U.S. patent application number 13/756140 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-06 for magnetic advanced generation jet electric turbine.
The applicant listed for this patent is Richard H. Lugg. Invention is credited to Richard H. Lugg.
Application Number | 20140060005 13/756140 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42634145 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140060005 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lugg; Richard H. |
March 6, 2014 |
MAGNETIC ADVANCED GENERATION JET ELECTRIC TURBINE
Abstract
Supersonic Magnetic Advanced Generation Jet Electric Turbine
(S-MAGJET) described herein, and a subsonic derivative, MAGJET,
integrate a gas power turbine, superconducting electric power and
propulsion generation, and magnetic power flux field systems along
with an ion plasma annular injection combustor which utilizes
alternative petroleum-based fuel and combustion cycles to create a
hybrid turbine turbomachine for aerospace propulsion. The
propulsion unit is able to achieve a dramatic increase in
horsepower, combustion and propulsion efficiency, and weight
reduction. In addition, the turbomachinery structures may be
disposed within an exoskeleton architecture that achieves an
increase in thrust to weight ratio with a concomitant increase in
fuel efficiency and power generation. The engine continuously
adjusts the temperature, pressure and mass airflow requirements
using an electromagnetic power management system architecture.
Engine performance may be controlled across the entire desired
flight envelope, whether subsonic, transonic or supersonic flight
conditions.
Inventors: |
Lugg; Richard H.; (Yarmouth,
ME) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lugg; Richard H. |
Yarmouth |
ME |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
42634145 |
Appl. No.: |
13/756140 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13059240 |
Feb 16, 2011 |
8365510 |
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PCT/US2009/054317 |
Aug 19, 2009 |
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13756140 |
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61189365 |
Aug 19, 2008 |
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61224666 |
Jul 10, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
60/226.3 ;
415/144 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05H 1/50 20130101; F02C
7/32 20130101; F02C 3/04 20130101; F05D 2300/507 20130101; F01D
15/10 20130101; F02K 5/00 20130101; F02K 1/08 20130101; F02K 3/025
20130101; F02K 3/06 20130101; F05D 2270/172 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
60/226.3 ;
415/144 |
International
Class: |
F02C 3/04 20060101
F02C003/04 |
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. A shaftless gas turbine engine comprising: a. an outer casing
of generally cylindrical shape and having an inlet section, wherein
the outer casing provides a load bearing surface of the engine; b.
a hollow core within a center of the outer casing establishing a
shaftless section of the outer casing and extending the length of
the outer casing wherein the hollow core is configured to allow
ambient air to pass therethrough; c. a turbine section within the
outer casing; d. a compressor section within the outer casing; and
e. a bypass fan section with dual bypass fans within the outer
casing arranged to propel bypass air around the turbine section,
wherein the turbine section, the compressor section and the bypass
fan section are maintained in position within the outer casing by
magnetic levitation air bearings.
15. The gas turbine engine of claim 14 wherein the dual bypass fans
include two alternating rows of bypass fan blades and diffuser
blades, wherein there are bypass fan blades closest to the
compressor section and closest to the inlet section.
16. The gas turbine engine of claim 14 wherein the compressor
section includes a plurality of turbine blade pairs, wherein the
turbine blade pairs are magnetically levitated by pairs of
permanent magnets.
17. The gas turbine engine of claim 14 further comprising a nozzle
section and a combustor section, wherein the nozzle section
includes a magnetohydrodynamic accelerator configured to ionize gas
from the combustor section.
18. The gas turbine engine of claim 17 wherein the
magnetohydrodynamic accelerator includes a series of ring
accelerator induction electrode plates.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to co-pending, commonly
owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/059,240, entitled
MAGNETIC ADVANCED GENERATION JET ELECTRIC TURBINE, filed Feb. 14,
2011, by inventor Richard H. Lugg, which is a national phase
application of PCT Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2009/054317,
entitled MAGNETIC ADVANCED GENERATION JET ELECTRIC TURBINE, filed
Aug. 19, 2009, by inventor Richard H. Lugg, which claimed priority
to Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/189,365, entitled
MAGNETIC ADVANCED GENERATION JET ELECTRIC TURBINE, filed Aug. 19,
2008, by inventor Richard H. Lugg, and Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/224,666 entitled MAGNETIC ADVANCED
GENERATION JET ELECTRIC TURBINE, filed Jul. 10, 2009, by inventor
Richard H. Lugg. The entire contents of the priority parent
applications are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The subject matter described herein relates generally to jet
engines and more particularly to hybrid engines that generate both
significant thrust and surplus electrical energy to drive other
engine components.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Over the past 10-20 years research has focused on increasing
jet engine performance while reducing engine weight and reducing
the costs associated with engine production and maintenance. In
particular, government and military funded programs have focused on
using ceramic components for the hot section of gas turbine engines
to allow for higher turbine inlet temperatures and, therefore,
higher thermal efficiencies. In addition, research is focusing on a
truly integrated engine and airframe propulsion system in which the
engine casing becomes a part of the airframe. This would allow for
a dramatic weight reduction in overall weight and an increase in
engine performance. However, these development programs have
focused on 70 year old gas turbine technology.
