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US 7,340,903 B2Granted
Scalable power generation using a pulsed detonation engine
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorsFrank K. Lu, Donald R. Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A scalable power generator is described. A scalable, portable pulsed detonation engine is coupled to a turbine which drives a generator and using commonly available fuels, electric energy is provided. Additional embodiments incorporate a mechanical compressor at the intake of the pulsed detonation engine which is driven by a second turbine, the second turbine drives a shaft that powers the mechanical compressor. Other enhancements to the invention and additional embodiments are described.
Claims43
A power generating apparatus comprising:
- a source of compressed air having an air intake and outputting compressed air;
- a pulsed detonation tube section receiving the compressed air, and having an exhaust output;
- a fuel input valve to provide cyclical fuel bursts into the pulsed detonation tube section;
- an air intake valve to provide the compressed air cyclically into the pulse detonation tube section,
- a common driving means to operate the fuel input valve and the air intake valve, the common driving means being a belt or a chain;
- an igniter for providing into said pulsed detonation tube section a high energy cyclical ignition pulse which is synchronized to said fuel valve bursts, the fuel being combusted in response to the ignition pulse and producing a high velocity pressure wave;
- a turbine coupled to the exhaust of said pulsed detonation tube section which is turned by the energy of said pressure wave and having an output;
- and
- a generator coupled to the output of said turbine and generating electrical power as a result of the force provided by said turbine due to the pressure wave.
6 more elements
A pulsed detonation power generator comprising:
- a pulsed detonation chamber having an intake end and an exhaust end and having sidewalls along its length;
- an air intake port coupled to the intake of said pulsed detonation chamber;
- an air intake valve for receiving compressed air and for selectively supplying it into said air intake port;
- a plurality of fuel injection ports located adjacent one another in a first sidewall of said pulsed detonation chamber;
- a fuel supply valve for receiving fuel and selectively supplying to said plurality of fuel injection ports;
- a plurality of oxidizer injection ports located adjacent one another in a second sidewall of said pulsed detonation chamber;
- an oxidizer supply valve for receiving said oxidizer and selectively supplying it to said plurality of oxidizer ports;
- an ignitor for causing cyclical detonation of a mixture of fuel, air and oxidizer within said pulsed detonation chamber;
- a compressor for supplying compressed air to said air intake valve;
- and
- a turbine coupled to said exhaust end for receiving the energy from said pulsed detonation chamber and driving a generator to produce electrical power.
8 more elements
An electrical power generating apparatus, comprising:
- a first turbine outputting electrical power in response to a hot exhaust flow input;
- a compressor rotating about an axis, for outputting compressed air in response to a rotating driveshaft;
- a second turbine for rotating the driveshaft in response to a hot exhaust flow at its input and outputting the remaining hot exhaust;
- a plenum for receiving a plurality of hot exhaust streams and mixing them together, for outputting hot exhaust to said second turbine;
- a plurality of pulsed detonation engines arranged adjacent one another to receive the compressed air from said compressor and having hot exhaust outputs coupled to the input of said plenum, each pulsed detonation engine further comprising:
- a pulsed detonation chamber having an intake end and an exhaust end and having sidewalls along its length;
- an air intake port coupled to the intake of said pulsed detonation chamber;
- an air intake valve for receiving compressed air and for selectively supplying it into said air intake port;
- a plurality of fuel injection ports located adjacent one another in a first sidewall of said pulsed detonation chamber;
- a fuel supply valve for receiving fuel and selectively supplying to said plurality of fuel injection ports;
- a plurality of oxidizer injection ports located adjacent one another in a second sidewall of said pulsed detonation chamber;
- an oxidizer supply valve for receiving said oxidizer and selectively supplying it to said plurality of oxidizer ports;
- an igniter for causing cyclical detonation of a mixture of fuel, air and oxidizer within said pulsed detonation chamber;
- a control circuitry for causing detonations in said plurality of pulsed detonation engines to occur in a phased fashion, to produce a continuous exhaust flow into said plenum, which produces a continuous hot exhaust output to drive said first and second turbines.
