Patent Publication Number: US-10774690-B2

Title: Compact energy cycle construction utilizing some combination of a scroll type expander, pump, and compressor for operating according to a rankine, an organic rankine, heat pump, or combined organic rankine and heat pump cycle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part patent application to patent application having Ser. No. 15/731,929, filed on Aug. 24, 2017, which was a continuation patent application to the continuation patent application having Ser. No. 14/756,594, filed on Sep. 22, 2015, which claims priority as a continuation to the patent application having Ser. No. 13/986,349, filed on Apr. 23, 2013, which claims priority to the provisional patent application having Ser. No. 61/687,464, filed on Apr. 25, 2012, which latter application claims priority as a continuation-in-part patent application to the patent application having Ser. No. 13/507,779, filed on Jul. 30, 2012, now Publication No. US 2013-0036762 A1, which claims priority to the provisional patent application having Ser. No. 61/574,771, filed Aug. 9, 2011. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure is directed to an energy cycle construction, several rotating components of which are integrated within a compact container housing to share a common shaft along which working fluid transits as the construction operates. 
     The container housing is preferably of a generally cylindrical configuration with some combination of a scroll type expander, pump, and compressor disposed therein to form an integrated system, with the working fluid of the system circulating about a torus in the poloidal direction. 
     The assembled construction may operate generally as or in accordance with a Rankine Cycle, an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), a Heat Pump Cycle, an air conditioning or refrigeration cycle, or a Combined Organic Rankine and Heat Pump or refrigeration Cycle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Rankine Cycles, Organic Rankine Cycles (ORC), and Refrigeration/Heat Pump Cycles are well known, and many systems of various designs have been developed over the years to operate in accordance with such cycles. For convenience of further reference, such cycles will often hereinafter be referred to generically as energy cycles. Principles of operation of such energy cycles have been addressed in detail in numerous prior publications, and operations of various systems in accordance with such energy cycles are also explained in numerous prior art publications. For convenience of further reference, such systems or constructions are often hereinafter referred to as energy cycle constructions. 
     Although such energy cycle constructions may take many forms, it has been found advantageous in many instances to employ multiple rotating components as components of such energy cycle constructions to effect the desired energy cycles while realizing advantages attendant to the use of such rotating components. Such rotating components may include not only rotary equipment such as generators and motors, but also other rotary devices such as expanders, pumps, and compressors, as well as scroll type devices that include both compressor and expander functions such as are disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/574,771, filed Aug. 9, 2011. For convenience of further reference, such other rotary devices and the like are often hereinafter referred to generically as working fluid treatment devices, and reference to energy cycle devices is intended to encompass motors and generators and like equipment in addition to working fluid treatment devices, especially as they may be utilized in energy cycle constructions. 
     Many energy cycle constructions are thus configured to operate as or in accordance with a Rankine Cycle, an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), and/or a Refrigeration/Heat Pump Cycle, and to employ one or more, and often two, rotary working fluid treatment devices, often of a scroll type design, as part of their systems. Generally, many such rotary based energy cycle constructions share a common set up in that they include two rotary working fluid treatment devices as well as an evaporator and condenser, and a motor or generator. Typically, such energy cycle constructions are constructed with the individual components thereof interconnected to form the completed system, but with each of such individual components existing as a separate independent component in a closed loop connected via piping. Due to the independence and separateness of such components, such completed or assembled energy cycle constructions have necessarily been of larger size. Also, traditionally the main components of the ORC such as the expander or “turbine”, the pump, the condenser, the evaporator, and the generator are arranged separately on a skid or in an enclosing box. These components are connected by piping and power transmitting couplings. The pump will have a separate drive motor and controls. The interconnecting piping must be soldered or brazed which has problems with contamination and is costly and labor intensive. 
     For many reasons, it would generally be desirable if the sizes, and cost of such energy cycle constructions could be decreased or minimized, and the reliability improved. To this point in time, however, that desire has remained largely unsatisfied. 
     SUMMARY 
     The device of the present disclosure has thus been developed to result in a more compact, lower cost, and more reliable energy cycle construction. The resulting construction integrates system components into a closed, preferably cylindrical, container housing, sometimes hereinafter referred to more simply as the container, within which container housing the working fluid flows about a torus in the poloidal direction. The rotary working fluid treatment devices utilize a scroll type design and rotate about a common shaft, with the evaporation and condensing processes being affected while the fluid is in transit between the rotary fluid treatment devices. This type of system design can be advantageously used for power generation through the use of a Rankine Cycle or ORC, or can be used for heat pumping through the use of a Refrigeration/Heat Pump Cycle, sometimes hereinafter referred to more simply as a Heat Pump Cycle or a Refrigeration Cycle. 
     In the following explanation of the disclosure, the word “Scroll” can refer to either the traditional orbiting scroll design, or to what is commonly referred to as a Spinning or Co-rotating scroll design. 
     For power generation, a preferred embodiment employs five (5) major components within the container housing, including an expander, generator, pump, condenser, and evaporator. A scroll expander is used to extract power from the working fluid and move it into the condenser, while a scroll liquid pump, or other rotating liquid pump, such as a gear or vane pump, is used to pump the working fluid through the evaporator. The pump, expander, and generator are aligned on the same shaft, with the evaporation process occurring inside the shaft and the condensation process occurring along the containment shell of the container housing. The end result of such preferred embodiment is the production of electrical energy by moving heat from a high temperature source to a low temperature source. The compact ORC device of the present disclosure is completely integrated with the expander, the generator, and the pump all on a common central shaft and the evaporator arranged around the common central shaft within the pressure boundary. A condenser may be arranged externally around the compact ORC device or the condenser can be located elsewhere to utilize geothermal or liquid cooling. Further, the compact ORC device disclosed herein is of a compact design being at least one third the size of a traditional ORC device. 
