# US 12,110,811 B1 · Gas turbine architecture integrating a working fluid cycle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,811 B1 - Document ID: US12110811B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/957,379 - Filed: 2022-09-30 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-07 - Assignees: University of Notre Dame du Lac - Applicants: University of Notre Dame du Lac - Inventors: John R. Fagan; Joshua D. Cameron; Scott C. Morris - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110811B1 ## CPC - F01K 25/103: {Carbon dioxide (F01K25/065 takes precedence)} - F01K 23/10: with exhaust fluid of one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle (F01K17/025 takes precedence) - F02C 1/10: Closed cycles - F01K 7/32: the engines using steam of critical or overcritical pressure - F02C 7/185: {Cooling means for reducing the temperature of the cooling air or gas} - F05D 2220/76: an electrical generator - F05D 2260/205: Cooling fluid recirculation, i.e. after cooling one or more components is the cooling fluid recovered and used elsewhere for other purposes - F05D 2260/213: by the provision of a heat exchanger within the cooling circuit - F01K: STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES (gas-turbine or jet-propulsion plants F02; nuclear power plants, engine arrangements therein G21D) - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A gas turbine engine with a closed loop working fluid cycle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein said working fluid is supercritical carbon dioxide. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein said working fluid is transcritical carbon dioxide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gas turbine engine of claim 1, further comprising: an electric generator coupled to said air turbine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The gas turbine engine of claim 4, further comprising: an electric motor electrically coupled to said electric generator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The gas turbine engine of claim 5, further comprising: a propulsor electrically coupled to said electric motor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The gas turbine engine of claim 6, wherein electricity from said electric motor drives said propulsor, and said propulsor is configured to propel a structure into which said propulsor has been installed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The gas turbine engine of claim 7, wherein said structure is an aircraft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The gas turbine engine of claim 6, wherein said propulsor is located remotely from said air turbine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The gas turbine engine of claim 4, further comprising: a battery electrically coupled to said electric generator, wherein said electric generator charges said battery. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The gas turbine engine of claim 11, wherein said working fluid is supercritical carbon dioxide. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The gas turbine engine of claim 11, wherein said working fluid is transcritical carbon dioxide. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The gas turbine engine of claim 11, further comprising: an electric generator coupled to said air turbine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The gas turbine engine of claim 14, further comprising: an electric motor electrically coupled to said electric generator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The gas turbine engine of claim 15, further comprising: a propulsor electrically coupled to said electric motor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The gas turbine engine of claim 16, wherein electricity from said electric motor drives said propulsor, and said propulsor is configured to propel a structure into which said propulsor has been installed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The gas turbine engine of claim 17, wherein said structure is an aircraft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The gas turbine engine of claim 18, wherein said propulsor is located remotely from said air turbine. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The gas turbine engine of claim 14, further comprising: a battery electrically coupled to said electric generator, wherein said electric generator charges said battery.