High speed turbo-alternator with integrated cooling fan
A blower including: a forward end; an aft end located opposite the forward end; a shaft located at the aft end; a flange located at the forward end; an internal surface defining an axial passageway within the blower; an external surface radially outward of the internal surface; one or more radial passageway formed within the flange and fluidly connected to the axial passageway, the radial passageway extending from the internal surface to the external surface; and a plurality of blower blades located within the flange and defining the radial passageway.
1. A blower, comprising:
a forward end;
an aft end located opposite the forward end;
a shaft located at the aft end;
a flange located at the forward end;
an internal surface defining an axial passageway within the blower;
an external surface radially outward of the internal surface;
one or more radial passageway formed within the flange and fluidly connected to the axial passageway, the radial passageway extending from the internal surface to the external surface; and
a plurality of blower blades located within the flange and defining the radial passageway;
wherein the flange further comprises:
a forward disc located at the forward end and includes a forward surface;
an aft disc connected to the shaft, the aft disk being in a facing spaced relationship with the forward disk and at least partially defining the one or more radial passageways therebetween; and
wherein the forward disc includes a forward surface and the aft disc further comprises an aft surface,
wherein the forward surface is a thrust bearing runner for a first forward thrust bearing, and wherein the aft surface is a thrust bearing runner for a second forward thrust bearing.
2. The blower of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of blower blades extend from the forward disc to the aft disc.
3. The blower of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of blower blades extend from the internal surface to the external surface.
4. The blower of claim 1 , wherein the axial passageway is located at the forward end and extends into the blower.
5. The blower of claim 1 , wherein the axial passageway extends from the forward end to the aft end.
6. The blower of claim 5 , further comprising a seat located in the axial passageway.
7. An electrical power generation system, comprising:
a micro-turbine alternator, comprising:
a decomposition chamber;
a turbine driven by combustion gases from the decomposition chamber;
a blower operably connected to the decomposition chamber to provide a blown airflow thereto;
one or more shafts connecting the turbine to the blower such that rotation of the turbine drives rotation of the blower; and
an electric generator disposed along the one or more shafts such that electrical power is generated via rotation of the one or more shafts,
wherein the blower comprises
a forward end;
an aft end located opposite the forward end;
a shaft located at the aft end;
a flange located at the forward end;
an internal surface defining an axial passageway within the blower;
an external surface radially outward of the internal surface;
one or more radial passageway formed within the flange and fluidly connected to the axial passageway, the radial passageway extending from the internal surface to the external surface; and
a plurality of blower blades located within the flange and defining the radial passageway.
8. The electrical power generation system of claim 7 , wherein the flange further comprises:
a forward disc located at the forward end; and
an aft disc connected to the shaft, the aft disc being in a facing spaced relationship with the forward disk and at least partially defining the one or more radial passageways therebetween.
9. The electrical power generation system of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of blower blades extend from the forward disk to the aft disc.
10. The electrical power generation system of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of blower blades extend from the internal surface to the external surface.
11. The electrical power generation system of claim 7 , wherein the axial passageway is located at the forward end and extends into the blower.
12. The electrical power generation system of claim 7 , wherein the axial passageway extends from the forward end to the aft end.
13. The electrical power generation system of claim 12 , further comprising a seat located in the axial passageway.
14. The electrical power generation system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a frame;
a first forward thrust bearing; and
a second forward thrust bearing,
wherein the forward disc further comprises a forward surface and the aft disc further comprises an aft surface, and
wherein the first forward thrust bearing is located between the forward surface of the forward disc and the frame and the second forward thrust bearing is located between the aft surface of the aft disc and the frame.
15. The electrical power generation system of claim 14 , wherein the forward surface is a thrust bearing runner for the first forward thrust bearing.
16. The electrical power generation system of claim 14 , wherein the aft surface is a thrust bearing runner for the second forward thrust bearing.
17. The electrical power generation system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a frame; and
a first journal bearing located between the blower shaft and the frame.