Patent ID: 9567962
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: F01D,F02D,F02M,F05D

Claim:
1. A flow-control assembly comprising: a turbine-generator cartridge comprising a cartridge housing that defines a turbine flow passage, a turbine disposed in the turbine flow passage, and a generator coupled to the turbine; a 3-way flow-control valve comprising a butterfly valve having a valve housing and a throttle plate mounted within the valve housing such that the throttle plate is rotatable about an axis along a diameter of the throttle plate, the valve housing defining an inlet for fluid flow, a fluid conduit receiving fluid from the inlet, and a fluid expansion conduit branching off from the fluid conduit, the throttle plate being disposed in the fluid conduit, the valve being configurable to a first position wherein the throttle plate substantially blocks flow of the fluid through both the fluid conduit and the fluid expansion conduit, and to a second position wherein the throttle plate substantially blocks flow of the fluid through the fluid conduit and at least partially unblocks the fluid expansion conduit to thereby allow flow of the fluid through the fluid expansion conduit; wherein the fluid conduit includes a sealing wall which an outer edge of the throttle plate engages when the flow-control valve is in the first position, the sealing wall having a curved profile of substantially the same radius as the throttle plate whereby the throttle plate maintains a tight fit with the sealing wall as the throttle plate rotates to the second position, and wherein an inlet to the fluid expansion conduit comprises a hole in the sealing wall at which the throttle plate is out of contact when the flow-control valve is in the second position; wherein the turbine-generator cartridge is attached directly to the valve housing such that the fluid expansion conduit of the valve supplies fluid to the turbine flow passage upstream of the turbine, and fluid that has passed through the turbine is supplied via an outlet of the turbine flow passage to a point downstream of the valve member.