Patent ID: 9537442
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: H02J,H02P

Claim:
1. An energy recovery system for use in a refrigeration system, the refrigeration system comprising an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser, the refrigeration system being configured to circulate refrigerant along a flow path such that the refrigerant flows from the evaporator to the compressor, and from the compressor to the condenser, and from the condenser to the evaporator, at least one of the evaporator, compressor and condenser including an electric motor, the energy recovery system comprising: a turbine-generator expansion valve adapted and configured to be in the flow path operatively between the condenser and the evaporator and to expand refrigerant, the turbine-generator expansion valve being configured to convert mechanical energy generated during expansion of refrigerant in the refrigeration system into electrical energy; and a circuit configured to apply electrical energy generated by the turbine-generator expansion valve to the electric motor to at least partially power the electric motor, wherein the circuit comprises a rectifier configured to rectify a voltage output of the turbine generator expansion valve, and a DC link from which the electric motor draws power, wherein the circuit is configured to directly provide the rectified voltage to the DC link, wherein the circuit is configured to directly provide the rectified voltage to the DC link.