# US 10,119,414 B2 · Hafnium turbine engine and method of operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,414 B2 - Document ID: US10119414B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/466,125 - Filed: 2012-05-08 - Published: 2013-11-14 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-08 - Applicants: David J. Podrog - Inventors: David J. Podrog - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119414B2 ## CPC - F01D 15/02: Adaptations for driving vehicles, e.g. locomotives - F01K 27/00: Plants for converting heat or fluid energy into mechanical energy, not otherwise provided for - F02C 1/05: characterised by the type or source of heat, e.g. using nuclear or solar energy - F02C 6/20: Adaptations of gas-turbine plants for driving vehicles - F05D 2300/135: Hafnium - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F01K: STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES (gas-turbine or jet-propulsion plants F02; nuclear power plants, engine arrangements therein G21D) - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A method of heating a gas by directing X-rays at a mass of hafnium 178 to induce gamma rays. The gamma rays are directed at a heat exchanging apparatus, resulting in a stream of heated gas. This process powers a Hafnium gas turbine engine capable of providing shaft power or thrust to mechanical devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hafnium gas turbine engine comprising: an X-ray machine, a mass of hafnium, a heat exchange apparatus, and a gas turbine wherein the X-ray machine is configured such that X-rays from the X-ray machine will strike the hafnium when the X-ray machine is activated, and wherein the mass of hafnium is configured such that gamma rays from the hafnium are capable of heating a gas within the heat exchange apparatus, and wherein the heat exchange apparatus is configured to direct the heated gas towards the turbine to drive the turbine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hafnium turbine engine of claim 1, further comprising an AC or DC power source, solar cell, battery or generator attached to the X-ray machine to power the X-ray machine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hafnium turbine engine of claim 1, further comprising a generator attached to the turbine, wherein the generator is configured to continuously power the X-ray machine after the turbine is driven. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hafnium turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the heated gas is air. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hafnium turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the heated gas is nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The hafnium turbine engine of claim 1, further comprising an intercooler configured to cool the gas and deliver the cooled gas to a compressor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The hafnium turbine engine of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust apparatus configured to receive at least a portion of gas from the turbine, and an intercooler configured to receive at least a portion of gas from the exhaust apparatus, capable of cooling the gas wherein the engine is configured to deliver the cooled gas from the intercooler to a compressor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The hafnium turbine engine of claim 1, further comprised of combustion apparatus capable of heating and expanding the gas, and wherein the engine is configured so that heated air can be directed to the turbine from the heat exchange apparatus, the combustion apparatus, or both, and a controller capable of engaging or disengaging either the heat exchange apparatus or the combustion apparatus. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hafnium turbine engine of claim 1, further comprised of a combustion apparatus capable of heating and expanding the gas, wherein the engine is configured so that the gas is directed through both the heat exchange apparatus and the combustion apparatus and wherein the combustion apparatus is also configured to direct the heated gas towards the turbine to drive the turbine, and a controller capable of activating the heat exchange apparatus, the combustion apparatus or both. ### Claim 10 A method for driving a gas turbine engine comprising the steps of: providing an X-ray machine, providing a mass of hafnium, configuring the X-ray machine so that X-rays from the X-ray machine will strike the mass of hafnium when the X-ray machine is activated, resulting in the emission of gamma rays from the hafnium, providing a heat exchange apparatus, configuring the mass of hafnium and heat exchange apparatus so that gamma rays emitted from the hafnium are capable of heating a gas within the heat exchange apparatus, providing a gas turbine, and configuring the heat exchange apparatus to direct the heated gas towards the turbine to drive the turbine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method for driving a gas turbine engine of claim 10, further comprising the steps of providing an AC or DC power source, solar cell, battery or generator, and attaching the AC or DC power source, solar cell, battery or generator to the X-ray machine to power the X-ray machine, either initially or continuously. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method for driving a gas turbine engine of claim 10, further comprising the steps of attaching a generator to the turbine, and configuring the generator to continuously power the X-ray machine after the turbine is driven. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method for driving a gas turbine engine of claim 10, wherein the heated gas is air. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method for driving a gas turbine engine of claim 10, wherein the heated gas is nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method for driving a gas turbine engine of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: providing an intercooler, providing a compressor, and configuring the intercooler to cool gas and deliver the cooled gas to the compressor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method for driving a gas turbine engine of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: providing exhaust apparatus and configuring the exhaust apparatus to receive at least a portion of the heated gas from the turbine, providing an intercooler and configuring the intercooler to receive at least a portion of the gas from the exhaust apparatus, and configuring the intercooler or other cooling apparatus to deliver the cooled gas to a compressor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method for driving a gas turbine engine of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: providing combustion apparatus capable of heating and expanding a gas, and configuring the engine so that heated gas can be directed to the turbine from the heat exchange apparatus, the combustion apparatus, or both, and providing a controller unit connected to the heat exchanger and combustion apparatus that is capable of disengaging either. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method for driving a gas turbine engine of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: providing combustion apparatus capable of heating and expanding a gas, configuring the engine so that the heated gas can be directed through both the heat exchange apparatus and the combustion apparatus, and providing a controller unit connected to the heat exchanger and combustion apparatus that is capable of disengaging either.