     For an ORC, refrigerant can be used as the working fluid to extract heat from a variety of waste heat applications, such as solar power, geothermal, or waste heat from power production or manufacturing processes. For a Rankine Cycle, steam can be used as the working fluid to extract heat from burning fossil fuels or high temperature geothermal. 
     For heat pumping/refrigeration, a preferred embodiment also employs five (5) major components within the container housing, including a compressor, motor, expander, condenser, and evaporator, although the expander could be replaced with a capillary tube or expansion valve as used in a traditional heat pump/refrigeration cycle. A scroll compressor is used to compress the working fluid from the evaporator and to supply it to the condenser, while a scroll expander is used to expand the liquid from the condenser and to supply it as a two-phase gas to the evaporator. The expander, compressor, and motor are located on the same shaft, with the condensation process occurring inside the shaft and the evaporation process occurring along the containment shell of the container housing. The end result of such preferred embodiment is the use of electrical energy to move heat from a low temperature source to a high temperature source. 
     For a heat pump cycle, refrigerant can be used as the working fluid to move heat from ambient air to a heated area. For a refrigeration cycle, refrigerant can be used to remove heat from a cooled area to the ambient air. 
     Another system variation can be readily realized through the integration into a common construction of both an ORC and a refrigeration cycle, with the ORC being utilized to power the refrigeration cycle. Depending upon the net power difference, either a generator (excess power generated from ORC) or motor (deficiency in power generation from ORC) or combination motor and generator can be used. A preferred form of such system includes six (6) major components within the container housing, including a compressor-expander, a motor/generator, a pump-expander, high and low pressure evaporator portions, and a condenser, certain components of which may be designed to operate in accordance with U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/574,771, filed Aug. 9, 2011. 
     In such system, the compressor-expander has two functions: on the outer portion of such compressor-expander refrigerant from the low pressure evaporator is compressed to be provided to the intermediate pressure condenser; on the inner portion of such compressor-expander refrigerant from the high pressure evaporator is expanded to be provided to the intermediate pressure condenser. The pump-expander also has two functions: on the outer portion of such pump-expander liquid refrigerant from the intermediate pressure condenser is expanded to be provided to the low pressure evaporator; on the inner portion of the pump-expander the liquid refrigerant from the intermediate pressure condenser is pumped to the high pressure evaporator. The compressor-expander, motor/generator, and pump-expander are all located on the same shaft. The high pressure evaporation process occurs inside the hollow shaft while the intermediate pressure condensation process occurs along the inside of the containment shell. The low pressure evaporation process occurs in an evaporator external to the containment shell inside a cooled space. 
     The present disclosure may thus be encompassed within and practiced by various constructions that incorporate all the rotary components within a single container housing, including systems such as the three (3) unique, preferred constructions noted hereinabove. Such design decreases the risk of refrigerant leakage, reduces overall system cost, due to the integration of components, and simplifies the energy cycle, which increases reliability, by eliminating all piping between components. 
     In addition, the unique design of such systems increases system efficiency and decreases system complexity, including by placing all the rotating equipment on a single shaft. For a refrigeration/heat pump cycle the design increases efficiency by replacing an expansion valve with an expander to recover power in the expansion process. 
     Although the preferred construction is described here, it may be necessary in some cases to place some of the components discretely in some ORC, heat pump and refrigeration cycle applications. Such alternate configurations are obvious and included herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In referring to the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a preferred embodiment of the present device incorporated within a compact housing, operating as or in accordance with a Rankine Cycle or Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC); 
         FIG. 2  depicts a preferred embodiment of the present device as incorporated within a compact housing, operating as or in accordance with a Heat Pump or Refrigeration Cycle; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a preferred embodiment of the present device as incorporated within a compact housing, operating as or in accordance with a Combined Refrigeration and Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC); 
         FIG. 4  depicts a preferred embodiment of the present device as incorporated within a compact housing, operating as or in accordance with a Combined Refrigeration and Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC); 
         FIG. 5  shows a preferred housing fin configuration that can optionally be employed with the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows several rotating shaft fin configurations that can be optionally employed with hollow shaft components such as are employed with the preferred embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a compact Organic Rankine Cycle device constructed according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a compact Organic Rankine Cycle device having an external condenser constructed according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a compact Organic Rankine Cycle device having a discharge constructed according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of an evaporator being constructed of extruded aluminum that is used in the compact Organic Rankine Cycle device of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a compact Organic Rankine Cycle device constructed according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the compact Organic Rankine Cycle device shown in  FIG. 11  with internal components shown in block diagram form; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the compact Organic Rankine Cycle device shown in  FIG. 11  with a cover shown in phantom to show an outlet portion; and 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the compact Organic Rankine Cycle device shown in  FIG. 11  with a cover shown in phantom to show an inlet portion. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, where like identification symbols in any given figure refer to like items, but where such identification symbols may vary from figure to figure,  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment according to the present disclosure, operating as or in accordance with a Rankine Cycle or Organic Rankine Cycle, with components and features of such embodiment having the identification symbols as set forth in the following Table 1: 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 FIG. 1 Identifiers 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Identifier 
                 Item Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Components (Alphabetized circles) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 A 
                 Orbiting portion of the orbital scroll expander, or driving 
               
