System for ice and/or frost prevention using guided wave energy
View Patent ↗An ice and/or frost preventing system for positioning in an airflow tunnel having an air inlet includes a plurality of waveguide passages positioned in the airflow tunnel; an air filter positioned in each waveguide passage; a microwave energy source coupled to each waveguide passage; a first screen positioned in the airflow tunnel upstream of the plurality of waveguide passages; and a second screen positioned in the airflow tunnel downstream of the plurality of waveguide passages. The microwave energy sources and the first and second screens create a guided, standing wave, microwave energy that substantially prevents at least one of ice and frost from forming on the air filters. A turbine system including the ice and/or frost preventing system is also described.
1. A system for preventing at least one of ice and frost for positioning in an airflow tunnel having an air inlet, the system comprising:
a plurality of waveguide passages positioned in the airflow tunnel;
an air filter positioned in each waveguide passage;
a microwave energy source coupled to each waveguide passage;
a first screen positioned in the airflow tunnel upstream of the plurality of waveguide passages; and
a second screen positioned in the airflow tunnel downstream of the plurality of waveguide passages,
wherein the microwave energy sources and the first and second screens create a guided, standing wave, microwave energy that prevents at least one of ice and frost from forming on the air filters.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the airflow has a temperature of less than or equal to 0° C.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guided, standing wave, microwave energy has a frequency in the range of approximately 800 to 930 megaHertz.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guided, standing wave, microwave energy has a frequency of approximately 915 megaHertz.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guided, standing wave, microwave energy has a wavelength in a range of approximately 10 centimeters to approximately 60 centimeters.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microwave energy source includes a magnetron mounted externally of the airflow tunnel and including an input to each waveguide passage.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein each waveguide passage includes a plate extending between sides of the airflow tunnel.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the airflow tunnel is indirectly coupled to an inlet of a gas or steam turbine engine.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein each waveguide passage includes a respective microwave energy source coupled thereto.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein each screen has openings in a range of approximately 0.5 centimeters to approximately 1.5 centimeters in size.
11. A turbine system comprising:
a turbine engine; and
an air intake housing coupled to the turbine engine, the air intake housing including:
an airflow tunnel including an air inlet for receiving an airflow,
a plurality of waveguide passages positioned in the airflow tunnel,
an air filter positioned in each waveguide passage,
a microwave energy source coupled to each waveguide passage,
a first screen positioned in the airflow tunnel upstream of the plurality of waveguide passages, and
a second screen positioned in the airflow tunnel downstream of the plurality of waveguide passages,
wherein the microwave energy sources and the first and second screens create a guided, standing wave, microwave energy that prevents at least one of ice and frost from forming on the air filters.
12. The turbine system of claim 11 , wherein the airflow has a temperature of less than or equal to 0° C.
13. The turbine system of claim 11 , wherein the guided, standing wave, microwave energy has a frequency in the range of approximately 800 to 930 megaHertz.
14. The turbine system of claim 11 , wherein the guided, standing wave, microwave energy has a frequency of approximately 915 megaHertz.
15. The turbine system of claim 11 , wherein the guided, standing wave, microwave energy has a wavelength in a range of approximately 10 centimeters to approximately 60 centimeters.
16. The turbine system of claim 15 , wherein the wavelength is greater than approximately 30 centimeters.
17. The turbine system of claim 11 , wherein the microwave energy source includes a magnetron mounted externally of the airflow tunnel and including an input to each waveguide passage.
18. The turbine system of claim 11 , wherein each waveguide passage includes a plate extending between sides of the airflow tunnel.
19. The turbine system of claim 11 , wherein each waveguide passage includes a respective microwave energy source coupled thereto.
20. A system comprising:
an airflow tunnel including an air inlet for receiving an airflow having a temperature of less than or equal to 0° C.;
a system for preventing formation of at least one of ice and frost, the system including:
a plurality of waveguide passages positioned in the airflow tunnel;
an air filter positioned in each waveguide passage;
a microwave energy source coupled to each waveguide passage, the microwave energy source generating a microwave energy having a frequency in the range of approximately 800 to 930 megaHertz;
a first screen positioned in the airflow tunnel upstream of the plurality of waveguide passages; and
a second screen positioned in the airflow tunnel downstream of the plurality of waveguide passages,
wherein the microwave energy sources and the first and second screens create a guided, standing wave, microwave energy that prevents at least one of ice and frost from forming on the air filters.