US 11,530,644 B1 · Ericsson cycle turbine engine

Abstract

An Ericsson cycle turbine engine. The Ericsson cycle turbine may comprise: a centrifugal gas compressor, shaft, at least one heat exchanger, and a reaction turbine. The centrifugal gas compressor may function as a spinning wheel trompe and may be fed with a gas-liquid mixture. The centrifugal gas compressor may separate a gas from the gas-liquid mixture and compress that gas via centrifugal acceleration. The shaft may couple to the downstream end of the centrifugal gas compressor and may have an annular space to permit the compressed gas to travel therein. The heat exchanger may introduce heat to the compressed gas, such that isothermal expansion is approached. The reaction turbine may couple to the downstream end of the shaft and may rotate the shaft when releasing the compressed gas against a plurality of vanes. The liquid may be mercury, oil, or water. The gas may be helium, air, argon, or ammonia.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An Ericsson cycle turbine engine, comprising:

a centrifugal gas compressor being fed with a gas-liquid mixture and configured to separate a gas from said gas-liquid mixture and compress said gas;
a shaft coupled to a downstream end of said centrifugal gas compressor and having an annular space traversing therein, said annular space being configured to permit said compressed gas to travel across said shaft;
a heat exchanger configured to heat said compressed gas;
and
a reaction turbine coupled to a downstream end of said shaft and configured to rotate said shaft when releasing said compressed gas against a plurality of vanes;
wherein said shaft is disposed within said heat exchanger and fixedly coupled to said centrifugal gas compressor and said reaction turbine, such that when said reaction turbine rotates, said shaft and said centrifugal gas compressor rotates.

3 more elements

An Ericsson cycle turbine engine, comprising:

a centrifugal gas compressor being fed with a gas-liquid mixture and configured to separate a gas from said gas-liquid mixture and compress said gas;
a shaft coupled to a downstream end of said centrifugal gas compressor and having an annular space traversing therein, said annular space being configured to permit said compressed gas to travel across said shaft;
a heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with said shaft and configured to heat said compressed gas, such that isothermal expansion is approached;
and
a reaction turbine coupled to a downstream end of said shaft and configured to rotate said shaft when releasing said compressed gas against a plurality of vanes;
wherein said shaft is disposed within said heat exchanger;
and
wherein said centrifugal gas compressor, said shaft, and said reaction turbine are centered about a central longitudinal axis and are fixedly coupled to each other, such that when said reaction turbine rotates, said shaft and said centrifugal gas compressor rotates.

5 more elements

An Ericsson cycle turbine engine, comprising:

a tank having a liquid;
a first heat exchanger configured to heat said liquid;
a gas line configured to introduce gas into said liquid to create a gas-liquid mixture;
a centrifugal gas compressor rotatably coupled to a downstream end of said tank and being fed with said gas-liquid mixture. said centrifugal gas compressor being configured to separate said gas from said gas-liquid mixture and compress said gas by near isothermal compression:
a shaft coupled to a downstream end of said centrifugal gas compressor and having an annular space traversing therein, said annular space being configured to permit said compressed gas to travel across said shaft;
a second heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with said shaft and configured to heat said compressed gas, such that isothermal expansion is approached;
and
a reaction turbine coupled to a downstream end of said shaft and configured to rotate said shaft when releasing said compressed gas against a plurality of vanes;
wherein said shaft is disposed within said second heat exchanger;
and
wherein said centrifugal gas compressor, said shaft, and said reaction turbine are centered about a central longitudinal axis and are fixedly coupled to each other, such that when said reaction turbine rotates, said shaft and said centrifugal gas compressor rotates.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ericsson cycle turbine engine

Life of this patent

Ericsson cycle turbine engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18