Fluid accelerator
AssigneeESS 2 Tech, LLC
InventorsMichael Suk, David A. Shoffler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A turbine wheel may include an inner hub having a central axis, an outer ring concentric with the inner hub, and an intermediate ring concentrically disposed between the inner hub and the outer ring, and a plurality of turbine blades extending between the intermediate ring and the outer ring. The turbine blades may be oriented to be driven by a fluid stream flowing through the turbine wheel to rotate the turbine wheel in a first direction about the central axis. In addition, the turbine wheel may further include a plurality of compressor blades extending between the inner hub and the intermediate ring. Also, the compressor blades may be oriented to propel a fluid in a downstream direction when the turbine wheel is rotated in the first direction.
Claims20
A turbine wheel, comprising:
- an inner hub having a central axis, an outer ring concentric with the inner hub, and an intermediate ring concentrically disposed between the inner hub and the outer ring,
- a plurality of turbine blades extending between the intermediate ring and the outer ring;
- the turbine blades being oriented to be driven by a stream of fluid flowing through the turbine wheel to rotate the turbine wheel in a first direction about the central axis;
- and
- a plurality of compressor blades extending between the inner hub and the intermediate ring, each compressor blade including a leading edge and a trailing edge;
- the compressor blades being oriented to propel the stream of fluid in a direction downstream of the trailing edges of the compressor blades and axially with respect to the central axis when the turbine wheel is rotated in the first direction.
A turbine wheel, comprising:
- a plurality of turbine blades oriented to be driven by a stream of fluid flowing through the turbine wheel to rotate the turbine wheel in a first direction about a central axis of the turbine wheel;
- and
- a plurality of compressor blades oriented to propel the fluid in a downstream direction when the turbine wheel is rotated in the first direction;
- wherein the turbine blades and/or the compressor blades have an airfoil cross-sectional shape, including:
- a base portion including a first surface associated with a pressure side and a second surface associated with a suction side;
- an overhang portion that extends over at least a portion of the base portion;
- and
- an elliptic portion connecting the base portion and the overhang portion adjacent a leading edge;
- wherein the overhang portion is curved toward the second surface of the base portion.
A fluid accelerator, comprising:
- an outer housing having an inlet end and an outlet end, the outer housing defining a nozzle proximate the inlet end;
- and
- an annular ring disposed proximate the inlet end of the outer housing within the nozzle;
- wherein the annular ring has an airfoil cross-sectional shape;
- a turbine wheel disposed within the outer housing downstream from the annular ring, the turbine wheel including:
- an inner hub having a central axis, an outer ring concentric with the inner hub, and an intermediate ring concentrically disposed between the inner hub and the outer ring,
- a plurality of turbine blades extending between the intermediate ring and the outer ring;
- the turbine blades being oriented to be driven by a stream of fluid through the turbine wheel to rotate the turbine wheel in a first direction about the central axis;
- and
- a plurality of compressor blades extending between the inner hub and the intermediate ring;
- the compressor blades being oriented to drive the fluid downstream when the turbine wheel is rotated in the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.