[0004] In addition, the DOD and Armed Services are now demanding
significant increases in electric output from turbine flight
engines. For example, there are now requirements for the generation
of up to 2-5 megawatts of electrical power that is needed to power
on-board directed energy weapons and all electric aircraft
subsystems. Currently, US Air Force requirements for future
unmanned and manned systems are demanding propulsion capabilities
which can sustain supersonic speeds as in Mach 1.5-3.5 across a
complete flight regime, lift-off to landing, and deliver high power
energy weapons with all electric sub-systems for aircraft function.
Future aircraft concepts are demanding in excess of 1.0 megawatt of
power which current turbine engine companies cannot deliver off of
their present engine designs, largely because they are restricted
by the reduction performance of gear boxes, drive shafts and the
generator added on as an additional component which is not made by
the OEM engine supplier.
[0005] In traditional gas turbine engines, the combustor/propulsor,
dynamic components are designed to be in tension with heavy axial
drive shafts (or spools), and gear boxes. These systems are quite
heavy and typically limit the thrust to weight ratios to not more
than 7 to 1.
[0006] Accordingly, a need exists for an engine design that is able
to provide very high thrust to weight ratios, has optimized
aerodynamic flight conditions across the entire flight envelope and
can generate substantial surplus electrical power output.
[0007] A further need exists for a turbine engine design without a
drive shaft (and its volume and weight constraints) that has
optimize aerodynamic efficiency along with lightweight high
temperature materials.
[0008] Yet another exists for new engine turbomachinary that
utilizes new high power electromagnetics to electrically segment
the bypass fan from the compressor and the turbine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The Supersonic Magnetic Advanced Generation Jet Electric
Turbine (S-MAGJET) described herein, and a subsonic derivative,
MAGJET, integrate a gas power turbine, superconducting electric
power and propulsion generation, and magnetic power flux field
systems along with an ion plasma annular injection combustor which
utilizes alternative petroleum-based fuel and combustion cycles to
create a hybrid turbine turbomachine for aerospace propulsion. The
propulsion unit is able to achieve a dramatic increase in
horsepower, combustion and propulsion efficiency, and weight
reduction. In addition, the turbomachinery structures may be
disposed within an exo-skeleton architecture that achieves an
increase in thrust to weight ratio with a concomitant increase in
fuel efficiency and power generation over traditional gas turbine
technology today. The S-MAGJET can provide a flight operation
envelope with little or no off-design flight condition. The engine
continuously adjusts the temperature, pressure and mass airflow
requirements using an electromagnetic power management system
architecture. With this system architecture, the engine performance
may be controlled across the entire desired flight envelope,
whether subsonic, transonic or supersonic flight conditions. With
bypass fan(s), compressor stages and turbine segments controlled
electrically in a shaftless turbine design, the S-MAGJET maximizes
the propulsion efficiencies over a broader range of operating
conditions compared to current art of turbine technology and at
much higher thermodynamic and aerodynamic efficiencies.
[0010] The present invention discloses methods, systems, and
apparatus for hybrid engine technology offer a highly efficient,
both subsonic and supersonic, variable bypass (propulsor fan) ratio
engine design. The engine operates electrically by generating a
large amount of on-board electric power through its superconducting
electric turbine ring generator system. The engine produces
sufficient power to operate the multi-stage counter rotating,
superconducting, dual ring motor electric bypass fans and
superconducting electric ring motor axial compressor. Typically,
the engine described herein may be in the 50,000-55,000 lb. thrust
class as a supersonic engine, and 25,000-120,000 lb. thrust class
as a subsonic engine, although other thrusts may be developed and
used depending on the system requirements.
[0011] As used herein, the Supersonic Magnetic Advanced Generation
Jet Electric Turbine (S-MAGJET) is the term used to define the
supersonic hybrid engine embodiments described herein, and Magnetic
Advanced Generation Jet Electric Turbine (MAGJET) is the terms used
to define the subsonic hybrid engine derivative thereof also as
described herein. S-MAGJET includes a power turbine portion that
generates hot air exhaust and powers the one or more ring motor
generators that generate the electrical power needed to power the
other S-MAGJET components that may include a series of supersonic
flow rotors and counter rotating diffusers to operate across
supersonic inflow conditions, and that can be run independently of
one another.
