Back to results
US 2014/0271120 A1Published application
Disk turbine using heat pipes
OwnerWilliam W. Cochraninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a steam turbine that utilizes heat pipes to remove heat from the surfaces of the disks of the steam turbine to provide greater efficiency and longer operational service of the steam turbine.
Claims11
A steam turbine comprising:
- a plurality of disks that rotate on a hub, said disks being separated by a predetermined space;
- steam injectors that inject steam between pairs of said disks in said predetermined space between said disks;
- at least one heat pipe disposed in each of said disks that transfers heat from outer peripheral portions of said disks to said hub that is connected to said disks;
- cooling water that flows through said hub to remove said heat from said hub.
1 more element
A method of removing heat from disks in a steam turbine comprising:
- providing a plurality of disks that are spaced apart by a predetermined spacing;
- injecting steam between said disks in said predetermined spacing, so that said steam condenses on said surfaces of said disks;
- removing heat from said disks to a hub using heat pipes that are disposed in said disks.
A solar energy device comprising:
- a plurality of disks that rotate on a hub, said disks separated by gaps having predetermined spacings;
- steam injectors that inject steam in said gaps;
- a thermal solar collector that generates a source of steam from solar radiation that is applied to said steam injectors.
A method of generating electricity from solar energy comprising:
- generating steam from solar radiation in a solar collector;
- applying said steam to at least one steam injector;
- injecting said steam from said steam injector in gaps between a plurality of disks that rotate on a hub which are separated by a predetermined distance to form said gaps;
- using rotational mechanical energy from said hub to drive an electrical generator that produces said electricity.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.