Efficient power turbine and electrical generation system
US7731480B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 7, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/60
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A power turbine is provided in the form of a set of plates that cooperate to form a housing, with a set of spaced apart disks mounted on a shaft within the housing. Some of the plates and disks cooperate to allow gas or steam to be injected to provide a driving force on the shaft, while others of the disks and plates cooperate to form one or more integral pumps. The pumps are used to pull cooling liquid or water into the housing, and to cool the driving disks. In this way, the steam that drives the disks is condensed while still in the housing, with a water level maintained on the driving disks. In operation, the steam directly acts on the disks toward the outer circumference of the disks, but more toward the center of the disk, the steam transfers its energy to the water, and the water transfers the energy to the disk. Since water is less compressible and able to efficiently transfer energy to the disks, the power turbine is able to operate at relatively slow speeds, has good low-speed torque, and still has excellent conversion efficiency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.