Control for a closed cycle gas turbine system
AssigneeAdams Atomic Engines, Inc.
InventorRodney M. Adams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A throttle valve having defined characteristics controls flow of gas from a gas heater to a turbine in a closed cycle gas turbine system. The gas heater may be a nuclear reactor fueled by fission material preferably having a negative temperature coefficient of reactivity whereby the reactor automatically ceases heat production upon closing of the throttle valve.
Claims8
In a closed Brayton cycle gas turbine system comprising a gas heater having an inlet and an outlet, a gas turbine drivingly connected to a variable load and having an inlet and an outlet, a first conduit connecting the outlet of said gas heater with the inlet of said turbine, a second conduit between the outlet of said turbine and the inlet of said gas heater, a compressor for compressing gas in said second conduit and delivering said gas to the inlet of said gas heater, and a gas cooler in said second conduit between said compressor and the outlet of said turbine, the improvement comprising an adjustable throttle valve in said first conduit between the outlet of said gas heater and the inlet of said turbine, said throttle valve being constructed and arranged to adjust the mass flow of gas through said valve with substantially no pressure drop or friction loss and being substantially the sole means for controlling the power output of said turbine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.