Downhole turbine with an adjustable shroud
First Claim
1. A power generation system comprising:
- a shaft;
a rotor connected to the shaft and adapted to receive a first portion of a power fluid, which first portion of the power fluid imparts rotation to the rotor and the shaft;
a shroud extending circumferentially about the rotor and the shaft;
a bypass gap defined between the rotor and the shroud, the bypass gap being adapted to communicate a second portion of the power fluid therethrough; and
a feedback control system adapted to displace the shroud axially relative to the rotor;
wherein displacement of the shroud axially relative to the rotor adjusts a size of the bypass gap and, consequently, a ratio of the first portion of the power fluid relative to the second portion of the power fluid;
wherein the feedback control system comprises;
a shroud actuator connected to the shroud and adapted to axially displace the shroud relative to the rotor;
a sensor adapted to detect an output of the power generation system; and
a controller adapted to control the shroud actuator, based on an output setpoint and the detected output of the power generation system, to axially displace the shroud causing the output of the power generation system to be adjusted closer to the output setpoint;
andwherein;
(i) the output of the power generation system is rotation of the shaft; and
the sensor is adapted to detect the rotation of the shaft;
(ii) the power generation system further comprises an electric generator connected to the shaft and adapted to convert the rotation of the shaft into an electric output;
the output of the power generation system is the electric output of the electric generator; and
the sensor is adapted to detect the electric output of the electric generator;
(iii) the power generation system further comprises a pump connected to the shaft and adapted to convert the rotation of the shaft into a hydraulic output;
the output of the power generation system is the hydraulic output of the pump; and
the sensor is adapted to detect the hydraulic output of the pump;
or(iv) any combination of (i), (ii), and (iii).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus according to which an output of a power generation system is controlled. In one embodiment, the power generation system includes a turbine and a feedback control system. The turbine includes a rotor to which a first portion of a power fluid is communicated, the first portion imparting torque to the rotor; a shaft to which the rotor is connected; a shroud extending circumferentially about the rotor and the shaft; and a bypass gap between the rotor and the shroud, through which a second portion of the power fluid is communicated. The feedback control system axially displaces the shroud relative to the rotor, thereby adjusting the size of the bypass gap and, consequently, the ratio of the first portion relative to the second portion.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A power generation system comprising:
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a shaft; a rotor connected to the shaft and adapted to receive a first portion of a power fluid, which first portion of the power fluid imparts rotation to the rotor and the shaft; a shroud extending circumferentially about the rotor and the shaft; a bypass gap defined between the rotor and the shroud, the bypass gap being adapted to communicate a second portion of the power fluid therethrough; and a feedback control system adapted to displace the shroud axially relative to the rotor; wherein displacement of the shroud axially relative to the rotor adjusts a size of the bypass gap and, consequently, a ratio of the first portion of the power fluid relative to the second portion of the power fluid; wherein the feedback control system comprises; a shroud actuator connected to the shroud and adapted to axially displace the shroud relative to the rotor; a sensor adapted to detect an output of the power generation system; and a controller adapted to control the shroud actuator, based on an output setpoint and the detected output of the power generation system, to axially displace the shroud causing the output of the power generation system to be adjusted closer to the output setpoint; and wherein; (i) the output of the power generation system is rotation of the shaft; and the sensor is adapted to detect the rotation of the shaft; (ii) the power generation system further comprises an electric generator connected to the shaft and adapted to convert the rotation of the shaft into an electric output; the output of the power generation system is the electric output of the electric generator; and the sensor is adapted to detect the electric output of the electric generator; (iii) the power generation system further comprises a pump connected to the shaft and adapted to convert the rotation of the shaft into a hydraulic output; the output of the power generation system is the hydraulic output of the pump; and the sensor is adapted to detect the hydraulic output of the pump; or (iv) any combination of (i), (ii), and (iii). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for comprising:
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communicating a first portion of a power fluid to a rotor, the rotor being connected to a shaft of a power generation system, the first portion of the power fluid imparting rotation to the rotor and the shaft; communicating a second portion of the power fluid through a bypass gap defined between the rotor and a shroud that extends circumferentially about the rotor and the shaft; detecting, using a sensor, an output of the power generation system; axially displacing, using an actuator connected to the shroud, the shroud relative to the rotor to adjust a size of the bypass gap and, consequently, a ratio of the first portion relative to the second portion; and controlling, using a controller and based on an output setpoint and the detected output of the power generation system, the axial displacement of the shroud causing the output of the power generation system to be adjusted closer to the output setpoint; wherein; (i) the output of the power generation system is the rotation of the shaft; and the sensor detects the rotation of the shaft; (ii) the power generation system further comprises an electric generator connected to the shaft to convert the rotation of the shaft into an electric output; the output of the power generation system is the electric output of the electric generator; and the sensor detects the electric output of the electric generator; (iii) the power generation system further comprises a pump connected to the shaft to convert the rotation of the shaft into a hydraulic output; the output of the power generation system is the hydraulic output of the pump; and the sensor detects the hydraulic output of the pump; or (iv) any combination of (i), (ii), and (iii). - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for controlling an output of a turbine, the method comprising:
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providing a turbine including a shaft, a rotor connected to the shaft, a shroud extending about the rotor so that a bypass gap is defined between the shroud and the rotor, and an actuator connected to the shroud to axially displace the shroud relative to the rotor; communicating a fluid to the turbine, the fluid comprising a first portion communicated to the rotor and a second portion communicated to the bypass gap, the first portion of the fluid imparting a torque to the rotor; monitoring an output of the turbine with one or more sensors; transmitting, with a transmitter, a first signal representing the output of the turbine, as monitored by the one or more sensors, to a controller; communicating a second signal to the controller, the second signal representing a setpoint for the output of the turbine; and communicating a third signal, based on the first and second signals, from the controller to the actuator, the third signal causing the actuator to displace the shroud axially. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification