Patent · US Expired

Self-contained energy center for producing mechanical, electrical, and heat energy

US6313544A · kind A · utility

74Cited by
17References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 4, 2000
Grant dateNov 6, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 4, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E20/14
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Various forms of energy, such as mechanical, electrical, and/or heat energy are produced by an energy conversion mechanism which includes a spool, the spool including a shaft on which a compressor and turbine are mounted. A generator is operably connected to the energy conversion mechanism for converting mechanical energy thereof into electrical energy. Fuel and air are supplied separately to the compressor. A regenerator type heat exchanger has a cold side for conducting compressed air traveling from an outlet of a compressor to an inlet of the microturbine, a hot side for conducting hot waste gas from the energy conversion mechanism, and a rotary core movable sequentially through the cold and hot sides for absorbing heat in the hot side and giving up heat in the cold side. A catalytic combustor combusts the fuel at a location upstream of the turbine. During start-up, the catalytic combustor is preheated independently of the heat exchanger by an electric heater.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.