ELECTROSTATIC LUBRICANT AND METHODS OF USE
First Claim
1. A thermodynamic system comprising a thermodynamic device, a lubricant, a thermodynamic working fluid, the thermodynamic device having moving surfaces operable to create both hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces, wherein the thermodynamic working fluid temperature increases from friction of the thermodynamic device, wherein the lubricant is at least partially immiscible with the thermodynamic working fluid and is operable to reduce friction at least 10 percent through the hydrostatic force within the thermodynamic device.
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Abstract
An integrated thermodynamic system for enhancing the energy efficiency and operating lifetime by reducing wear of moving parts is provided. The system provides automated means to attract or repel electrically conductive or magnetic lubricants in a dynamic manner. The system, when utilizing advanced lubricants including ionic liquids, poly(ionic) liquids, electrorheological fluids, or expanded fluid; and a control system implementing dynamic algorithms, preferably meets the complex demands of thermodynamic systems, particularly high speed rotating equipment, for obtaining high efficiency that requires low friction and long lifetimes that requires superior wear resistance.
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Citations
55 Claims
- 1. A thermodynamic system comprising a thermodynamic device, a lubricant, a thermodynamic working fluid, the thermodynamic device having moving surfaces operable to create both hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces, wherein the thermodynamic working fluid temperature increases from friction of the thermodynamic device, wherein the lubricant is at least partially immiscible with the thermodynamic working fluid and is operable to reduce friction at least 10 percent through the hydrostatic force within the thermodynamic device.
- 18. A thermodynamic system comprising a thermodynamic device having at least one moving surface, a thermodynamic working fluid, a lubricant, a first electrostatic device operable to attract the lubricant to the at least one moving surface of the thermodynamic device, and a second electrostatic device, operable to isolate the lubricant from the thermodynamic working fluid after lubricating the thermodynamic device moving surfaces.
- 21. A thermodynamic system comprising a thermodynamic device having at least one moving surface, a thermodynamic working fluid, a lubricant, a first electrostatic device having at least two modes of operation including the mode of attracting the lubricant to the at least one moving surface or the mode of repelling the lubricant from the at least one moving surface.
- 30. A thermodynamic system comprising a thermodynamic device having at least one moving surface, a thermodynamic working fluid and a lubricant, wherein the thermodynamic working fluid is an expanded fluid wherein the expanded fluid has a decreasing density of at least 3 percent for an increase in temperature of at least 15 Kelvin and is operable to reduce friction of the at least one moving surface.
- 33. A thermodynamic system comprising a thermodynamic device having at least one moving surface, a thermodynamic working fluid, a lubricant, and an electrostatic or electromagnetic device, wherein the thermodynamic working fluid is a binary fluid having an absorbate and an absorbent, wherein the lubricant is electrically conductive, and wherein the lubricant concurrently increases lubricity by at least 5 percent of the at least one moving surface and increases desorption of the absorbate from the absorbent.
- 37. A thermodynamic device comprising a thermodynamic device having at least one moving surface, a thermodynamic working fluid, a lubricant, a nanofiltration membrane, and an electrostatic or electromagnetic device, wherein the thermodynamic working fluid is capable of passing through the nanofiltration membrane, wherein the lubricant is electrically conductive or magnetic, and wherein the electrostatic or electromagnetic device is operable to attract or repel the lubricant within the nanofiltration membrane as a means to control the passing of the thermodynamic working fluid through the nanofiltration membrane.
- 40. A lubricant, comprising an absorbent having a gas absorption of at least 0.5% on a weight basis and having a gas desorption being desorbed gas of at least 0.25% on a weight basis when applied to at least one moving surface operable to reduce friction by utilizing the desorbed gas to reduce the physical contact between the at least one moving surface.
- 46. A thermodynamic system comprising thermodynamic device having at least one moving surface, a binary thermodynamic working fluid, wherein the thermodynamic device is an absorption heat pump comprised of a weak solution, and a strong solution, wherein the strong solution has an absorbate, and wherein the weak solution or strong solution is operable as a friction reducing lubricant.
- 49. A friction reducing machine comprised of at least one moving part, a friction reducing lubricant, a fluid port that is operational as both the fluid inlet and discharge outlet, and a nanofiltration membrane within the fluid port, wherein the nanofiltration membrane is operable to contain the friction reducing lubricant within the at least one moving surface of the friction reducing machine.
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50. The friction reducing machine according to clam 49 further comprised of an electrostatic field wherein the electrostatic field is operable to increase the hydrodynamic film between the at least one moving surface.
- 52. A thermodynamic system comprising a thermodynamic device having at least one moving surface, a thermodynamic working fluid, an expansion device having a hydrostatic bearing, a high pressure side wherein the high pressure side is upstream of the expansion device, at least one valve controlling the flow of the thermodynamic working fluid into the expansion device, at least one valve controlling the flow of the thermodynamic working fluid into the hydrostatic bearing, a thermodynamic working fluid high pressure accumulator, and a control system wherein the control system regulates the at least one valve controlling the flow of the thermodynamic working fluid into the expansion device and the at least one valve controlling the flow of the thermodynamic working fluid into the hydrostatic bearing from the thermodynamic working fluid high pressure accumulator operable to create a hydrostatic force on the hydrostatic bearing to reduce by at least 50% the dry running friction between moving parts of the expansion device.
Specification