Turboalternator with hydrodynamic bearings

A self-contained, turboalternator for recovering energy stored in a process gas regardless of whether said turboalternator is vertically or horizontally oriented, said turboalternator comprising:

• an ultra high-speed, aircraft type turbine having a turbine housing with a process gas inlet and a process gas outlet;
• a generating device having a generating device housing with a power connector for outputting electrical energy, wherein the generating device housing and the turbine housing are attached together to collectively define an interior cavity;
• a rotating assembly disposed within the interior cavity, said rotating assembly comprising:
• a rotating shaft mounted for rotation about an axis;
• a turbine wheel mounted on a first end of the rotating shaft and being disposed within the turbine housing, said turbine wheel being mounted for rotation about the axis in association with process gas passing between the inlet and the outlet of the turbine housing, and wherein rotation of the turbine wheel effects rotation of the rotating shaft;
• at least two hydrodynamic foil journal bearing assemblies mounted within the generating device housing for supporting the rotating shaft;
• at least one hydrodynamic foil thrust bearing assembly having a thrust runner mounted for rotation with the rotating shaft adjacent a second end thereof opposing the turbine wheel;
• a rotor forming an armature of the generating device, said rotor being mounted for rotation with the rotating shaft;
• and
• a tie rod extending along the axis of rotation and holding the turbine wheel, the rotating shaft, the at least two journal bearing assemblies, the at least one thrust bearing assembly, and the rotor under preload;
• a stator mounted in stationary relationship within the generating device housing relative to the rotor, wherein rotation of the rotor relative to the stator generates electrical energy, said stator being operatively connected to the power connector to supply said generated electrical energy to said power connector;
• and
• a seal disposed between the turbine housing and the generating device housing, said seal permitting a metered amount of process gas to flow from the turbine housing into the generating device housing to act as the coolant medium therein.