Reaction turbine operating on condensing vapors
A reaction turbine operates on the heat released from the condensation of steam, combined with inherent steam pressure and temperature heads. A series of rotors, each containing multiple curved internal channels, provide compressive boosts between successive stages, while avoiding excessive self-compression. Compressive effects and shock waves generated within these channels provide high levels of condensation, thereby releasing immense amounts of heat. The resulting hot vapor and condensate droplets are then ejected tangentially at the periphery of the rotors to generate thrust. The exhaust steam from the last stage is then compressed and returned to the engine inlet to be mixed with the incoming fresh steam, thereby efficiently completing the system cycle without the need of large cooling towers for condensation.
1 . A rotor, comprising:
a first surface and a second surface spaced from the first surface in an axial direction;
an end wall extending between the first surface and the second surface;
at least one channel extending in a radial direction between an inlet and an outlet in the end wall;
wherein the at least one channel includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a first sidewall and a second sidewall extending in the axial direction between the top wall and the bottom wall, and
wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are curved in the axial direction between the top wall and the bottom wall.
2 . The rotor of claim 1 , wherein a curvature of the sidewalls of the at least one channel increases in a direction extending from the inlet to the outlet.
3 . The rotor of claim 1 , wherein the curvature of the sidewalls of the at least one channel increases continuously from the inlet to the outlet.
4 . The rotor of claim 1 , wherein a curvature of the sidewalls is a catenary curve.
5 . The rotor of claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall is convex curve and the second sidewall is concave.
6 . The rotor of claim 1 , further comprising a filter over the outlet.
7 . The rotor of claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel has a throat section, the throat section having a first section with a decreasing cross sectional area and a second section with an increasing cross sectional area, the second section creating an overexpansion nozzle.
8 . The rotor of claim 1 , further comprising tubes extending across the at least one channel.
9 . A turbine, comprising:
a housing having a first end wall, a second end wall and at least one sidewall extending between the first end wall and second end wall;
an inlet in the first end wall;
a shaft extending through the housing;
a first partition dividing the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, the first partition having an opening;
a first compressor in the opening in the first partition;
a rotor connected to the shaft in each chamber, each rotor having a first surface and a second surface, an inlet, an outlet and a channel extending between the inlet and outlet;
a first horizontal partition forming a conduit between the inlet in the first end wall and the first surface of the rotor in the first chamber;
a second horizontal partition forming a conduit between the opening in the first partition and the first surface of the rotor in the second chamber; and
an exhaust in the housing.
10 . The turbine of claim 9 , further comprising a drainage conduit connected to each chamber.
11 . The turbine of claim 9 , further comprising a second partition forming a third chamber in the housing, the second partition having an opening;
a second compressor in the opening in the second partition;
a rotor in the third chamber, the rotor having a first surface and a second surface, an inlet, an outlet and a channel extending between the inlet and outlet; and
a third conduit between the opening in the second partition and the first surface of the rotor in the third chamber.
12 . The turbine of claim 9 , a conduit extending from the exhaust in the housing to a source of steam.
13 . The turbine of claim 9 , wherein the channel of the rotor has an expansion chamber between the inlet and outlet.
14 . The turbine of claim 13 , wherein the channel of the rotor has a spirally extending section between the inlet and outlet.
15 . A method of driving a rotor, comprising:
introducing a fluid at saturation conditions to a channel in a rotor, the rotor having a throat having a decreasing cross section followed by an increasing cross section;
overexpanding the fluid by the increasing cross section of the throat to a supercooled state;
inducing condensation;
raising the pressure and temperature of the working fluid with the heat released by the condensation step; and
expanding the heated and pressurized fluid to produce work.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising removing condensate.
17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising compressing the fluid before expanding the fluid.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein inducing condensation comprises creating shock waves.
19 . The rotor of claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel curves between the inlet and outlet.
20 . The rotor of claim 1 , wherein the top wall and bottom wall of the at least one channel are parallel to each other.