Rolls-royce Corporation

Rolls-royce Business Ventures Limited

Graham A Reynolds

Peter Hugh Birch

Mark G Norton

Shigenori Haramura

Michael J Raine

Power generation equipment (,) comprises a compressor (,) into which finely dispersed water is directed. Air compressed by the compressor (,) is directed into combustion equipment (,) where it is mixed with steam and fuel before combustion takes place. The resultant combustion products pass through two turbines (,), the second of which (,) is a power turbine. The exhaust efflux from the power turbine (,) is then cooled to such an extent that its pressure falls to below atmospheric pressure. The carbon dioxide is removed from the efflux by means of a sequestration membrane (,) before the pressure of the efflux is raised to above atmospheric pressure by a further compressor (,) driven by the power turbine (,). The equipment (,) is very efficient and produces low levels of pollution.

Power generation equipment

A gas turbine engine comprises turbine and compressor elements on a rotary shaft. The shaft is rotably mounted on preloaded axial thrust bearings. As it rotates in use the turbine and compressor elements create an axial thrust load on the bearings. According to the invention that axial thrust load is opposed by an electromagnetic coil which is energised to exert an axial force on the shaft in opposition to the axial thrust load and preferably completely balancing the axial thrust load. Bearing life is much extended.

Gas turbine engine

A gas turbine engine is provided with a plurality of compressors and a plurality of turbines. The compressors supply less than half of the oxygen received to the combustor chamber and thus fuel rich combustion occurs in the combustion means. A number of combustion ducts are positioned between adjacent turbines and oxygen is supplied to each of the combustion ducts from the respective compressor via the cooling passages of the respective turbine. Unburned fuel in the exhaust gases of the combustion means is mixed with cooling air in the turbines and is then burnt in the combustion ducts.

Turbine scroll

A rail gun assembly (10) having rail electrodes (11, 12) which are of toothed cross-section configuration and an armature (15) which provides an electrical interconnection between the rail electrodes (11,12). The armature (15) is made up of three electrically conductive portions (24,25,26) which are separated by insulators (27,28). The electrically conductive armature portions (24,25,26) are so configured that varying amounts of electrical current pass through them as the armature is operationally accelerated along the gap between the rail electrodes (11,12). Localized overheating of the armature (15) is therefore substantially reduced.

Rail gun assemblies

A rail gun (10) comprising two elongate co-extensive rail electrodes (11,12) having confronting surfaces (17,18) which are of toothed cross-section configuration. The toothed configuration of the surfaces ensures that during the operation of the rail gun (10), there is not an electric current concentration in the vicinity of the confronting surfaces (17,18). Consequently problems associated with the overheating of the confronting surfaces (17,18) are reduced.

Rail guns

A rail gun (10) comprising two spaced apart elongate co-extensive rail electrodes (11,12) having confronting surfaces which are of toothed cross-section configuration. Alternate tooth flanks (21) have the outlets of a plurality of nozzles (24) located therein. The nozzles (24) direct helium into the gap (14) between the rail electrodes (11,12). The helium provides electrode (11,12) cooling as well as providing less resistance to armature (15) acceleration than would be the case with air.

An electromagnetic gun comprises a barrel for containing and directing an electrically conductive projectile and a plurality of inductors which are arranged in series relationship along the barrel so as to create magnetic fields which accelerate the projectile along the barrel. Each inductor is associated with a pair of rail electrodes within the barrel bore which, when bridged by the projectile, short circuit their associated inductor to provide additional acceleration of the projectile.

Electromagnetic gun

A valve is one of a plurality of similar valves set out in the form of a matrix to constitute a portion of the fuel control system of a gas turbine engine. The valve comprises a piezo-electric crystal and is deformable by the application of a potential difference thereto from a first, non-deformed condition in which the crystal blocks the orifice to second deformed condition in which the orifice is unblocked. At least some of the valves are normally redundant but are caused to become operable in the event of the failure of any of the other operable valves.

Fluid flow control apparatus

A gas turbine engine is of a size suitable for generating electrical and heat energy for domestic and other purposes. The engine has a low number of components, and some of the components are capable of performing more than one function. For example, the engine has a centrifugal compressor driven by a centripetal turbine through a shaft. The compressor and turbine are mounted in a casing comprising a two part core and two end plates. The gas flow ducting is formed by surfaces on the compressor and turbine rotors, the core and the two end plates.

Growing community of inventors

Coventry, United Kingdom

Graham A Reynolds