Patent ID: 8446029
Filing Date: 2013-05-21
Classification: F01D,F02B,F04D,F05D

Abstract:
1. A turbomachinery device for selective compression of a fluid or extraction of power from the fluid, comprising: an impeller disposed in a flow path and mounted for rotation about an axis, fluid flowing along the flow path through the impeller in a flow direction, the impeller rotating in a first direction about the axis; a motor/generator coupled with the impeller, the motor/generator being selectively operable either as a motor to rotatably drive the impeller which in turn compresses the fluid, or as a generator to generate electrical power when the fluid rotatably drives the impeller; wherein the turbomachinery device is selectively operable either in a compressor mode wherein the motor/generator is operated as a motor to rotate the impeller in the first direction to compress the fluid, or in a turbine mode wherein the fluid rotates the impeller in the first direction so as to rotate the motor/generator which produces electrical power; and an inlet flow-guiding device positioned upstream of the impeller with respect to the flow direction and structured and arranged to receive a flow of fluid and direct the fluid into the impeller, the inlet flow-guiding device being a variable-geometry mechanism that is selectively configurable in at least first and second positions, the first position causing the fluid to be directed into the impeller with a first swirl, the second position causing the fluid to be directed into the impeller with a second swirl.