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CONTROLLING TURBOPUMP THRUST IN A HEAT ENGINE SYSTEM

  • US 20160017759A1
  • Filed: 03/12/2014
  • Published: 01/21/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A heat engine system, comprising:

  • a working fluid circuit having a high pressure side and a low pressure side and being configured to flow a working fluid therethrough, the working fluid being at least partially in a supercritical state and comprising carbon dioxide;

    a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit, the heat exchanger fluidly coupled to and in thermal communication with a heat source and configured to transfer thermal energy from the heat source to the working fluid within the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit;

    an expander fluidly coupled to and disposed between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and configured to convert a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy;

    a recuperator fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit and operative to transfer thermal energy between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit;

    a cooler in thermal communication with the working fluid in the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and configured to remove thermal energy from the working fluid in the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit;

    a turbopump fluidly coupled between the low pressure side and the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit and configured to circulate the working fluid through the working fluid circuit;

    a turbopump throttle valve coupled to the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit and configured to control a flow of the working fluid to the turbopump, thereby at least partially controlling a thrust load applied to the turbopump;

    a bearing housing substantially encompassing one or more bearings contained within the turbopump;

    a charging pump fluidly coupled with the working fluid circuit and configured to transfer the working fluid to an inlet of the bearing housing; and

    a bearing drain line fluidly coupled to an outlet of the bearing housing, the bearing drain line including a bearing drain valve coupled thereto and configured to control a flow of the working fluid therethrough, thereby at least partially controlling the thrust load applied to the turbopump.

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