               
                   
                 portion of a co-rotating scroll expander 
               
               
                 B 
                 Fixed portion of the orbital scroll expander, or driven 
               
               
                   
                 portion of a co-rotating scroll expander 
               
               
                 C 
                 Scroll expander Outlet 
               
               
                 D 
                 Insulation/sealing between condenser and rotating 
               
               
                   
                 equipment 
               
               
                 E 
                 Scroll pump inlet 
               
               
                 F 
                 Driving portion of a co-rotating scroll pump 
               
               
                 G 
                 Driven portion of a co-rotating scroll pump 
               
               
                 H 
                 Scroll pump outlet 
               
               
                 I 
                 Rotating shaft connecting pump to expander 
               
               
                 J 
                 Generator rotor 
               
               
                 K 
                 Generator stator 
               
               
                 L 
                 Heat transfer fins transferring heat between (I) and (N) 
               
               
                 M 
                 Heat source fluid inlet 
               
               
                 N 
                 Spiral fluid path for heat source fluid 
               
               
                 O 
                 Heat source fluid outlet 
               
               
                 P 
                 Scroll expander inlet 
               
               
                 Q 
                 Containment shell housing all components (can include 
               
               
                   
                 fins on outside) 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 State Points between Components (Numbered Squares) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 Low pressure liquid refrigerant after condensation and 
               
               
                   
                 before pumping 
               
               
                 2 
                 High pressure liquid refrigerant after pumping and before 
               
               
                   
                 evaporation 
               
               
                 3 
                 High pressure refrigerant gas, after evaporation and 
               
               
                   
                 before expansion 
               
               
                 4 
                 Low pressure single or two phase refrigerant gas after 
               
               
                   
                 expansion before condensation 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Processes (broken lines) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 A5 
                 Pumping process 
               
