbine module (200), and
regenerative heat exchanger (300).
4 A thermodynamic apparatus (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein
the compressor module (100), a turbine module (200), and a regenerative heat exchanger
(300) define a working fluid flow duct (20) which extends, in series, through :
a compressor module inlet (102) to a compressor module outlet (122);
a first path (302) through the regenerative heat exchanger (300);
a turbine module inlet (202) to the turbine module outlet (222);
a first intermediate duct (22);
a second path (304) through the regenerative heat exchanger (300), which is in heat transfer communication with the first path (302); and
a second intermediate duct (24) to the compressor module inlet (102).
A thermodynamic apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 4 wherein the compressor module (100) defines a first portion (26) of the working fluid flow duct (20) which extends between the compressor module inlet (102) and the compressor module outlet (122); and the compressor module (100) comprises :
a first heat exchanger (110) and the compressor rotor (120), each provided in the working fluid flow duct (20);
the first heat exchanger (110) provided in flow series between the compressor module inlet (102) and the compressor rotor (120); and the compressor rotor (120) being provided in flow series between the first heat exchanger (110) and the compressor module outlet (122);
a heat transfer unit (130) which defines the first portion (26) of the working fluid flow duct (20);
wherein the first heat exchanger (110) is in heat transfer communication with the heat transfer unit (130) via a first main passage (134) for a first heat transfer medium ; and the first heat exchanger (110) is configured such that it is operable to transfer heat to the heat transfer unit (130) from the working fluid passing the first heat exchanger (110).
A thermodynamic apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 5 wherein the turbine module (200) defines a second portion (28) of the working fluid flow duct (20) which extends between a turbine module inlet (202) and a turbine module outlet (222) configured to expand a working fluid as the working fluid passes along the working fluid flow duct (20); and the turbine module comprises :
a first heat exchanger (210) and a turbine rotor (220), each provided in the working fluid flow duct (20);
the first heat exchanger (210) provided in flow series between the turbine module inlet (202) and the turbine rotor (220); and the turbine rotor (220) being provided in flow series between the first heat exchanger (210) and the turbine module outlet (222);
a heat transfer unit (230) which defines a portion (232) of the working fluid flow duct (20) in flow series between the turbine rotor (220) and turbine module outlet (222); wherein the first heat exchanger (210) is in heat transfer communication with the heat transfer unit (230) via a second main passage (234) for a second heat transfer medium, and
the first heat exchanger (210) is configured such that it is operable to transfer heat received from the heat transfer unit (230) to the working fluid passing the first heat exchanger (210).
A thermodynamic apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the first main passage (134) and second main passage (234) each comprise an inlet plenum (140, 240) and an outlet plenum (142, 242), and
the inlet plenum (140) and outlet plenum (142) of the compressor (100) are in fluid flow communication via a compressor first sub-passage (144) defined by the compressor heat transfer unit (130) for the transfer of the respective heat transfer medium through the compressor first heat exchanger (110);
the inlet plenum (240) and outlet plenum (242) of the turbine (100) are in fluid flow communication via a turbine first sub-passage (244) defined by the turbine heat transfer unit (230) for the transfer of the respective heat transfer medium through the turbine first heat exchanger (210);
each inlet plenum (140, 240) having an inlet (146, 246) for communication with a different source of heat transfer medium:
each outlet plenum (142, 242) having an outlet (148, 248) to exhaust the respective heat transfer medium.
A thermodynamic apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first sub-passage (144, 244) extends through the first heat exchanger (110, 210); and
the first heat exchanger (110, 210) is in flow series between a first inlet (160, 260) to the first sub-passage (144, 244) and a first outlet (162, 262) from the first sub-passage (144, 244):
the first inlet (160, 260) configured to receive heat transfer medium from the inlet plenum (140, 240);
the first outlet (162) being configured to exhaust into the outlet plenum (142, 242).
A thermodynamic apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 5 wherein
a second heat exchanger (150) is located in the working fluid flow duct (20) in flow series between the compressor rotor (120) and the compressor module outlet (122) in the heat transfer unit (130), and
the second heat exchanger (150) is configured such that it is operable to transfer heat to the heat transfer unit (130) from the working fluid passing the second heat exchanger (150).
A thermodynamic apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 6 wherein
a second heat exchanger (250) is located in the working fluid flow duct (20) in flow series between the turbine rotor stage (220) and the turbine module outlet (222) in the heat transfer unit (230), and
the second heat exchanger (230) being configured such that itis operable to transfer heat received from the heat transfer unit (230) to the working fluid passing the second heat exchanger (250).
A thermodynamic apparatus (10) as claimed in claims 9, 10 wherein the first sub-passage (144, 244) extends through the second heat exchanger (150, 250).
A thermodynamic apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 11 wherein a second sub-passage (170, 270) extends through the second heat exchanger (150, 250); and the second heat exchanger (150, 250) is in flow series between a second inlet (172, 272) to the second sub-passage (170, 270) and a second outlet (174, 274) from the second sub-passage (170, 270):
the second inlet (172, 272) configured to receive heat transfer medium from the inlet plenum (140, 240);
the second outlet (174, 274) being configured to exhaust into the outlet plenum (142, 242).
A thermodynamic apparatus (10) as claimed in claims 9 to 12 wherein the first heat exchanger (110, 210) is provided in series along the first sub-passage (144, 244) between the first inlet (160) and the second heat exchanger (150, 250), and the second heat exchanger (150, 250) is provided in flow series between the first heat exchanger (110, 210) and the first outlet (162, 262) from the first heating medium flow sub-passage (144, 244).
A thermodynamic apparatus (10) as claimed in claims 9, 10 wherein the first sub-passage (144, 244) comprises a first node (180) between the first inlet (160, 260) and the first heat exchanger (110, 210) where the sub-passage diverges to form a first branch (184) and second branch (186); and a second node (190) between the outlet (162, 262) and the second heat exchanger (150, 250) where the first branch (184) and second branch (186) join; wherein the first branch (184) of the first sub-passage (144,244) extends through the first heat exchanger (110, 210) and bypasses the second heat exchanger (150, 250); and the second branch (186) bypasses the first heat exchanger (110, 210) and extends though the second heat exchanger (150, 250).
A thermodynamic apparatus (10) as claimed in claims 9, 10, wherein the first sub-passage (144, 244) comprises
a third sub-passage (188, 288) which extends from a second inlet (189, 289) in fluid communication with the inlet plenum (140, 240) through the second heat exchanger (150, 250): and
joins the first sub-passage (144,244) between the outlet of the first heat exchanger (110, 210) and first sub-passage outlet (144, 244);
such that flow through the first inlet (160, 260) and second inlet (189, 289) exit through the first outlet (162, 262).