Variable phase turbine
AssigneeEnergent Corporation
InventorsLance G. Hays, Dicran Sahabian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An axial flow turbine configured to accept different nozzles which are respectively compatible with different fluids (gas, liquid or mixture thereof). The turbine is compatible with different rotating loads, which can be cooled or lubricated using liquid derived from the fluid.
Claims25
An axial flow turbine with a continuous shroud means for turbine blades, and nozzle means for providing either of at least two nozzle configurations, for respectively receiving flow of fluid in the form of at least two of the following,
- i) gas,
- ii) liquid,
- iii) a gas and liquid mixture, thereby producing a jet directed at the blades, the nozzle means having at least one of the following configurations,
- i) relatively long contour diverging from a throat, and a perforated plate upstream from the throat,
- ii) a relatively short contour diverging from a throat, and an inlet section of relatively large area,
- iii) a short contour divergent from a throat.
An axial flow turbine with a continuous circumferential shroud means and a nozzle means using a mixture of liquid and gas to produce forces acting on turbine blade means;
- having a rotor and shaft means supported by bearing means to product rotation of the shaft and torque on the shaft;
- with a generator means attached to the shaft to produce electric power;
- with a liquid means to cool the generator and lubricate the bearings having no external rotating seals.
Rotary machinery, comprising
- a) an axial flow turbine having nozzle means to receive first fluid flow along a first path to drive turbine blades for rotating a shaft, said path having a first exit,
- b) a driven structure rotatable by said shaft and having bearings,
- c) pump means associated with the driven structure to effect second fluid flow along a second path having a second exit, for lubricating said bearings, said second path disjunct from said first path,
- d) said nozzle means including at least two nozzle configurations, for respectively receiving said first flow in the form of at least two of the following:
- i) gas
- ii) liquid
- iii) a gas and liquid mixture,
- e) a selected one or two of said nozzle configurations installed at said turbine.
The method of operating a turbine to which first or second fluids is supplied to one or more turbine nozzles operating to jet fluid at turbine blades, including
- a) operating the turbine using a first nozzle, efficiently compatible with a first fluid,
- b) removing said first nozzle and installing a second nozzle as a replacement, and which is efficiently compatible with a second fluid,
- c) then operating the turbine using said second nozzle,
- d) said first and second nozzles having different flow configurations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.