               
                 B5 
                 Evaporation process 
               
               
                 C5 
                 Expansion process 
               
               
                 D5 
                 Condensation process 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     From the foregoing, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the scroll expander of  FIG. 1  thus comprises the components marked therein by the identification symbols circled-A through circled-C and circle-P, that the scroll pump comprises circled-F through circled-H, and that the generator comprises circled-J through circled-K. It should be further apparent that the pumping process, marked or designated in  FIG. 1  and by the foregoing as A5, occurs between numbered-square-1 and numbered-square-2; that the evaporation process, marked or designated in  FIG. 1  and by the foregoing as B5, occurs between numbered-square-2 and numbered-square-3; that the expansion process, marked or designated in  FIG. 1  and by the foregoing as C5, occurs between numbered-square-3 and numbered-square-4; and that the condensation process, marked or designated in  FIG. 1  and by the foregoing as D5, occurs between numbered-square-1 and numbered-square-2. 
     The design and operation of individual components of such construction are well known and those skilled in the art will appreciate and understood from  FIGS. 1, 5, and 6 , and from the Tables associated therewith and the discussions herein, how the various components are connected to one another to be operable and integrated within a common container, with various rotating components sharing a common shaft through which the working fluid flows while transiting between certain of the component devices. 
     The scroll expander operates to extract power from the working fluid provided thereto at numbered-square-3 and to move the working fluid into the condenser, as at numbered-square-4, while the scroll liquid pump operates to pump the working fluid provided from the condenser at numbered-square-1 to the evaporator at numbered-square-2 and through the evaporator to numbered-square-3. The pump, expander, and generator are aligned on the same shaft, with the evaporation process occurring inside the shaft and the condensation process occurring along the containment shell of the container housing. The end result of such preferred embodiment is the production of electrical energy by moving heat from a high temperature source to a low temperature source. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, operating as or in accordance with a Heat Pump or Refrigeration Cycle, with components of such embodiment having the identification symbols as set forth in the following Table 2: 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 FIG. 2 Identifiers 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Identifier 
                 Item Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Components (Alphabetized circles) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 A 
                 Orbiting portion of an orbital scroll compressor, or driving 
               
               
                   
                 portion of a co-rotating scroll compressor 
               
               
                 B 
                 Fixed portion of an orbital scroll compressor, or driven 
               
               
                   
                 portion of a co-rotating scroll compressor 
               
               
                 C 
                 Scroll compressor inlet 
               
               
                 D 
                 Insulation/sealing between evaporator and rotating 
               
               
                   
                 equipment 
               
               
                 E 
                 Scroll liquid expander outlet 
               
               
                 F 
                 Driving portion of a co-rotating scroll liquid expander, or 
               
               
                   
                 capillary tube or expansion valve 
               
               
                 G 
                 Driven portion of a co-rotating scroll liquid expander 
               
               
                 H 
                 Scroll liquid expander inlet 
               
               
                 I 
                 Rotating shaft connecting compressor to liquid expander 
               
               
                 J 
                 Motor rotor 
               
               
                 K 
                 Motor stator 
               
               
                 L 
                 Heat transfer fins transferring heat between (I) and (N) 
               
               
                 M 
                 Heat sink fluid inlet 
               
               
                 N 
                 Spiral fluid path for heat sink fluid 
               
               
                 O 
                 Heat sink fluid outlet 
               
               
                 P 
                 Scroll compressor outlet 
               
               
                 Q 
                 Containment shell housing all components (can include 
               
               
                   
                 fins on outside) 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 State Points between Components (Numbered Squares) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 Low pressure refrigerant gas after evaporation and before 
               
               
                   
                 compression 
               
               
                 2 
                 High pressure refrigerant gas after compression and 
               
               
                   
                 before condensation 
               
               
                 3 
                 High pressure liquid refrigerant after condensation and 
               
               
                   
                 before expansion 
               
               
                 4 
                 Low pressure two phase refrigerant gas after expansion 
               
               
                   
                 before evaporation 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Processes (broken lines) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 A6 
                 Expansion process 
               
               
                 B6 
                 Evaporation process 
               
               
                 C6 
                 Compression process 
               
               
                 D6 
                 Condensation process 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     From the foregoing, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the scroll compressor of  FIG. 2  thus comprises the components marked therein by the identification symbols circled-A through circled-C and circle-P, that the scroll expander comprises circled-F through circled-H, and that the motor comprises circled-J through circled-K. It should be further apparent that the expansion process, marked or designated in  FIG. 2  and by the foregoing as A6, occurs between numbered-square-3 and numbered-square-4; that the evaporation process, marked or designated in  FIG. 2  and by the foregoing as B6, occurs between numbered-square-4 and numbered-square-1; that the compression process, marked or designated in  FIG. 2  and by the foregoing as C6, occurs between numbered-square-1 and numbered-square-2; and that the condensation process, marked or designated in  FIG. 2  and by the foregoing as D6, occurs between numbered-square-2 and numbered-square-3. 
     The design and operation of individual components of such construction are well known and those skilled in the art will appreciate and understood from  FIGS. 2, 5, and 6 , and from the Tables associated therewith and the discussions herein, how the various components are connected to one another to be operable and integrated within a common container, with various rotating components sharing a common shaft through which the working fluid flows while transiting between certain of the component devices. 
     The scroll compressor operates to compress the working fluid provided thereto from the evaporator at numbered-square-1 and to move the working fluid into the condenser, as at numbered-square-2, while the scroll expander operates to expand the working fluid provided as a liquid from the condenser at numbered-square-3 and to provide it to the evaporator at numbered-square-4 as a two-phase gas. The expander, compressor, and motor are aligned on the same shaft, with the condensation process occurring inside the shaft and the evaporation process occurring along the containment shell of the container housing. The end result of such preferred embodiment is the use of electrical energy to move heat from a low temperature source to a high temperature source. For a heat pump cycle, refrigerant can be used as the working fluid to move heat from ambient air to a heated area. For a refrigeration cycle, refrigerant can be used to remove heat from a cooled area to the ambient air. 
     With reference now to both  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is shown a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure as incorporated within a compact housing, operating as or in accordance with a Combined Refrigeration and Organic Rankine Cycle, with components of such embodiment having the identification symbols as set forth in the following Table 3: 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 FIGS. 3 and 4 Identifiers 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Identifier 
                 Item Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Components (Alphabetized circles) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 A1 
                 Rotating or orbital expander portion of the scroll 
               
