System and method for generating power using a supercritical fluid
First Claim
1. A coupling for transmitting torque from a turbine shaft to a drive shaft in a system for generating shaft power by expanding a supercritical fluid, the coupling comprising:
- a turbine housing;
an induction rotor connected to the turbine shaft so as to rotate with the turbine shaft;
an armature assembly connected to the drive shaft so as to rotate with the drive shaft, the armature assembly having a first armature, a second armature, and a magnet configured create a magnetic flux within the coupling;
a pressure membrane attached to the turbine housing and configured to seal the supercritical fluid within the turbine housing;
the pressure membrane is disposed between the induction rotor and the first and second armatures, andwhereby rotation of the induction rotor at a first speed imparts torque to the first and second armatures so as to cause rotation of the drive shaft at a second speed that is less than the first speed.
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Abstract
A dual cycle system for generating shaft power using a supercritical fluid and a fossil fuel. The first cycle is an open, air breathing Brayton cycle. The second cycle is a closed, supercritical fluid Brayton cycle. After compression of air in the first cycle, the compressed air flows through a first cross cycle heat exchanger through which the supercritical fluid from the second cycle flows after it has been compressed and then expanded in a turbine. In the first cross cycle heat exchanger, the compressed air is heated and the expanded supercritical fluid is cooled. Prior to expansion in a turbine, the compressed supercritical fluid flows through a second cross cycle heat exchanger through which also flows combustion gas, produced by burning a fossil fuel in the compressed air in the first cycle. In the second cross cycle heat exchanger, the combustion gas is cooled and the compressed supercritical fluid is heated.
66 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A coupling for transmitting torque from a turbine shaft to a drive shaft in a system for generating shaft power by expanding a supercritical fluid, the coupling comprising:
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a turbine housing; an induction rotor connected to the turbine shaft so as to rotate with the turbine shaft; an armature assembly connected to the drive shaft so as to rotate with the drive shaft, the armature assembly having a first armature, a second armature, and a magnet configured create a magnetic flux within the coupling; a pressure membrane attached to the turbine housing and configured to seal the supercritical fluid within the turbine housing; the pressure membrane is disposed between the induction rotor and the first and second armatures, and whereby rotation of the induction rotor at a first speed imparts torque to the first and second armatures so as to cause rotation of the drive shaft at a second speed that is less than the first speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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a turbine having a housing and a turbine shaft, the turbine being configured to generate shaft power by expanding a supercritical fluid; an output device having a drive shaft; and a coupling for transmitting torque from the turbine shaft to the drive shaft, the coupling having; a) an induction rotor connected to the turbine shaft so as to rotate with the turbine shaft; b) an armature assembly connected to the drive shaft so as to rotate with the drive shaft, the armature assembly having a first armature, a second armature, and a magnet configured create a magnetic flux within the coupling; and c) a pressure membrane attached to the turbine housing and disposed between the induction rotor and the first and second armatures, wherein the pressure membrane is configured to seal the supercritical fluid within the turbine housing, and wherein rotation of the induction rotor at a first speed imparts torque to the first and second armatures so as to cause rotation of the drive shaft at a second speed that is less than the first speed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification