Northern Research & Engineering Corp.

Icr Turbine Engine Corporation

Brayton Energy, LLC

Ingersoll-rand Energy Systems Corporation

Gas Research Institute

.engineering, Inc.

Southwest Solar Technologies, Inc.

Northern Research

James B Kesseli

James S Nash

Thomas Wolf

Antoine Corbeil

Eric R Norster

John David Watson

Frank Wegner Donnelly

Henry B Faulkner

Willem Jansen

Michael C Swarden

David William Dewis

Malcolm S Child

Andrew J Olsen

Matthew Stephen Baldwin

Ward H Robinson

Stephen P Baldwin

Timothy Upton

A metallic-ceramic joint for a turbo-compressor spool is disclosed. A temperature-limited joint is moved from outside the bearings to between the bearings and near the center of the shaft joining the turbine and compressor. This placement can lower the temperature at and around the joint and reduces the sharp gradient (and associated thermal stress) naturally occurring between the turbine rotor and the cooler joint. The bearing closest to the compressor can be an oil bearing and the bearing closest to the turbine an air bearing. The bearing closest to the compressor and the bearing closest to the turbine can both be an oil bearing. The bearing closest to the compressor and the bearing closest to the turbine can both be an air bearing. Moving the metallic-ceramic joint between the bearings can provide sufficient isolation to enable the all-air bearing solution.

Ceramic-to-metal turbine shaft attachment

A method and apparatus are disclosed for a gas turbine spool design combining metallic and ceramic components in a way that controls clearances between critical components over a range of engine operating temperatures and pressures. In a first embodiment, a ceramic turbine rotor rotates just inside a ceramic shroud and separated by a small clearance gap. The ceramic rotor is connected to a metallic volute. In order to accommodate the differential rates of thermal expansion between the ceramic rotor and metallic volute, an active clearance control system is used to maintain the desired axial clearance between ceramic rotor and the ceramic shroud over the range of engine operating temperatures. In a second embodiment, a ceramic turbine rotor rotates just inside a ceramic shroud which is part of a single piece ceramic volute/shroud assembly. As temperature increases, the ceramic volute expands at approximately the same rate as ceramic shroud and tends to increase the axial clearance gap between the ceramic rotor and ceramic shroud, but only by a small amount compared to a metallic volute attached to the shroud in the same way.

Metallic ceramic spool for a gas turbine engine

The present invention combines the principles of a gas turbine engine with an electric transmission system. A method and apparatus are disclosed for utilizing metallic and ceramic elements to store heat energy derived from a regenerative braking system. The subject invention uses this regenerated electrical energy to provide additional energy storage over conventional electrical storage methods suitable for a gas turbine engine. The subject invention provides engine braking for a gas turbine engine as well as reducing fuel consumption.

Gas turbine energy storage and conversion system

A heat exchange device of a type for affecting an exchange of heat between a first and second fluid is characterized by a plurality of heat exchange cells in a stacked arrangement wherein each cell includes inlet and outlet manifold rings which define inlet and outlet manifolds, respectively. Adjacent heat exchange cells are bonded to one another via metallurgical bonds between the contacting surfaces of the manifold rings. In a further aspect, a method for the manufacture of a heat exchange device is provided.

Heat exchange device and method for manufacture

A heat exchange device of a type for affecting an exchange of heat between a first and second fluid is characterized by a plurality of heat exchange cells in a stacked arrangement and defining first, second and third manifolds. In certain aspects, an apparatus and method for reinforcing the heat exchange device against pressure loads while accommodating thermal expansion of the outlet manifold are provided.

Heat exchanger with pressure and thermal strain management

Power generation systems and methods are provided with features directed to various innovations including ones relating to the conversion of concentrated solar and biomass energy to electricity, load-shifting of electrical power supply systems, gas turbine devices and cycles, and power plant control systems.

Power conversion systems

An apparatus and method are provided for permitting free rotation of turbine nozzle vanes, while minimizing or eliminating leakage on the vane side-walls. The device incorporates a plurality of nozzle vanes arranged around the circumference of a radial or mixed inflow turbine. Each of the nozzles is individually attached to a rod positioned perpendicular to the flow direction. The nozzle rods in the circumferential array protrude through a movable annular back-wall, and are rotated by a linkage or gear. Between discrete movements of the vane mechanism, a bellows device is used to provide pressure-actuated force in the movable back-wall, thereby clamping the nozzle between the two surfaces. Prior to rotating the nozzles, pressure within the bellows interior is decreased via venting to cause a retraction of the back wall.

Variable position turbine nozzle

A microturbine engine operable to combust a flow of VOCs without a combustor. The microturbine engine comprising a compressor having an inlet, the inlet receiving a mixture of air and VOCs, the compressor operable to produce a flow of compressed air and VOCs. The invention also includes a reaction chamber including a reactor bed. The flow of compressed air and VOCs is combusted within the reactor bed to produce a flow of products of combustion. The invention includes a turbine driven by the flow of products of combustion from the combustor and a generator coupled to the turbine. The generator is driven by the turbine at a speed to produce electrical power.

