Homopolar turbine
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorPatrick Daniel Noyes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, a turbine includes a shaft and a turbine stage coupled to the shaft. The turbine stage includes a turbine blade. The turbine further includes a housing surrounding the turbine stage and a magnet located within the housing. The turbine is operable to receive an exhaust gas, generate a magnetic field using the magnet, and generate, by rotating the turbine blade, a current along the turbine blade in a radial direction toward the shaft. The turbine is further operable to ionize the exhaust gas between a tip of the turbine blade and the housing to form a plasma and electrically connect, using the plasma, the tip of the turbine blade to the housing.
Claims20
A turbine, comprising:
- a shaft;
- a turbine stage coupled to the shaft, the turbine stage comprising a turbine blade;
- a housing surrounding the turbine stage;
- and
- a magnet located within the housing;
- wherein the turbine is operable to:
- receive an exhaust gas;
- generate, using the magnet, a magnetic field;
- generate, by rotating the turbine blade, a current along the turbine blade in a radial direction toward the shaft;
- ionize the exhaust gas between a tip of the turbine blade and the housing to form a plasma;
- and
- electrically connect, using the plasma, the tip of the turbine blade to the housing.
A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a turbine, an exhaust gas;
- generating, by a magnet located within a housing of the turbine, a magnetic field;
- generating, by rotating a turbine blade, a current along the turbine blade of a turbine stage of the turbine in a radial direction toward a shaft of the turbine;
- ionizing the exhaust gas between a tip of the turbine blade and the housing to form a plasma;
- and
- electrically connecting, using the plasma, the tip of the turbine blade to the housing.
A system, comprising:
- a combustor;
- and
- a turbine, wherein the turbine comprises:
- a shaft;
- a turbine stage coupled to the shaft, the turbine stage comprising a turbine blade;
- a housing surrounding the turbine stage;
- and
- a magnet located within the housing;
- wherein the turbine is operable to:
- receive an exhaust gas from the combustor;
- generate, using the magnet, a magnetic field;
- generate, by rotating the turbine blade, a current along the turbine blade in a radial direction toward the shaft;
- ionize the exhaust gas between a tip of the turbine blade and the housing to form a plasma;
- and
- electrically connect, using the plasma, the tip of the turbine blade to the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.