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US 6,198,174 B1Granted
Microturbine power generating system
AssigneeAlliedSignal Inc.
InventorsRobert A. Nims, Patrick Lee O'Brien, Terrence Emerson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microturbine power generation system includes an electrical generator, a turbine and a compressor intermediate the generator and the turbine. The turbine, compressor and electrical generator are secured together by a tieshaft. The tieshaft is prestressed such that faces of the turbine, electrical generator and compressor maintain contact during high-speed, high-temperature operation of the system.
Claims23
A microturbine power generating system, comprising:
- a turbine for converting gaseous heat energy into mechanical energy;
- a power converter for converting the mechanical energy produced by the turbine into electrical energy, the power converter having a rotating portion and a non-rotating portion;
- and
- a single tieshaft having a diameter of less than about one-half inch, the tieshaft connecting the turbine and the rotating portion of the power converter, wherein, during operation of the microturbine power generating system, said tieshaft, turbine and rotating portion of the power converter rotate in unison at speeds of at least about 60,000 rpm.
1 more element
A method of generating power from high temperature gases comprising the steps of:
- providing a tieshaft having a yield strength, and putting said tieshaft in tension to a predetermined percentage of said yield strength;
- coupling a turbine and a rotating portion of a power converter on the single tieshaft, the turbine, the rotating portion of the power converter, and the tieshaft being rotatable relative to a fixed portion of the power converter;
- expanding the high temperature gases through the turbine, thereby causing the turbine, the rotating portion of the power converter and the tieshaft to rotate at speeds of at least about 60,000 rpm, whereby an electrical current is induced in the power converter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.