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US 12,110,811 B1Granted
Gas turbine architecture integrating a working fluid cycle
AssigneeUniversity of Notre Dame du Lac
InventorsJohn R. Fagan, Joshua D. Cameron, Scott C. Morris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas turbine engine with a closed loop working fluid cycle.
Claims20
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- an air-breathing compressor, said air-breathing compressor comprising an inlet to receive air from an environment, said air comprising an air pressure, said air-breathing compressor configured to increase said air pressure and to expel said air at an increased air pressure;
- a combustion chamber in fluid communication with said air-breathing compressor, said combustion chamber arranged to receive said air at said increased air pressure from said air-breathing compressor, and configured to ignite a fuel in the presence of said air causing an exothermic reaction releasing gaseous products, and configured to direct said gaseous products of said exothermic reaction toward an air turbine, said air turbine being in fluid communication with said combustion chamber, said air turbine being rotatably driven by said gaseous products of said exothermic reaction passing through said air turbine, said air turbine being configured to direct said gaseous products of said exothermic reaction toward a heat exchanger in fluid communication with said air turbine;
- and
- a closed loop working fluid system containing a working fluid, said closed loop working fluid system comprising a working fluid turbine, a cold sink, a working fluid compressor, and said heat exchanger, said working fluid turbine being in fluid communication with said cold sink, said cold sink being in fluid communication with said working fluid compressor, said working fluid compressor being in fluid communication with said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger being in fluid communication with said working fluid turbine, said working fluid compressor being coupled to said air turbine, and said working fluid turbine being coupled to said air-breathing compressor,
- wherein rotation of said air turbine drives rotation of said working fluid compressor by a first mechanical connection, and/or rotation of said working fluid turbine drives rotation of said air-breathing compressor by a second mechanical connection.
2 more elements
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- an air-breathing compressor, said air-breathing compressor comprising an inlet to receive air from an environment, said air comprising an air pressure, said air-breathing compressor configured to expel said air at an increased air pressure;
- a combustion chamber in fluid communication with said air-breathing compressor, said combustion chamber arranged to receive said air at said increased air pressure from said air-breathing compressor, and configured to ignite a fuel in the presence of said air causing an exothermic reaction releasing gaseous products, and configured to direct said gaseous products of said exothermic reaction toward an air turbine, said air turbine being in fluid communication with said combustion chamber, said air turbine being rotatably driven by said gaseous products of said exothermic reaction passing through said air turbine, said air turbine being configured to direct said gaseous products of said exothermic reaction toward a heat exchanger in fluid communication with said air turbine;
- and
- a closed loop working fluid system containing a working fluid, said closed loop working fluid system comprising a working fluid turbine, a cold sink, a working fluid compressor, and said heat exchanger, said working fluid turbine being in fluid communication with said cold sink, said cold sink being in fluid communication with said working fluid compressor, said working fluid compressor being in fluid communication with said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger being in fluid communication with said working fluid turbine, said working fluid compressor being coupled to said air turbine, and said working fluid turbine being coupled to said air-breathing compressor,
- wherein power transmission between said air turbine and said air-breathing compressor is accomplished without a shaft connecting said air turbine and said air-breathing compressor, and
- wherein said working fluid turbine is mechanically coupled to said air-breathing compressor, and/or said air turbine is mechanically coupled to said working fluid compressor.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.