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US 9,810,423 B2Granted
Laser for steam turbine system
AssigneeBastian Family Holdings, Inc.
InventorsWilliam A. Bastian, II, Elizabeth Sobota
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steam turbine system uses a laser to instantaneously vaporize water in a nozzle within a turbine. This steam is then used to rotate the turbine. Thus, the turbine system does not require an external boiler. The steam turbine system may be used in either an open system, where the steam passing through the turbine is not condensed and reused, or a closed system, where the steam passing through the turbine is condensed and reused.
Claims33
A system, comprising:
- a turbine having turbine blades;
- a nozzle configured to receive liquid water and electromagnetic radiation, wherein the electromagnetic radiation includes a plurality of laser beams, the nozzle including a portion that is internally reflective to reflect the electromagnetic radiation more than once through the liquid water, wherein the nozzle includes
- a supply portion where at least one stream of liquid water is supplied, wherein the supply portion tapers to a focal section where the laser beams converge to vaporize the liquid water
- a discharge portion where the liquid water is discharged from the nozzle, wherein the discharge portion has an exhaust section with a throat where the vaporized water is exhausted from the nozzle,
- a vaporization chamber disposed between the focal section and the exhaust section,
- an internal chamber configured to hold the portion that is internally reflective, the internal chamber disposed between the supply portion and the discharge portion, and
- a converging wall section that is reflective of the laser beams, wherein the converging wall is angled between the vaporization chamber and the throat to reflect the laser beams back inside the nozzle;
- an electromagnetic radiation generator configured to generate the electromagnetic radiation for the nozzle, wherein the nozzle is configured to vaporize the liquid water inside the nozzle to produce steam for powering the turbine;
- and
- wherein the nozzle is positioned to direct the steam towards the turbine blades.
7 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a turbine having turbine blades;
- a nozzle configured to receive liquid water and electromagnetic radiation, the nozzle including a portion that is internally reflective to reflect the electromagnetic radiation more than once through the liquid water;
- an electromagnetic radiation generator configured to generate the electromagnetic radiation for the nozzle, wherein the nozzle is configured to vaporize the liquid water inside the nozzle to produce steam for powering the turbine;
- wherein the nozzle is positioned to direct the steam towards the turbine blades;
- a sensor configured to sense a property of the electromagnetic radiation after the electromagnetic radiation passes through the liquid water;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the sensor to control the electromagnetic radiation based on the property sensed by the sensor;
- and
- wherein the sensor is incorporated in the nozzle.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.