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US 10,851,665 B2Granted
Angular velocity stepping and methods of use in turbomachinery
OwnerCorey B. Kuhnsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is an improved architecture for rotary kinetic fluid motors and pumps, in which working fluid gains or loses pressure by flowing through an alternating sequence of radial-flow impellers and radial-flow fluid vortices, the impellers and fluid vortices all rotating around a single axis and in a common direction at staggered speeds, each vortex being the product of rotating fluid that is flowing radially through a bladeless annular volume.
Claims18
A method of operating a turbomachine as a pump or compressor, comprising:
- providing a pump or compressor that ingests a fluid flow and directs the flow to enter a first process impeller at radius A, the flow then exiting said first process impeller at a radius B and entering a first bladeless annular volume, the flow then exiting said first volume at a radius C and entering a second impeller, said second impeller rotating at a slower revolution per minute than said first process impeller, where said first process impeller is being driven by a motive force, wherein the first process impeller and the second impeller in said pump or compressor have a common rotational axis when each radii is measured from said axis, and wherein said radius C is larger than said radius B, and said radius B is larger than said radius A.
A method of operating a turbomachine as a motor or turbine, comprising:
- providing a fluid motor or turbine that ingests a fluid flow and directs the flow to enter a first impeller, the flow then exiting said first impeller at a radius J and entering a first bladeless annular volume, the flow then exiting said first volume at a radius K and entering a second process impeller, the flow then exiting said second process impeller at a radius L, said second process impeller rotating at a higher revolution per minute than said first impeller, said second process impeller generating an output motive force, wherein said first impeller and second process impeller in said motor or turbine have a common rotational axis with each radius being measured from said axis, and wherein said radius L is smaller than said radius K and said radius K is smaller than said radius J.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.