THERMODYNAMIC SYSTEMS OPERATING WITH NEAR-ISOTHERMAL COMPRESSION AND EXPANSION CYCLES

摘要

A thermodynamic system that can approximate the Ericsson or Brayton cycles an operated in reverse or forward modes to implement a cooler or engine, including a device for compressing a first fluid stream containing a first gas -liquid mixture having a sufficient liquid content so that compression of the gas within the first gas -liquid mixture by the compressing device is nearly isothermal, and a device for expanding a second fluid stream containing a second gas -liquid mixture having a sufficient liquid content so that expansion of the gas within the second gas -liquid mixture by the expanding device is nearly isothermal. The compressing and expanding devices are not liquid-ring compressors or expanders, but instead are devices that tolerate liquid flooding, such as scroll-type compressors and expanders.