Distributed power generation system for surface transport

• US 20110247334A1
• Filed: 09/24/2009
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Power Rail Road Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Peregrine Blackbird Pty Limited
• Inventors: Alexander, Nic
• Application Number:
  US12/998,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20110247334A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/670
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 3/04 of turbine type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/24 characterised by the combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/02 Adaptations for driving vehicles, e.g. locomotives
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/20 Adaptations of gas-turbine plants for driving vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/08 recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/62 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A distributed power generation system (1) for surface transport, including: a primary power generation device (3) including a gas steam turbine to generate energy for said surface transport; a secondary power generation device (5); an energy storage device to store energy received from the primary and/or secondary power generation device; an elongate drive shaft to be driven by said energy from said primary and/or secondary power generation and/or energy storage device; and a torque converter operatively associated with the primary and/or the secondary power generation device, to assist the capture of energy from said drive shaft during a power generation phase; and a connection means to deliver said torque to wheels of said surface transport to urge said surface transport into motion.

Claims

1. A distributed power generation system for surface transport, including:

a primary power generation device including a gas steam turbine to generate energy for said surface transport;

a secondary power generation device;

an energy storage device to store energy received from the primary and/or secondary power generation device;

an elongate drive shaft to be driven by said energy from said primary and/or secondary power generation and/or energy storage device; and

a torque converter operatively associated with the primary and/or the secondary power generation device, to assist the capture of energy from said drive shaft during a power generation phase; and

a connection means to deliver said torque to wheels of said surface transport to urge said surface transport into motion.

2. The distributed power generation system for surface transport according to claim 1, wherein said primary power generation device includes:

a compressor operable to receive a gas;

a combustion chamber to receive and ignite a fuel;

a turbine to rotate the drive shaft;

the heated gas leaving said turbine being directed past the outside of said combustion chamber to add heat to said heat exchanger for heating a liquid, said gas passing through a second turbine operatively associated with the compressor and venting said gas from said system through a second heat exchanger, said gas passing through a third turbine acting in cooperation with said first turbine.

3. The distributed power generation system for surface transport according to claim 2, wherein the gas leaving the second turbine is returned to the combustion chamber.

4. The distributed power generation system for surface transport according to claim 2, wherein the gas leaving the second turbine is exhausted from the system.

5. The distributed power generation system for surface transport according to claim 2, wherein said heated liquid from the heat exchanger is adapted to drive a steam turbine.

6. The distributed power generation system for surface transport according to claim 1, wherein said system includes a means to store excess energy in a power storage unit and transmit said excess energy to other surface transport as it passes power transmission zones.