US 6,968,691 B1 · Recirculating medium turbine

Abstract

A turbine system including a turbine and a reservoir for working fluid and a turbine. the reservoir is closed so that the workng fluid is heatable up to the critical temperature of the working fluid. An exit pump pumps superheated working fluid from the reservoir onto the impellers in the turbine. An entry pump pumps working fluid from the turbine back to the reservoir. The reservoir is closed (gas tight) permitting heating the working fluid in the reservoir up to the crtical temperature and criical pressure of the working fluid. The exit and entry pumps are coupled together and arrnged such that the rate at which flid enters the reservoir equals the rate that the working fluid leaves the reservoir. By raising the working fluid to in the reservoir in the liquid stae, loss of energy of vaporization is substantially aboided. By maintaining equal rates of charrge and discharge of fluid into and out of the reservoir, loss of energy due to compresion is avoided.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A turbine system comprising:

a housing;
impeller member mounted on a rotatable shaft;
inside said housing;
a reservoir means for holding a working fluid;
said reservoir means being air tight;
a heating means for heating said reservoir means to an elevated temperature;
exit conduit arranged to conduct working fluid from said reservoir into said housing against said impeller member;
entry conduit for conducting working fluid from said housing into said resrvoir;
exit pump means for pumping working fluid from said reservoir through said exit conduit to said housing;
entry pump means arranged for pumping working fluid from said housing to said reservoir;
said exit pump means coupled to said entry pump means in an operable arrangement to provide that rate at which said entry pump means delivers working fluid from said housing to said reservoir equals rate at which said exit pump delivers working fluid from said reservoir to said housing.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Recirculating medium turbine

Life of this patent

Recirculating medium turbine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7