Self-contained energy center for producing mechanical, electrical, and heat energy

An energy producing apparatus comprising:

• an energy conversion mechanism comprising a compressor side for compressing air, and a turbine side for driving the compressor side;
• an air supply for conducting air into a compressor of the compressor side;
• an electrical generator operably connected to the turbine side to be driven thereby for producing electrical energy;
• a heat exchanger having a first passage for conducting all of the compressed air traveling from an outlet of the compressor side, and a second passage for conducting hot waste gas from an outlet of the turbine side in heat exchange relationship with the compressed air in the first passage;
• a combustor disposed between an outlet of the first passage of the heat exchanger and an inlet of the turbine side for reacting a compressed air/fuel mixture received from the first passage prior to entry thereof into the turbine side;
• and
• a fuel supply mechanism for supplying pressurized fuel downstream of the compressor side, the fuel supply mechanism comprising a roto cell device having a driven rotor forming a plurality of cells spaced circumferentially around an outer periphery thereof for receiving fuel, and a take-off conduit for diverting compressed air from the compressor side and introducing the diverted compressed air into the cells for pressurizing the fuel.

An energy producing apparatus comprising:

• an energy conversion mechanism comprising a compressor side for compressing air/fuel, and a turbine side for driving the compressor side;
• an air supply conduit and a fuel supply conduit for conducting air and fuel separately into a compressor of the compressor side to be compressed and mixed therein;
• an electrical generator operably connected to the turbine side to be driven thereby for producing electrical energy;
• a heat exchanger having a first passage for conducting compressed air/fuel traveling from an outlet of the compressor side, and a second passage for conducting hot waste gas from an outlet of the turbine side in heat exchange relationship with the compressed air/fuel in the first passage;
• a catalytic combustor disposed between an outlet of the first passage of the heat exchanger and an inlet of the turbine side for reacting compressed air/fuel mixture received from the first passage prior to entry thereof into the turbine side;
• and
• a fuel pressurizing mechanism for pressurizing fuel delivered to the compressor side, the fuel pressurizing mechanism comprising a roto cell device including a rotor having a plurality of cells spaced circumferentially around an outer periphery thereof for receiving fuel, the roto cell device operably connected to the spool to be rotated thereby, and a take-off conduit for diverting compressed air from the compressor side and introducing the diverted compressed air into the cells for pressurizing the fuel.