               
                   
                 compressor-expander 
               
               
                 B1 
                 Fixed or co-rotating expander portion of the scroll 
               
               
                   
                 compressor-expander 
               
               
                 A2 
                 Rotating or orbital compressor portion of the scroll 
               
               
                   
                 compressor-expander 
               
               
                 B2 
                 Fixed or co-rotating compressor portion of the scroll 
               
               
                   
                 compressor-expander 
               
               
                 C 
                 Scroll compressor-expander outlet 
               
               
                 D 
                 Insulation/sealing between condenser and rotating 
               
               
                   
                 equipment 
               
               
                 E 
                 Scroll pump-expander inlet 
               
               
                 F1 
                 Rotating pump portion of the scroll pump-expander 
               
               
                 G1 
                 Fixed pump portion of the scroll pump-expander 
               
               
                 F2 
                 Rotating expander portion of the scroll pump-expander 
               
               
                 G2 
                 Fixed expander portion of the scroll pump-expander 
               
               
                 H1 
                 Scroll pump outlet or the pump-expander 
               
               
                 H2 
                 Scroll expander outlet or the pump-expander 
               
               
                 I 
                 Rotating shaft connecting pump-expander to compressor- 
               
               
                   
                 expander 
               
               
                 J 
                 Generator/motor rotor 
               
               
                 K 
                 Generator/motor stator 
               
               
                 L 
                 Heat transfer fins transferring heat between (I) and (N) 
               
               
                 M 
                 Heat source fluid inlet 
               
               
                 N 
                 Spiral fluid path for heat source fluid 
               
               
                 O 
                 Heat source fluid outlet 
               
               
                 P1 
                 Scroll expander inlet of the compressor-expander 
               
               
                 P2 
                 Scroll compressor inlet of the compressor-expander 
               
               
                 Q 
                 Containment shell housing all components (can included 
               
               
                   
                 fins on outside) 
               
               
                 R1 
                 Insulation/sealing between compressor inlet and 
               
               
                   
                 condensation process 
               
               
                 R2 
                 Insulation/sealing between expander outlet and 
               
               
                   
                 condensation process 
               
               
                 S 
                 Low pressure evaporator 
               
               
                 T 
                 Low pressure evaporator external fin configuration 
               
               
                 U 
                 Low pressure evaporator internal spiral fin configuration 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 State Points between Components (Numbered Squares) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 Intermediate pressure liquid refrigerant after condensation 
               
               
                   
                 and before pumping or expansion 
               
               
                 2a 
                 High pressure liquid refrigerant after pumping and before 
               
               
                   
                 high pressure evaporation 
               
               
                 2b 
                 Low pressure two phase refrigerant gas after expansion 
               
               
                   
                 and before low pressure evaporation 
               
               
                 3a 
                 High pressure refrigerant gas after high pressure 
               
               
                   
                 evaporation and before expansion 
               
               
                 3b 
                 Low pressure refrigerant gas after low pressure 
               
               
                   
                 evaporation and before compression 
               
               
                 4 
                 Low pressure refrigerant gas after expansion or 
               
               
                   
                 compression and before condensation 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Processes (Colored broken/solid lines) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 A7 
                 Intermediate pressure to high pressure pumping process 
               
               
                 (broken  
                   
               
               
                 line) 
                   
               
               
                 B7 
                 High pressure evaporation process 
               
               
                 (broken  
                   
               
               
                 line) 
                   
               
               
