Patent ID: 8384232

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a rotating assembly comprising: a turbine configured to receive a working fluid and rotate in response to expansion of the working fluid flowing into an inlet of the turbine and out of an outlet of the turbine, and a rotor of an electric generator, the rotor coupled to the turbine to rotate at the same speed as the turbine when the turbine rotates; a stationary assembly comprising: a stator of the electric generator, and a housing assembly comprising a working fluid inlet and a working fluid outlet, the turbine and the stator residing in the housing assembly between the working fluid inlet and the working fluid outlet, the housing assembly defining a shroud surface adjacent the turbine; and a plurality of bearings operable to support the rotor and turbine to rotate relative to the stator, and the plurality of bearings residing in the housing assembly between the working fluid inlet and the working fluid outlet, the rotating assembly configured having no seals between the working fluid inlet and the working fluid outlet.