Inert gas turbine engine
First Claim
1. A thrust producing inert gas turbine engine comprising:
- an inlet section having a compressor therein;
a combustion section in air flow relationship with the inlet section and compressor, said combustion section comprising a combustion chamber in air flow relationship with the compressor;
an expansion chamber in heat transfer relationship with the combustion chamber;
an exhaust section in air flow relationship with the combustion section;
an expansion turbine in fluid flow relationship with the expansion chamber wherein heated working fluid from the expansion chamber rotates the expansion turbine;
a first working fluid closed loop system comprising a condenser portion in fluid flow relationship with the expansion chamber and expansion turbine, wherein a working fluid within the expansion chamber is heated within the expansion chamber, rotates the expansion turbine and is cooled in the condenser portion prior to being reheated in the expansion chamber;
means for driving the compressor as the expansion turbine rotates, wherein air from the compressor is forced into the combustion chamber for mixture with a fuel and combustion, and wherein combustion of fuel and air within the combustion chamber heats working fluid in the expansion chamber causing the working fluid to rotate the expansion turbine and drive the compressor thereby forcing air into the combustion chamber to be mixed with fuel, combusted and exhausted through the exhaust section to produce thrust.
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Abstract
An inert gas turbine engine contains a working fluid closed loop system leading from an expansion turbine which is in fluid flow relationship with an expansion chamber. Working fluid within the expansion chamber is heated by the combustion of compressed air and fuel within the combustion chamber. The heated working fluid within the expansion chamber rotates an expansion turbine which in turn rotates the compressor. Combusted gases do not contact the turbine blades. The rotation of the expansion turbine is controlled by the temperature and pressure of the working fluid within the expansion chamber. The temperature of the expansion turbine and working fluid within the expansion chamber may be controlled by the use of various cooling means. Additional turbines may be incorporated within the engine to be turned by the working fluid within the expansion chamber. Heated working fluid which rotates the turbines may be cooled and compressed within the closed loop system prior to re-entry into the expansion chamber and reheating therein.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A thrust producing inert gas turbine engine comprising:
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an inlet section having a compressor therein; a combustion section in air flow relationship with the inlet section and compressor, said combustion section comprising a combustion chamber in air flow relationship with the compressor; an expansion chamber in heat transfer relationship with the combustion chamber; an exhaust section in air flow relationship with the combustion section; an expansion turbine in fluid flow relationship with the expansion chamber wherein heated working fluid from the expansion chamber rotates the expansion turbine; a first working fluid closed loop system comprising a condenser portion in fluid flow relationship with the expansion chamber and expansion turbine, wherein a working fluid within the expansion chamber is heated within the expansion chamber, rotates the expansion turbine and is cooled in the condenser portion prior to being reheated in the expansion chamber; means for driving the compressor as the expansion turbine rotates, wherein air from the compressor is forced into the combustion chamber for mixture with a fuel and combustion, and wherein combustion of fuel and air within the combustion chamber heats working fluid in the expansion chamber causing the working fluid to rotate the expansion turbine and drive the compressor thereby forcing air into the combustion chamber to be mixed with fuel, combusted and exhausted through the exhaust section to produce thrust. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A thrust producing inert gas turbine engine comprising:
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an inlet section having a compressor therein; a combustion section being in air flow relationship with the compressor, said combustion section including an expansion chamber in heat transfer relationship with a combustion chamber; an expansion turbine in fluid flow relationship with the expansion chamber wherein heated working fluid from the expansion chamber rotates the expansion turbine; an exhaust section in air flow relationship with the combustion section wherein combusted air and fuel within the combustion chamber is exhausted through said exhaust section without contacting the expansion turbine to produce thrust.
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Specification