Wave rotor apparatus
AssigneeBoard of Trustees of Michigan State University
InventorsNorbert Muller, Pezhman Akbari, Janusz Piechna, Florin Iancu
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Abstract
A wave rotor apparatus is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, a radial wave rotor includes fluid passageways oriented in a direction offset from its rotational axis. A further aspect of the present invention employs stacked layers of generally radial channels in a wave rotor. Moreover, turbomachinery is located internal to a wave rotor in yet another aspect of the present invention. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a radial wave rotor has an igniter and fuel injector. Correctional passages are employed in still another aspect of the present invention wave rotor.
Claims83
An apparatus comprising:
- a wave rotor operably rotating about a rotor axis;
- the wave rotor including multiple channels located substantially on a first plane, multiple channels located substantially on a second plane and multiple channels located substantially on at least a third plane;
- and
- at least the majority of the channels having elongated flow directions oriented offset from the rotor axis.
An apparatus comprising:
- a wave rotor having a plurality of fluid passageways, the wave rotor being rotatable about a rotor axis, the wave rotor having an internal surface defining an internal cavity;
- and
- a rotatable member located inside the cavity of the wave rotor, the member further comprising a plurality of fluid-impinging vanes rotatable about a member axis.
A wave rotor comprising:
- a first layer including at least three fluid passageways attached to a first wall;
- and
- at least a second layer including at least three fluid passageways attached to a second wall;
- the layers being joined together in a stacked manner and operably rotating about a rotor axis.
An apparatus comprising:
- a radial wave rotor;
- a radial compressor selectively in fluid communication with the radial wave rotor;
- and
- a turbine;
- the compressor and radial wave rotor operably utilizing fluid to exchange energy from a high energy fluid state to a low energy fluid state, increasing both temperature and pressure of the low energy fluid state during fluid flow from the compressor to the radial wave rotor and then to the turbine, free of a collector and free of a diffuser.
An apparatus comprising a radial wave rotor including a rotational rotor axis and fluid carrying channels having fluid flow directions oriented substantially radial to the rotor axis, the radial wave rotor operably creating a compressed fluid-pressure wave.
An apparatus comprising a wave rotor including multiple fluid passageways each having varied cross-sectional areas from an inlet opening to an outlet opening, a compressed fluid shock wave being operably generated in each passageway.
An apparatus comprising a radial wave rotor including multiple fluid passageways each having a curved elongated shape from an inlet opening to an outlet opening, a compressed fluid wave operably being created in the passageways.
An apparatus comprising:
- a wave rotor having fluid flow paths, the wave rotor being rotatable about a rotor axis;
- and
- a compressor including fluid-contacting structures rotatable about a compressor axis;
- the compressor axis being angularly offset from the rotor axis, and the compressor operably supplying fluid to the wave rotor.
An apparatus comprising a wave rotor including elongated fluid carrying channels, each of the channels including inlet and outlet openings, at least one of the openings having a substantially diamond-like shape relative to a rotational rotor axis.
An apparatus comprising:
- a radial wave rotor having channels;
- a fuel injector aligning with and injecting fuel into the channels in at least one operating position;
- and
- an igniter aligning with and igniting the fuel in the channels in at least one operating position;
- wherein the radial wave rotor generates a wave compression for an internal combustion engine.
A wave rotor apparatus comprising a surface defining an elongated channel being rotated around an axis, a shock wave of a flowing fluid moving through the channel, and a correctional passage located in the surface, the correctional passage being elongated and enclosed between an inlet and an outlet of the passage, the correctional passage operably receiving a portion of the flowing fluid and changing flow characteristics of the shock wave in at least one operating condition.
An apparatus comprising:
- a wave rotor including multiple fluid-carrying passageways, each of the passageways having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;
- and
- at least one end plate including a fluid blocking section, and the end plate further including an elongated and diagonally angled port being in periodic alignment with at least one of the passageways to allow fluid flow between the port and aligned passageway.
An apparatus comprising:
- a micromachine including a power generator of less than about 100 millimeters in size;
- and
- a radial wave rotor including a rotational rotor axis and fluid carrying channels having fluid flow directions oriented substantially radial to the rotor axis, the radial wave rotor being coupled to the micromachine.
An apparatus comprising:
- a wave rotor having a plurality of fluid passageways, the wave rotor being rotatable about a rotor axis, the wave rotor having an internal surface defining an internal cavity;
- and
- an electromagnetic device located inside the cavity of the wave rotor.
A method of manufacturing a power generation assembly comprising:
- (a) creating a first member to include outwardly radiating fluid passageways and an internal cavity;
- (b) creating a second member to include fluid-contacting vanes;
- (c) orienting the second member substantially inside the cavity of the first member;
- (d) providing selective fluid communication between the first and second members;
- (e) allowing the first and second members to rotate independently of each other in at least one condition;
- and
- (f) utilizing shock waves inside the passageways of the first member to transfer energy from a high energy fluid to a low energy fluid, increasing both temperature and pressure of the low energy fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.