11 more elements
A method for generating electrical power, comprising the steps of:
- providing a supply of compressed air;
- providing a pulsed detonation chamber coupled for receiving the compressed air at an air intake;
- providing a fuel supply valve for receiving fuel and supplying it into said pulsed detonation chamber in a controlled manner;
- providing an oxygen supply valve for receiving oxygen and supplying into said pulsed detonation chamber in a controlled manner;
- a common drive means for operating at least the fuel supply valve and the oxidizer supply valve, and being driven by a drive pulley;
- providing an ignitor for causing detonation of said fuel, air, and oxygen mixture in said pulsed detonation chamber in a cyclical manner at a first frequency;
- providing a turbine and generator coupled to the exhaust from said pulsed detonation engine and producing electrical power in response to the exhaust from said pulsed detonation engine;
- and
- operating said pulsed detonation engine to create an exhaust flow into said turbine to produce electrical power.
6 more elements
A pulsed detonation engine, comprising:
- a source of compressed air having an air intake and outputting compressed air;
- a pulsed detonation tube section receiving the compressed air, and having an exhaust output;
- a fuel input valve to provide cyclical fuel bursts into the pulsed detonation tube section;
- an igniter for providing into said pulsed detonation tube section a high energy cyclical ignition pulse in excess of 10 Joules of energy which is synchronized to said fuel valve bursts, the fuel being combusted in response to the ignition pulse and producing a high velocity pressure wave;
- a coil forming a Shchelkin spiral positioned within said pulsed detonation tube adjacent said igniter for enhancing the deflagration to detonation transition within said pulsed detonation tube;
- whereby in response to fuel being input into the pulsed detonation tube and repeatedly ignited by cyclic pulses from said igniter, a pulsed detonation is achieved which produces a pressure wave within said pulsed detonation tube having a velocity that is at least the Chapman-Jouquet velocity.
3 more elements
A pulsed detonation engine, comprising:
- a pulsed detonation chamber having an intake end and an exhaust end and having sidewalls along its length;
- an air intake port coupled to the intake of said pulsed detonation chamber;
- an air intake valve for receiving compressed air and for selectively supplying it into said air intake port;
- a plurality of fuel injection ports located adjacent one another in a first sidewall of said pulsed detonation chamber;
- a fuel supply valve for receiving fuel and selectively supplying to said plurality of fuel injection ports;
- a plurality of oxidizer injection ports located adjacent one another in a second sidewall of said pulsed detonation chamber;
- an oxidizer supply valve for receiving said oxidizer and selectively supplying it to said plurality of oxidizer ports;
- an ignitor for causing cyclical detonation of a mixture of fuel, air and oxidizer within said pulsed detonation chamber;
- a compressor for supplying compressed air to said air intake valve;
- and
- a turbine coupled to said exhaust end for receiving the energy from said pulsed detonation chamber and driving a rotary shaft coupled to and powering said compressor.
8 more elements
An apparatus for pulsed detonation, comprising:
- a compressor rotating about an axis, for outputting compressed air in response to a rotating driveshaft;
- a turbine for rotating the driveshaft in response to a hot exhaust flow at its input and outputting the remaining hot exhaust;
- a plenum for receiving a plurality of hot exhaust streams and mixing them together, for outputting hot exhaust to said second turbine;
- a plurality of pulsed detonation engines arranged adjacent one another to receive the compressed air from said compressor and having hot exhaust outputs coupled to the input of said plenum, each pulsed detonation engine further comprising:
- a pulsed detonation chamber having an intake end and an exhaust end and having sidewalls along its length;
- an air intake port coupled to the intake of said pulsed detonation chamber;
- an air intake valve for receiving compressed air and for selectively supplying it into said air intake port;
- a plurality of fuel injection ports located adjacent one another in a first sidewall of said pulsed detonation chamber;
- a fuel supply valve for receiving fuel and selectively supplying to said plurality of fuel injection ports;
- a plurality of oxidizer injection ports located adjacent one another in a second sidewall of said pulsed detonation chamber;
- an oxidizer supply valve for receiving said oxidizer and selectively supplying it to said plurality of oxidizer ports;
- an igniter for causing cyclical detonation of a mixture of fuel, air and oxidizer within said pulsed detonation chamber;
- a control circuitry for causing detonations in said plurality of pulsed detonation engines to occur in a phased fashion, to produce a continuous exhaust flow into said plenum, which produces a continuous hot exhaust output to drive said turbine.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.