                 C7 
                 High pressure to intermediate pressure expansion process 
               
               
                 (broken  
                   
               
               
                 line) 
                   
               
               
                 D7 
                 Intermediate condensation process 
               
               
                 (broken  
                   
               
               
                 line) 
                   
               
               
                 E7 
                 Intermediate pressure to low pressure expansion 
               
               
                 (solid line) 
                   
               
               
                 F7 
                 Low pressure evaporation process 
               
               
                 (solid line) 
                   
               
               
                 G7 
                 Low pressure to intermediate pressure compression 
               
               
                 (solid line) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     From the foregoing, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the scroll compressor-expander of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , which may take a form as disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/574,771, filed Aug. 9, 2011, thus comprises the components marked therein by the identification symbols circled-A1 through circled-B1, circled-A2 through circled-B2, circled-C, and circled-P1 through circled-P2; that the scroll pump-expander, which may also take a form as disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/574,771, filed Aug. 9, 2011, comprises circled-F1 through circled-H1 and circled-F2 through circled-H2; and that the generator/motor comprises circled-J through circled-K. 
     It should be further apparent that the intermediate pressure to high pressure pumping process, marked or designated in  FIG. 3  and by the foregoing as A7 (broken line), occurs between numbered-square-1 and numbered-square-2a; that the high pressure evaporation process, marked or designated in  FIG. 3  and by the foregoing as B7 (broken line), occurs between numbered-square-2a and numbered-square-3a; that the high pressure to intermediate pressure expansion process, marked or designated in  FIG. 3  and by the foregoing as C7 (broken line), occurs between numbered-square-3a and numbered-square-4; that the intermediate condensation process, marked or designated in  FIG. 3  and by the foregoing as D7 (broken line), occurs between numbered-square-4 and numbered-square-1; that the intermediate pressure to low pressure expansion process, marked or designated in  FIG. 3  and by the foregoing as E7 (solid line), occurs between numbered-square-1 and numbered-square-2b; that the low pressure evaporation process, marked or designated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  and by the foregoing as F7 (solid line), occurs between numbered-square-2b on  FIG. 3  and through  FIG. 4  back to numbered-square-3b on  FIG. 3 ; and that the low pressure to intermediate pressure compression process, marked or designated in  FIG. 3  and by the foregoing as G7 (solid line), occurs between numbered-square-3b and numbered-square-4. 
     The design and operation of individual components of such construction are known from the prior art and/or from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/574,771, filed Aug. 9, 2011, incorporated herein by reference thereto, and those skilled in the art will appreciate and understood from  FIGS. 3-6 , and from the Tables associated therewith and the discussions herein, how the various components are connected to one another to be operable and integrated within a common container, with various rotating components sharing a common shaft through which the working fluid flows while transiting between certain of the component devices. 
     The outer portion of the compressor-expander of  FIG. 3  operates to compress refrigerant provided thereto at numbered-square-3b on  FIG. 3  from the low pressure evaporator of  FIG. 4  and to provide the compressed refrigerant to the intermediate pressure condenser at numbered-square-4 on  FIG. 3 , while the inner portion of such compressor-expander operates to expand refrigerant provided thereto at numbered-square-3a on  FIG. 3  from the high pressure evaporator and to provide the expanded refrigerant to the intermediate pressure condenser at numbered-square-4. The manner in which both of such operations are affected by the compressor-expander of  FIG. 3  is explained in greater detail in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/574,771, filed Aug. 9, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
     Somewhat similarly, the outer portion of the pump-expander of  FIG. 3  operates to expand liquid refrigerant provided at numbered-square-1 from the intermediate pressure condenser and to provide such expanded refrigerant at numbered-square-2b to the low pressure evaporator ( FIG. 4 ), while the inner portion of such pump-expander operates to pump the liquid refrigerant provided thereto at numbered-square-1 to the high pressure evaporator at numbered-square-2a. The manner in which both of such operations are affected by the pump-expander of  FIG. 3  is also explained in greater detail in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/574,771, filed Aug. 9, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
     As can be observed from  FIG. 3 , the compressor-expander, motor/generator, and pump-expander are all located on the same shaft. The high pressure evaporation process occurs inside the hollow shaft while the intermediate pressure condensation process occurs along the inside of the containment shell. The low pressure evaporation process occurs in an evaporator component shell inside a cooled space, which may typically be located external to the containment, such as shown in  FIG. 4 , but which could also, with some redesign and/or segmentation of the areas within the containment shell between the outer housing circled-Q and the insulation circled-D, be included within such outer housing. 
       FIG. 5  shows a preferred housing fin configuration that can optionally be employed with the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-4 , with components thereof having the identification symbols as set forth in the following Table 4: 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 FIG. 5 Identifiers 
               