Microturbine for combustion of VOCs

A cogenerating recuperated microturbine includes a recuperator, an air compressor and a combustor. The combustor burns a fuel along with the compressed air received from the recuperator to create products of combustion. A turbine generator operates in response to expansion of the products of combustion to generate electricity. The products of combustion then flow through the recuperator to preheat the compressed air. The products of combustion then flow out of the recuperator as an exhaust flow. A heat exchanger is movable into and out of the exhaust flow to selectively heat a fluid in the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is actuated by a piston-cylinder type actuator that operates under the influence of compressed air selectively bled from the air compressor. The actuator may be a single-acting cylinder used in conjunction with a biasing spring, or may be a double-acting cylinder.

Gas turbine with articulated heat recovery heat exchanger

A method of making a heat exchanger includes assembling one or more heat exchange cells. Each heat exchange cell is assembled by providing a top plate having an inlet aperture at one end thereof, an outlet aperture at the other end thereof, a first surface, a second surface and peripheral edges; and providing a bottom plate having an inlet aperture at one end thereof, an outlet aperture at the other end thereof, a first surface, a second surface and peripheral edges. The second surfaces of the top and bottom plates are juxtaposed with one another so that the inlet and outlet apertures of the plates are in substantial alignment with one another. The peripheral edges of the top and bottom plates are attached to form a high pressure chamber between the second surfaces of the plates. After being assembled, each individual heat exchange cell is tested before being attached to other heat exchange cells. The testing may include pressure testing of the heat exchange cell. The testing of each individual cell improves the quality and reliability of the fully assembled heat exchanger because each level of the heat exchanger has been pre-tested for defects (e.g. leaks) prior to further assembly steps.

Methods of making plate-fin heat exchangers

An apparatus for supplying high pressure atomizing and purging fluid to the fuel system of a gas turbine engine. The apparatus is comprised of a turbocompressor, multiple flow conduits and associated valves and controls. Alternative versions of the fundamental apparatus may include heat exchangers for heating and cooling the atomizing and purging fluid within the apparatus. The apparatus works with all types of gas turbine engine cycles well known to one skilled in the art. The apparatus includes a first conduit for extracting a small percentage of the fluid compressed by the turbine engine compressor, and the first conduit is further divided into second and third conduits for supplying portions of the small percentage of compressed fluid to the turbocompressor compressor and turbine. The portion of the fluid flowed to the turbocompressor compressor is compressed and then flowed to the turbine engine fuel system at a location that enhances atomization of the fuel or purges the fuel from the fuel system nozzle after shut-off. The fluid discharged from the turbocompressor turbine is flowed back to the turbine engine to offset engine efficiency losses. The turbocompressor may be configured in any number of mechanical configurations, familiar to one skilled in the art of turbomachinery.

Turbine engine with turbocompressor for supplying atomizing fluid to

A heat exchanger for transferring heat between an external fluid and an internal fluid includes two or more heat exchange cells, each heat exchange cell having a top plate with an inlet aperture at one end thereof and an outlet aperture at the other end thereof, the top plate including a first surface, a second surface and peripheral edges. The heat exchange cell also includes a bottom plate juxtaposed with the top plate, the bottom plate having an inlet aperture at one end thereof and an outlet aperture at the other end thereof. The bottom plate includes a first surface, a second surface and peripheral edges. The peripheral edges of the top and bottom plates are attached to one another, the second surfaces of the top and bottom plates confronting one another and the inlet and outlet apertures of the top and bottom plates being in substantial alignment with one another. The attached top and bottom plates define a high pressure chamber between the second surfaces thereof. The inlet and outlet apertures of the top and bottom plates including substantially curvilinear S-shaped raised flange portions extending away from the first surfaces of the plates, the substantially curvilinear S-shaped raised flange portions terminating at interior edges bounding the apertures. Each heat exchange cell includes an internal finned member disposed between and attached to the second surfaces of the respective top and bottom plates, wherein the individual heat exchange cells are assembled one atop the other with the interior edges of adjacent heat exchange cells attached together for forming a compliant bellows structure capable of elastically absorbing deflections produced during thermal loading so that the heat exchange cells may move and flex relative to one another.

Unit construction plate-fin heat exchanger

A fuel and air mixing apparatus for a combustor and gas turbine generator. A primary portion of the fuel is injected into the mixing air at long distances from the combustor prechamber. The primary portion of the fuel is almost completely mixed with the mixing air. A secondary portion of fuel is injected into the mixing air in the boundary layer at a short distance form the combustor prechamber. This minimally mixed second portion provides some rich portions of fuel-air in the prechamber to improve stability and reduce the chances of blowout.

Growing community of inventors

Greenland, NH, United States of America

James B Kesseli