Method and apparatus for power generation using rotating ramjet which compresses inlet air and expands exhaust gas against stationary peripheral wall

An apparatus for generating power, comprising:

• (a) a first housing means, said first housing means comprising a stationary peripheral wall portion, said stationary peripheral wall portion, and an air supply plenum;
• (b) an output means, said output means comprising at least one shaft portion, said shaft portion rotatably secured about an axis of rotation by said first housing means;
• (c) a rotor means, said rotor means secured to said output means, so that said rotor may rotate with said output means;
• (d) an exhaust outlet passageway, and a peripheral exhaust gas collection chamber, said exhaust outlet passageway adjacent to, and, at the inlet thereof at least partially formed in, said stationary peripheral wall portion, said exhaust outlet passageway providing fluid communication between said air supply plenum and at least one peripheral exhaust gas collection chamber located radially outward from said axis of rotation of said rotor;
• (e) a ramjet means, said ramjet means integrally formed between an unshrouded thrust module and said stationary peripheral wall, said ramjet means operating at a velocity of at least Mach 1, and said ramjet means further characterized in that said stationary peripheral wall is located in close proximity to said ramjet means when said ramjet means passes adjacent to a given location on said peripheral wall, whereby said ramjet means relies on at least a portion of said stationary peripheral wall to assist in compression of an inlet air stream into said ramjet means;
• (f) said apparatus adapted to oxidize fuel in said ramjet means to generate combustion gases to produce thrust from said ramjet means so as to rotate said ramjet means, rotor means, and output means, to thereby provide power output from said apparatus.

A method of generating power, comprising:

• (a) providing one or more thrust modules rotatably secured between a first, inboard housing and a second, stationary outboard housing;
• (b) supplying an oxidizable fuel to said one or more thrust modules;
• (c) oxidizing said fuel in said one or more thrust modules to
• (i) generate combustion gases which escape therefrom, and to
• (ii) generate a motive force by thrust reaction of said escaping combustion gases from (A) said one or more thrust modules, and (B) at least a portion of said second, stationary outboard housing,
• (d) propelling said one or more thrust modules at a velocity in excess of Mach 1.0 through a supplied air stream by way of said motive force, said one or more thrust modules further characterized in that each of said one or more thrust modules relies on at least a portion of said second, stationary outboard housing to assist in compression of a portion of said supplied air stream, as each of said one or more thrust modules passes adjacent to said second, outboard housing;
• (e) turning an output shaft operatively connected to said one or more thrust modules;
• (f) whereby power is provided at said output shaft.

An apparatus for generating power, comprising:

• a) first housing and a second, stationary circumferential peripheral wall housing;
• b) an output shaft, said output shaft rotatably secured about a central axis by said first housing;
• c) a rotor means, said rotor means securely affixed to said output shaft;
• d) at least one ramjet, said at least one ramjet
• (i) comprising an inboard portion securely affixed to said rotor means, said inboard portion further comprising a compression ramp;
• (ii) utilizing said stationary circumferential peripheral wall housing as an outboard portion, so that said stationary circumferential peripheral wall housing acts as a retaining surface against which said compression ramp compresses the air entering said at least one ramjet.