Constant volume combustor
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Accused Products
Abstract
A constant volume combustor device includes detonative combustion. In one form the wave rotor of the constant volume combustor is supported by magnetic bearings.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1-11. -11. (canceled)
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12. A method, comprising:
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(a) rotating a wave rotor having a passageway with a first end and a second end;
(b) introducing a quantity of working fluid into a passageway through the first end of the passageway;
(c) delivering a quantity of fuel into the passageway through the first end of the passageway;
(d) burning the fuel within the passageway and creating a combusted gas;
(e) compressing a portion of the working fluid within the passageway to define a buffer gas;
(f) discharging a first portion of the buffer gas from the passageway through the first end of the passageway;
(g) discharging a portion of the combusted gas from the passageway through the second end of the passageway;
(h) parking a second portion of the buffer gas within the passageway at the first end; and
(i) routing the first portion of the buffer gas from said discharging back into the passageway through the first end of the passageway. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for starting a gas turbine engine, comprising:
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(a) providing an engine including a compressor, a combustor including a wave rotor having a plurality of passageways and a turbine;
(b) rotating the wave rotor;
(c) fueling at least a portion of the plurality passageways;
(d) combusting the fuel within the plurality of passageways to form a flow of exhaust gas;
(e) discharging at least a portion of the exhaust gas from the wave rotor and delivering to a bladed rotor within the turbine;
(f) rotating the bladed rotor within the turbine with the exhaust gas from said discharging; and
(g) repeating acts (a)-(f) to bring the compressor and turbine up to an operating condition. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus, comprising:
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a compressor for increasing the pressure of working fluid passing therethrough, said compressor having a compressor discharge;
a constant volume combustor in fluid communication with said compressor discharge, said constant volume combustor including a rotatable wave rotor and a fuel deliverer, said wave rotor including a plurality of cells for receiving at least a portion of the working fluid from said compressor discharge and a fuel from said fuel deliverer that undergoes combustion within said cells to produce an exhaust gas flow;
a turbine in flow communication with the exhaust fluid flow from said constant volume combustor; and
at least one active electromagnetic radial bearing operable to support said wave rotor. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. (canceled)
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31. An apparatus, comprising:
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a compressor for increasing the pressure of a working fluid passing therethrough, said compressor having a compressor discharge;
a constant volume combustor in fluid communication with said compressor discharge, said constant volume combustor including a rotatable wave rotor and a fuel deliverer, said wave rotor including a plurality of cells for receiving at least a portion of the working fluid from said compressor discharge and a fuel from said fuel deliverer that undergoes combustion within said cells to produce an exhaust gas flow;
a turbine in flow communication with the exhaust fluid flow from said constant volume combustor;
at least one radial bearing operable to support said wave rotor; and
wherein said wave rotor includes a first structure defining the cells and an attachment structure coupled thereto, said attachment structure engages with said at least one radial bearing about which said wave rotor rotates, said first structure is coupled to said attachment structure by a pin joint, said pin joint coupling and thermally isolating said first structure from said at least one radial bearing. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification