SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES, AND METHODS OF HARNESSING THERMAL ENERGY OF GAS TURBINE ENGINES
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- a gas turbine engine;
a chamber thermally coupled to the gas turbine engine, the chamber containing a phase changeable matter;
an actuator; and
a flow pathway coupling the chamber and the actuator;
wherein the system is operable such that heat from the engine operation induces a phase change of the phase changeable matter effective to actuate the actuator.
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Abstract
One embodiment according to the present invention is a unique system for harnessing thermal energy of a gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include unique apparatuses, systems, devices, and methods relating to gas turbine engines. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits of the present invention shall become apparent from the following description and drawings.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a gas turbine engine; a chamber thermally coupled to the gas turbine engine, the chamber containing a phase changeable matter; an actuator; and a flow pathway coupling the chamber and the actuator; wherein the system is operable such that heat from the engine operation induces a phase change of the phase changeable matter effective to actuate the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus comprising:
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a gas turbine engine including a housing; a container in thermal communication with the housing; a phase excitable element in the container; and an actuator fluidically coupled to the container; wherein the thermal communication permits heat transfer from the housing to the phase excitable element effective to pass the phase excitable element from the container to the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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operating a gas turbine engine, the engine including a heat transfer interface, the operating effective to transfer heat to the interface; transferring thermal energy from the interface to phase changeable matter in thermal communication with the interface, the transferring effective to cause a phase change in the matter; and routing the phase changed matter to actuate an actuator. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification