Combination seal for a supercritical carbon dioxide turbo generator
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsBrian M. Holley, Malcolm MacDonald, Duane C. McCormick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A turbo generator rotor assembly is provided and includes a generator, first and second bearings on a compressor-side and a turbine-side of the generator and a combination seal configuration in which leakage from the compressor cools the first bearing, the generator and the second bearing. The combination seal configuration leads to minimal leakage past the turbine with the generator and the first and second bearings being cooled with leakage flow from the compressor.
Claims6
A method of operating a super-critical carbon dioxide (sCO2) turbo generator rotor assembly with a generator operably interposed between a compressor and a turbine, the method comprising:
- directing leakage from the compressor through a first bearing on a compressor-side of the generator, around the generator and through a second bearing on a turbine-side of the generator;
- and
- redirecting the leakage from the compressor and leakage from a turbine as egress from the second bearing to a pump,
- wherein the directing of the leakage from the compressor comprises:
- determining an operating condition of the sCO2 turbo generator rotor assembly;
- and
- adjusting the leakage from the compressor to achieve a balance of generator efficiency and a parasitic pumping loss for the operating condition.
A method of operating a super-critical carbon dioxide (sCO2) turbo generator rotor assembly with a generator operably interposed between a compressor and a turbine, the method comprising:
- directing leakage from the compressor through a first bearing on a compressor-side of the generator, around an exterior of the generator and through a second bearing on a turbine-side of the generator;
- and
- redirecting the leakage from the compressor and leakage from a turbine as egress from the second bearing to a pump,
- wherein the directing of the leakage from the compressor comprises:
- determining an operating condition of the sCO2 turbo generator rotor assembly;
- and
- adjusting the leakage from the compressor to achieve a balance of generator efficiency and a parasitic pumping loss for the operating condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.