               
                 for Housing Fin Configuration 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Identifier 
                 Item Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Components (Alphabetized circles) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 A 
                 External horizontal fins attached to the containment shell 
               
               
                   
                 (C) 
               
               
                 B 
                 Spiral fin between the inside wall of the containment shell 
               
               
                   
                 (C) and the Insulation/sealing wall (D) 
               
               
                 C 
                 Containment Shell 
               
               
                 D 
                 Separation/sealing wall 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     If desired by a user, an optional fin array construction circled-A can be readily added to the outside of the containment shell of  FIG. 5 . Although  FIG. 5  shows a fin array construction in which a number of fins of a straight vertical fin configuration are disposed generally radially about the generally cylindrical containment shell circled-C, any suitable fin geometry/configuration could be utilized to optimize heat transfer. In addition, an external fan system (not shown) could optionally be included on the outside to add forced convection across the fin array. 
     A large spiral fin circled-B could also be added to the inside wall of the containment shell circled-C of  FIG. 5 . Although such fin is presented in  FIG. 5  as being one fin having a spiral fin configuration, any fin geometry/configuration could be used to optimize heat transfer. 
       FIG. 6  shows several rotating shaft fin configurations that can be optionally employed with hollow shaft components such as are employed with the preferred embodiments of  FIGS. 1-3 , with the components thereof having the identification symbols as set forth in the following Table 5: 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 FIG. 6 Identifiers 
               
               
                 for Rotating Shaft Fin Configuration 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Identifier 
                 Item Description 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 Components 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 A 
                 Spiral fin spanning the entire length of the rotating shaft 
               
