Turbine engine with interstage heat transfer

• US 20070017208A1
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen Ralls
• Original Assignee: Stephen Ralls
• Inventors: Ralls, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,600,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/39.511
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/04 the working fluid being heated indirectly in a fluidised-bed combustor F02C3/205
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/08 Heating air supply before combustion, e.g. by exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/16 Combined cycle power plant [CCPP], or combined cycle gas turbine [CCGT]

Abstract

Efficiency and/or power are increased in a turbine engine by using a self-contained, passive heat transfer device, such as a heat pipe, to transfer heat from working fluid in one section of the engine to working fluid in another section of the engine.

Claims

1. A turbine engine comprising:

a turbine;

means for delivering a hot, pressurized working fluid to said turbine; and

a self-contained, passive heat transfer device arranged to transfer heat from working fluid in one section of said engine to working fluid in another section of said engine.

2. The turbine engine of claim 1 wherein said heat transfer device is a heat pipe having a condensing section and an evaporative section.

3. The turbine engine of claim 2 wherein said means for delivering a hot, pressurized working fluid to said turbine includes a compressor, and wherein said condensing section is in thermal communication with working fluid discharged from said compressor and said evaporative section is in thermal communication with working fluid downstream of said means for delivering a hot, pressurized working fluid to said turbine.

4. The turbine engine of claim 3 further comprising a diffuser located downstream of said compressor, said condensing section being in thermal communication with said diffuser.

5. The turbine engine of claim 4 wherein said condensing section is incorporated into said diffuser.

6. The turbine engine of claim 2 wherein said means for delivering a hot, pressurized working fluid to said turbine includes a heat source, and wherein said condensing section is in thermal communication with working fluid in said turbine and said evaporative section is in thermal communication with working fluid in said heat source.

7. The turbine engine of claim 2 wherein said condensing section is in thermal communication with working fluid in an aft portion of said turbine and said evaporative section is in thermal communication with working fluid in a forward portion of said turbine.

8. The turbine engine of claim 2 wherein said means for delivering a hot, pressurized working fluid to said turbine includes a compressor, and wherein said condensing section is in thermal communication with working fluid in a heat sink and said evaporative section is in thermal communication with working fluid in said compressor.

9. The turbine engine of claim 8 wherein said heat sink is a bypass flow.

10. The turbine engine of claim 2 wherein said means for delivering a hot, pressurized working fluid to said turbine includes a boiling device, and wherein said condensing section is in thermal communication with working fluid in said turbine and said evaporative section is in thermal communication with working fluid in said boiling device.

11. The turbine engine of claim 2 wherein said turbine is an axial turbine having multiple stages of turbine nozzles.

12. The turbine engine of claim 11 wherein said condensing section is in thermal communication with an aft stage turbine nozzle.

13. The turbine engine of claim 12 wherein said means for delivering a hot, pressurized working fluid to said turbine includes a combustor, and wherein said evaporative section is in thermal communication with working fluid in said combustor.

14. The turbine engine of claim 12 wherein said evaporative section is in thermal communication with a forward stage turbine nozzle.

15. The turbine engine of claim 12 wherein said means for delivering a hot, pressurized working fluid to said turbine includes a boiling device, and wherein said evaporative section is in thermal communication with working fluid in said boiling device.

16. The turbine engine of claim 11 wherein said condensing section is incorporated into one of said turbine nozzles.

17. The turbine engine of claim 11 wherein said evaporative section is incorporated into one of said turbine nozzles.

18. The turbine engine of claim 1 further comprising one or more additional a heat transfer devices arranged to transfer heat from working fluid in one section of said engine to working fluid in another section of said engine.

19. A method of operating a turbine engine comprising a turbine, said method comprising:

expanding a hot, pressurized working fluid in said turbine; and

using at least one self-contained, passive heat transfer device to transfer heat from working fluid in one section of said engine to working fluid in another section of said engine.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein heat is transferred away from said turbine.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein heat is transferred into said turbine.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said engine includes a compressor and heat is transferred away from said compressor.