TURBINE-COMPRESSOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD

A turbine-compressor assembly includes a turbine-compressor device fluidly coupled with a heat source, a compressor, and a turbine via plural valves. A power device is coupled with the turbine-compressor device via a shaft. A controller can control operation of the plural valves to control the movement of fluids within the assembly to selectively switch between the turbine-compressor device operating in one of plural operating modes. In a first mode of operation, the turbine-compressor device can generate electrical power and direct the electrical power to the power device to control an amount of power provided to or extracted from the shaft by the power device. In a second mode of operation, the turbine-compressor device can receive electrical power from the power device to consumer the electrical power.