Microturbine and method of manufacture

A method of assembling a micro turbine assembly, the method comprising steps of:

• creating a micro turbine engine subassembly by:
• obtaining an engine shaft assembly comprising elements being arranged from a first airflow discharge end of the engine shaft to a second, opposite end of the engine shaft in the following order:
• a turbine, a turbine spacer in radial alignment with a gap between the turbine and a compressor, a compressor shroud in radial alignment with the compressor, a magnetic rotor, and a thrust bearing,
• assembling a magnetic winding stator to the engine shaft assembly, the magnetic winding stator provided in radial alignment with the magnetic rotor, a combination of the magnetic rotor and the magnetic winding stator creating an electric generator,
• assembling a heat sink to the engine shaft assembly, the heat sink provided in radial alignment with the electric generator,
• providing a combustion chamber within an interior of the turbine spacer;
• creating a micro turbine air sourcing housing subassembly by:
• assembling a turbine air intake scroll and a compressor exhaust scroll to an exterior of an engine housing,
• assembling a radial turbine shroud to the first airflow discharge end of the engine housing;
• and
• creating an air supply and electronics subassembly by:
• assembling a digital signal processor to an air supply housing, the air supply housing having an air inlet provided at an upstream location thereof,
• assembling a planar transformer assembled to the air supply housing, and
• assembling a multilevel inverter assembled to the air supply housing;
• slideably inserting the micro turbine engine subassembly into an interior of the micro turbine air sourcing housing subassembly in a direction towards the radial turbine shroud,
• assembling the air supply and electronics subassembly to the engine housing of the micro turbine air housing assembly to form the micro turbine assembly;
• wherein a space between the turbine spacer and the compressor shroud directs airflow from the compressor to the compressor exhaust scroll,
• wherein a space between the turbine spacer and the radial turbine shroud directs airflow from the turbine air intake scroll to the turbine,
• wherein when completed the micro turbine assembly is designed to operate having an air supply pass through the air inlet, the heat sink for cooling the electronics and the electric generator, and into an air intake of the compressor, in that sequential order.

A micro turbine assembly comprising:

• a micro turbine engine subassembly, including:
• elements assembled onto an engine shaft creating a preassembled engine shaft assembly, the elements including and being arranged from a first airflow discharge end of the engine shaft to a second, opposite end of the engine shaft in the following order:
• a turbine, a gap between the turbine and a compressor, a magnetic rotor and a thrust bearing,
• a turbine spacer circumscribing and extending radially into the gap between the turbine and the compressor,
• a compressor shroud in radial alignment with and circumscribing the compressor, and
• a stator portion of an electric generator positioned in radial alignment with and circumscribing the magnetic rotor,
• a combustor, and
• a heat sink;
• a micro turbine air sourcing housing subassembly, including:
• an engine housing and at least one of a turbine air intake scroll, and a compressor exhaust scroll, the engine housing having an interior surface defining an interior having an interior diameter;
• and
• an air supply and electronics subassembly, including:
• an air supply housing,
• an air inlet at an upstream location of the air supply housing,
• a digital signal processor assembled to the air supply housing,
• a planar transformer assembled to the air supply housing, and
• a multilevel inverter assembled to the air supply housing;
• wherein the micro turbine engine subassembly is designed as a compact subassembly having a diameter and shape that is smaller than the interior diameter defined by the interior surface of the engine housing,
• wherein the micro turbine engine subassembly is slideably inserted into the interior of the engine housing,
• wherein the air supply and electronics subassembly is assembled to the engine housing forming the micro turbine assembly,
• wherein an air supply passes through the air inlet, the heat sink for cooling the electronics and the electric generator, and flowing into an air intake of the compressor in that sequential order.