Single rotor engine with turbine exhausting to subatmospheric pressure

An automotive gas turbine engine assembly comprising:

• a rotor having a first fluid flow path therein operable to compress inlet air, means for combusting the compressed inlet air with fuel for producing a discharge of motive fluid, means forming a turbine for extracting energy from said motive fluid discharge and operable to drive said rotor to induce flow through said first flow path, recuperator means for transferring heat of exhaust from said turbine to discharge flow from said first path prior to its passage into said combustor means, means including said recuperator means, intercooler means, and a secondary compressor for reducing the pressure of said turbine exhaust gas to a predetermined subatmospheric pressure level to define a subatmospheric source of heating fluid, thereby to improve engine cycle efficiency, and means including said secondary compressor defining a compression flow path operative to draw fluid from said subatmospheric source for discharge to atmosphere to produce an exhaust compression mode thereby to complete engine gas flow back to atmosphere and passenger compartment heater means including a core located within said subatmospheric source of heating fluid and means for transferring heat therefrom for conditioning the passenger compartment of an automobile powered by the gas turbine engine assembly.

An automotive gas turbine engine assembly comprising:

• a rotor having a first fluid flow path therein operable to compress inlet air, means for combusting the compressed inlet air with fuel for producing a discharge of motive fluid, means forming a turbine for extracting energy from said motive fluid discharge and operable to drive said rotor to induce flow through said first flow path, recuperator means for transferring heat of exhaust from said turbine into discharge flow from said first path prior to its passage into said combustor means, means including said recuperator means, intercooler means, and a secondary compressor for reducing the pressure of said turbine exhaust gas to a predetermined subatmospheric pressure level to define a subatmospheric source of heating fluid, thereby to improve engine cycle efficiency, and means including said secondary compressor defining a compression flow path operative to draw fluid from said subatmospheric source for discharge to atmosphere to produce an exhaust compression mode thereby to complete engine gas flow back to atmosphere and means for tapping said subatmospheric source of pressure as a source of vacuum for powering vacuum operated automobile accessories.

An automotive gas turbine engine assembly comprising:

• a rotor having a first fluid flow path therein operable to compress inlet air, means for combusting the compressed inlet air with fuel for producing a discharge of motive fluid, means forming a turbine for extracting energy from said motive fluid discharge and operable to drive said rotor to induce flow through said first flow path, recuperator means for transferring heat of exhaust from said turbine to discharge flow from said first path prior to its passage into said combustor means, means including said recuperator means, intercooler means and a secondary compressor for reducing the pressure of said turbine exhaust gas to a predetermined subatmospheric pressure level thereby to improve engine cycle efficiency, and means defining said secondary compressor as a compression flow path in said rotor operative to draw fluid from said subatmospheric source for discharge to atmosphere to produce an exhaust compression mode thereby to complete engine gas flow back to atmosphere, and means located within said rotor to cause flow through said compression flow path to transfer heat from said rotor for reducing the operating temperature thereof so as to improve its thermal mechanical characteristics.