               
                 B 
                 Offset fins spanning the entire length of the rotating shaft 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     A spiral fin system or channel can also optionally be added inside the hollow shaft in order to increase heat transfer surface area. Such fin systems can take various forms, including the two preferred, alternative configurations depicted in  FIG. 6  as Configurations A and B. The fin system of Configuration A includes one spiral fin along the entire length while the fin system of Configuration B includes a series of offset fins. 
     Various other and additional changes and modifications are also possible. Among the changes and modifications contemplated is the use with the low pressure evaporator of a set of both external and internal fins, depicted as components circled-T and circled-U in  FIG. 4 , to increase surface area. Such fins can be any configuration/geometry to optimize heat transfer. It is envisioned that, in at least some instances, an off the shelf evaporator could be used as the external low pressure evaporator component. 
     It is also envisioned that, in order to minimize overall cost, the expander of  FIG. 2  could be replaced with a capillary tube. Although such a substitution would lower overall efficiency, it would lower system cost substantially. Similarly, the expander component in the pump-expander of  FIG. 3  could be replaced with a capillary tube to decrease system cost. 
     With particular reference now to  FIG. 7 , an embodiment of a compact Organic Rankine Cycle (CORC) device  100  constructed according to the present disclosure is shown. The CORC device  100  comprises a scroll type expander such as an orbiting scroll type expander  102  and a central shaft  104  which is driven by the expander  102 . The expander  102  may also be a spinning scroll or co-rotating scroll, or a vane type expander, or any other type of positive displacement expander. The central shaft  104  has mounted thereto a rotor  106  of a generator  108 . The generator  108  also has a stator  110 . The generator  108  may be an alternating current (AC) or a direct current (DC) type generator. A pump  112  is operated by rotation of the central shaft  104  which is driven by the expander  102 . The pump  112  can be any positive displacement type liquid refrigerant pump, such as a scroll type, gear, or vane type pump. The CORC device  100  also has an evaporator  114  that is integrated within the CORC device  100 . By having the evaporator  114  within the CORC device  100  there is no need for any external piping from the pump  112 . The evaporator  114  may be tube type, extruded aluminum, or any other type evaportor. The CORC  100  has a housing  116  within which are the expander  102 , the central shaft  104 , the generator  108 , the pump  112 , and the evaporator  114 . The CORC device  100  is of a compact design and is at least one third the size of a traditional Organic Rankine Cycle device. The CORC device  100  is completely integrated with the expander  102 , the generator  108 , and the pump  112  all on the central shaft  104  within a pressure boundary of the housing  116 . Although not shown, it is possible and contemplated that a condensed working fluid may be routed around or near the generator  108  to cool the generator  108  and to recover heat losses from the generator  108 . This will improve the efficiency of the generator  108  and the CORC device  100 . Also, it is possible to incorporate integrated passages from the pump  112  to the generator  108  to the evaporator  114  so that no external piping is required. Integrated passages may also be incorporated from the evaporator  114  to an inlet of the expander  102 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the CORC device  100  having an optional external condenser  120  surrounding a portion of the housing  116 . The optional external condenser  120  has a shroud  122  and a fan  124 . The condenser  120  is easily integrated with the CORC device  100  to provide for a compact package containing all of the components of the CORC device  100 . The condenser  120  is optional since other condenser methods such as geothermal or liquids may be employed. As can be appreciated, the housing  116  has enclosed therein the various components of the CORC device  100 , such as the expander  102 , the central shaft  104 , the generator  108 , the pump  112 , and the evaporator  114 , all of which are not visible in this particular view. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 9 , a cross-sectional view of the CORC device  100  is shown having a discharge  130  from the pump  112 . The discharge  130  is integrated into the housing  116  and directed near the generator  108 . The discharge  130  can also be in direct contact with the stator  110  of the generator  108 . Either way the pump discharge fluid, the working fluid, is cooling the generator  108  for providing the generator  108  to operator more efficiently. Any heat loses from the generator  108  are captured by the working fluid recovering the losses from the generator  108 . An external tube  132  is used to transport working fluid (not shown) from a discharge  134  of the evaporator  114  to an inlet  136  of the expander  102 . However, the working fluid could just as easily be transported through internal passages (not shown) eliminating the external tube  132 . An insulating tube  138  may be located at the inlet  136  of the expander  102  to further improve efficiency. The insulating tube  138  is optional. The evaporator  114  is shown in  FIG. 9  as being a coiled type evaporator. The evaporator  114  may be of other designs or configurations, such as a finned tube type evaporator. 
       FIG. 10  shows, as an alternative, the evaporator  114  being made of extruded aluminum. An extruded aluminum tube  140  having a cross section as shown in  FIG. 10  could be cut off at an appropriate length to achieve the required or desired heat transfer. The extruded aluminum tube  140  may have brazed on aluminum end caps  142 . The end caps  142  may have passages that alternately communicate with every other circular slot, carrying alternately the working fluid to be evaporated and the fluid from the heat source. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a cross-sectional view of an CORC device  150  is shown in which a discharge  152  from a pump  154  is routed in such a way to cool a generator  156 . Heat produced by the generator  156  is reclaimed from the generator  156  to improve the overall efficiency of the CORC device  150 . The generator  156  also has a housing  158  having a passage  160  formed therein for allowing a refrigerant (not shown) to travel through the passage  160 . The CORC device  150  also has a thermal barrier  162  and a shaft seal  164 . 
       FIG. 12  depicts a perspective view of the CORC device  150  shown with a number of internal components  170  of the device  150  shown in block diagram form. The internal components  170  include a pump  172 , a generator pre-heater  174 , an expander  176 , an evaporator  178 , a heat source  180 , and a condenser. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 13 , a perspective view of the CORC device  150  is illustrated with a cover  190  being shown in phantom to show the passage  160  for refrigerant  192 . The refrigerant  192  is capable of flowing around the passage  160  of the generator housing  158  to cool the housing  158  which in turn cools the generator  156 . The passage  160  also has an outlet  194  that allows any heat generated by the generator  156  to be reclaimed to improve the overall efficiency of the device  150 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a perspective view of the CORC device  150  is illustrated with the cover  190  being shown in phantom to show the passage  160  for refrigerant  192 . The refrigerant  192  enters into the passage  160  from an inlet  196 . Although not shown, the refrigerant  192  is provided from a discharge of a pump within the device  150 . The refrigerant  192  is used to cool the generator  156  and the housing  158 . Heat generated by the generator  156  is reclaimed to improve the overall efficiency of the device  150 . 
     In light of all the foregoing, it should thus be apparent to those skilled in the art that there has been shown and described a compact energy cycle construction of a unique design that integrates within a compact container rotating components that share a common shaft along which working fluid transits between rotary working fluid treatment devices to flow toroidally within the container as the construction operates as or in accordance with an energy cycle. However, it should also be apparent that, within the principles and scope of the disclosure, many changes are possible and contemplated, including in the details, materials, and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the disclosure. Thus, while the foregoing description and discussion addresses certain preferred embodiments or elements, it should further be understood that concepts, as based upon the foregoing description and discussion, may be readily incorporated into or employed in other embodiments and constructions without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the disclosure broadly as well as in the specific form shown, and all changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure are deemed to be covered by the disclosure, which is limited only by the claims which follow.