Two-phase engine
AssigneeBiphase Engines, Inc.
InventorsLance G. Hays, David G. Elliott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A two-phase power source comprises a rotor; a nozzle having an outlet directed to discharge a two-phase jet for impingement on the rotor to rotate same, the nozzle having means to subdivide flow therein; and means to supply a heated first fluid in liquid state to the nozzle for subdivided flow therein toward said outlet and to supply a second and vaporizable fluid in liquid state to the nozzle to receive heat from the first fluid therein causing the second fluid to vaporize in the nozzle and mix with the first fluid in essentially liquid state to produce said discharging jet.
Claims11
In a two-phase power source, the combination comprising
- a. a rotor having blades,
- b. a nozzle having an outlet directed to discharge a two-phase jet forwardly for impingement on the rotor to rotate same, the nozzle having means to subdivide flow therein, and
- c. means to supply a heated first fluid in liquid state to the nozzle for subdivided flow therein toward said outlet and to supply a second and vaporizable fluid in liquid state to the nozzle to receive heat from the first fluid therein causing the second fluid to vaporize in the nozzle and mix with the first fluid in essentially liquid state to produce said discharging jet,
- d. each of said blades having, in section, a generally straight surface portion to receive jet impingement, said portion inclined forwardly and transversely relative to the forward direction of travel of the impinging jet to effect separation of the first fluid in liquid state from the second fluid and so that the separated liquid forms a continuous film on said straight surface portion, the blade section also having a concavely curved surface portion merging with said straight surface portion to receive the liquid film therefrom and to turn the film to travel generally reversely relative to said impinging direction, the total rearwardly projected area of said second surface portion being less than one-half the rearwardly projected area of the impinging jet extent.
In a two-phase power source, the combination comprising
- a. first and second turbine rotors having independent shafts, blades and power take-offs,
- b. first and second nozzles having outlets respectively directed to discharge two-phase jets for impingement on the respective rotor blades to rotate the rotors,
- c. means to supply a heated first fluid in liquid state to each nozzle for flow therein toward the nozzle outlet, and to supply a second and vaporizable fluid to each nozzle to receive heat from the first fluid therein causing the second fluid to expand in the nozzle and mix with the first fluid in essentially liquid state to produce said discharging jets,
- d. pump means and appurtenance equipment driven by one rotor power take-off at substantially constant rotary speed for recirculating at least one of the fluids to the nozzles after fluid separation from the rotors, and the other power take-off being operatively connectible to a variable speed load, enabling self sustaining operation at zero speed and having a high torque at zero speed,
- e. each of said blades having, in section, a generally straight surface portion to receive jet impingement, said portion inclined forwardly and transversely relative to the forward direction of travel of the impinging jet to effect separation of the first fluid in liquid state from the second fluid and so that the separated liquid forms a continuous film on said straight surface portion, the blade section also having a concavely curved surface portion merging with said straight surface portion to receive the liquid film therefrom and to turn the film to travel generally reversely relative to said impinging direction, the total rearwardly projected area of said second surface portion being less than one-half the rearwardly projected area of the impinging jet extent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.