Supersonic compressor
A novel supersonic compressor is provided by the present invention. In one embodiment, the novel supersonic compressor comprises a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and at least two counter rotary supersonic compressor rotors, said supersonic compressor rotors being configured in series such that an output from a first supersonic compressor rotor having a first direction of rotation is directed to a second supersonic compressor rotor configured to counter-rotate with respect to the first supersonic compressor rotor.
1. A supersonic compressor comprising:
(a) a fluid inlet;
(b) a fluid outlet; and
(c) at least two counter rotary supersonic compressor rotors, said supersonic compressor rotors being configured in series such that an output from a first supersonic compressor rotor having a first direction of rotation is directed to a second supersonic compressor rotor configured to counter-rotate with respect to the first supersonic compressor rotor;
wherein at least one of the supersonic compressor rotors comprises a rim-mounted compression ramp configured to compress a fluid between a rotor rim surface and an inner surface of a compressor housing.
2. The supersonic compressor according to claim 1 , wherein said first supersonic compressor rotor is essentially identical to said second supersonic compressor rotor.
3. The supersonic compressor according to claim 1 , wherein said first supersonic compressor rotor is not identical to said second supersonic compressor rotor.
4. The supersonic compressor according to claim 1 , wherein said supersonic compressor rotors are arrayed along a common axis of rotation.
5. The supersonic compressor according to claim 1 , wherein said supersonic compressor rotors do not share a common axis of rotation.
6. The supersonic compressor according to claim 1 , wherein said first supersonic compressor rotor is coupled to a first drive shaft, and said second supersonic compressor rotor is coupled to a second drive shaft, said first and second drive shaft being arrayed along a common axis of rotation.
7. The supersonic compressor according to claim 6 , wherein said first and second drive shafts comprise a pair of concentric, counter-rotary drive shafts.
8. The supersonic compressor according to claim 1 comprising at least three supersonic compressor rotors.
9. The supersonic compressor according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more of fluid guide vanes.
10. The supersonic compressor according to claim 1 further comprising a fluid impeller between said fluid inlet and said first supersonic compressor rotor.
11. A supersonic compressor comprising:
(a) a fluid inlet;
(b) a fluid outlet; and
(c) a first supersonic compressor rotor and a second counter-rotary supersonic compressor rotor, said supersonic compressor rotors being configured in series such that an output from the first supersonic compressor rotor is directed to the second counter-rotary supersonic compressor rotor, said supersonic compressor rotors sharing a common axis of rotation;
wherein at least one of the supersonic compressor rotors comprises a rim-mounted compression ramp configured to compress a fluid between a rotor rim surface and an inner surface of a compressor housing.
12. The supersonic compressor according to claim 11 , wherein said first supersonic compressor rotor is essentially identical to said second supersonic compressor rotor.
13. The supersonic compressor according to claim 11 , wherein said first supersonic compressor rotor is coupled to a first drive shaft and said second supersonic compressor rotor is coupled to a second drive shaft, wherein said first and second drive shafts comprise a pair of concentric, counter-rotary drive shafts.
14. The supersonic compressor according to claim 13 , wherein said first and second drive shafts are coupled to a common drive motor.
15. The supersonic compressor according to claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of fluid guide vanes.
16. The supersonic compressor according to claim 11 , which is comprised within a gas turbine engine.
17. A supersonic compressor comprising:
(a) a gas conduit comprising (i) a low pressure gas inlet, and (ii) a high pressure gas outlet;
(b) a first supersonic compressor rotor disposed within said gas conduit; and
(c) a second counter-rotary supersonic compressor rotor disposed within said gas conduit;
said supersonic compressor rotors being configured in series such that an output from the first supersonic compressor rotor is directed to the second counter-rotary supersonic compressor rotor, said supersonic compressor rotors defining a low pressure conduit segment upstream of said first supersonic compressor rotor, an intermediate pressure conduit segment disposed between said first supersonic compressor rotor and said second counter-rotary supersonic compressor rotor, and a high pressure conduit segment downstream of said second counter-rotary supersonic compressor rotor, said supersonic compressor rotors sharing a common axis of rotation;
wherein at least one of the supersonic compressor rotors comprises a rim-mounted compression ramp configured to compress a fluid between a rotor rim surface and an inner surface of a compressor housing.
18. The supersonic compressor according to claim 17 , wherein said first supersonic compressor rotor is essentially identical to said second counter-rotary supersonic compressor rotor.
19. The supersonic compressor according to claim 17 , wherein said first supersonic compressor rotor is not identical to said second counter-rotary supersonic compressor rotor.
20. The supersonic compressor according to claim 17 , wherein said first supersonic compressor rotor is coupled to a first drive shaft and said second counter-rotary supersonic compressor rotor is coupled to a second drive shaft, wherein said first and second drive shafts comprise a pair of concentric, counter-rotary drive shafts.