Turbo-alternator-compressor design for supercritical high density working fluids
| DWPI Title: Thermodynamic system for generating power from working fluid e.g. fuel, has compressor whose ridges are extended from low-pressure face to pump working fluid so that pressure differential between high and low pressure faces is reduced |
| Abstract: Techniques for generating power are provided. Such techniques involve a thermodynamic system including a housing, a turbine positioned in a turbine cavity of the housing, a compressor positioned in a compressor cavity of the housing, and an alternator positioned in a rotor cavity between the turbine and compressor cavities. The compressor has a high-pressure face facing an inlet of the compressor cavity and a low-pressure face on an opposite side thereof. The alternator has a rotor shaft operatively connected to the turbine and compressor, and is supported in the housing by bearings. Ridges extending from the low-pressure face of the compressor may be provided for balancing thrust across the compressor. Seals may be positioned about the alternator for selectively leaking fluid into the rotor cavity to reduce the temperature therein. |
| Use: Thermodynamic system for generating power from supercritical working fluid such as inorganic compound, noble gas, olefin, fuel and refrigerant (all claimed). |
| Advantage: The rotor cavity pressure can be lowered sufficiently below the inlet pressure, so as to reduce the system failures and improve the system performance. The operation efficiency of the system can be improved effectively. |
| Novelty: The system (100) has an alternator (108) that is positioned in rotor cavity (112) between turbine and compressor cavities, and provided with rotor shaft (110) which is operatively connected to the turbine (104) and compressor (106). The alternator is supported in the housing (109) by bearings (114). The ridges of compressor are extended from the low-pressure face for pumping the supercritical working fluid which passes over the compressor so that pressure differential between high-pressure face and low-pressure face is reduced to balance thrust across the compressor. |
| Filed: 6/3/2009 |
| Application Number: US2009477259A |
| Tech ID: SD 11321.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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