[0012] In the engine described herein, the electrical generation is
provided by superconducting ring generators that are powered by the
high velocity exhaust thrust from the combustor section of the
engine. The bypass fan is a twin fan system in which one fan
counter rotates with the other fan, which reduces aerodynamic swirl
and drag. The bypass fan configuration is not constrained by a
drive shaft, heavy gears and complex gear boxes, nor complex
lubrication systems and it can be run at an optimal rotational
speed so as to maximize its efficiency at any aircraft velocity, or
altitude. The bypass fans running independently from the compressor
can be run at much slower speeds than the compressor, this means a
more efficient RPM for the larger diameter fan blade designs
whether a low bypass fan design as in a supersonic engine or a high
bypass fan design in a subsonic engine. Raising its efficiency
dramatically is now possible in pushing air past the compressor
core and power turbines, for thrust and the overall efficiency of
the engine. Additionally, the lower operating speeds afford the use
of wider blades, raising aerodynamic efficiency and thrust per
horsepower, making the engine architecture greatly more efficient
than the current art of engine designs. The electric compressor is
designed with fewer stages than that of current turbine technology.
The compressor is an axial, multi-stage design of 8 stages in a
supersonic derivative, and 9 stages in a subsonic derivative of the
engine technology. Three (3) low pressure stages and six (6) high
pressure stages are present in the subsonic design, current art of
turbines would take at least thirteen (13) compressor stages to
compress a similar amount of incoming air. This is possible as each
stage operates independently from one another, and can, as they are
driven electrically, and each stage is more efficient. As the light
weight superconducting ring motors for the compressor do not
require a drive shaft, nor the bypass fans or the superconducting
ring generators of the power turbine, a "hollow-core shaftless"
tunnel is left in the center of the hybrid electric turbine which
now carries additional bypass air. Bypass air as the major
component of thrust, rather than the hot exhaust from the power
turbine being utilized as thrust is a more efficient method of
producing thrust for propulsion in turbines. Therefore, in
S-MAGJET, the majority of electric power produced off the power
turbine via the superconducting ring generators is directed forward
through a proprietary electric power management system to run the
electric bypass fans and the electric compressor. This electrical
independence of the bypass fan from the multi-stage axial
compressor raises overall efficiency of the engine. This
[0013] S-MAGJET as described herein also generates excess electric
power. In the 54,700 lb. thrust class, which is 41,000 shaft horse
power, the engine is able to generate 30.5 megawatts electric
power, from the standpoint of the engine operating at cruise
conditions, e.g., Mach 3.4 and 70,000 feet on a standard day, and
in which 7.0 megawatts are reserved for running any of the onboard
electrical needs of the aircraft, from aircraft health monitoring,
guidance and control, avionics, electrical flight control systems
to sensor arrays in military applications. MAGJET also produces
excess electrical power and in the 25,000 lb. thrust call engine
for regional jets produces 19.0 megawatts of power, utilizing 14.0
megawatts to run it and therefore 5.0 megawatts of additional
surplus power. S-MAGJET and MAGJET have the generator systems as an
integral part of the power turbine, made up of four stages located
behind the combustor. In this engine class of 54,700 lb. thrust, it
generates 30.5 megawatts, and utilizes 28.5 megawatts to run the
engine and generate the desired thrust. This leaves 7.0 MW left
over for such future systems in aircraft as heavily sensored
environmental and health management systems, electric landing gear,
all electric flight control and redundant systems, and advanced
avionics suites which are now implementing the digital high ways in
the sky guidance and control systems.
[0014] According to a first aspect a combustion engine comprises:
(A) generally cylindrical frame having interior and exterior
surfaces; (B) a plurality of arcuate blade arrays movably coupled
relative to the interior surface of the cylindrical frame; wherein
rotational characteristics of a first blade array relative to the
cylindrical frame are different from rotational characteristics of
a second, adjacent blade array relative to the first blade
array.
[0015] According to second aspect, a method of operating a
combustion engine comprises: (A)providing a shaftless engine
having: i) a generally cylindrical frame with interior and exterior
surfaces, ii) a plurality of arcuate blade arrays movably coupled
relative to the interior surface of the cylindrical frame, and iii)
a plurality of induction coils disposed about the perimeter of the
cylindrical frame; (B) exposing at least one of the blade arrays to
a combustion event; (C)converting kinetic energy from the
combustion event incident on the blade array into rotational motion
of the blade array relative to the interior surface of the
cylindrical frame; and (D) converting mechanical energy from the
rotational motion of the blade array into electrical energy by
inducing an electric current in the induction coils with a magnetic
field.
[0016] According to a third aspect, the method of operating a
combustion engine comprises: (A) providing a shaftless engine
having: i) a generally cylindrical frame with interior and exterior
surfaces, ii) a plurality of arcuate blade arrays movably coupled
relative to the interior surface of the cylindrical frame, and a
plurality of induction coils disposed about the perimeter of the
cylindrical frame; (B) inducing an electric current in the
induction coils to create a magnetic field; (C) exposing at least
one of the blade arrays to the magnetic field; and (D) converting
electrical energy from the magnetic field incident on the blade
array into rotational motion of the blade array relative to the
interior surface of the cylindrical frame.
[0017] According to a fourth aspect, a combustion engine comprises:
A combustion engine comprises: (A) generally cylindrical frame; and
(B) a plurality of engine elements disposed within the cylindrical
frame and selected from the group comprising a compressor, bypass
fan or turbine; wherein the plurality of engine elements are
configured for rotational motion relative to an axis of the
cylindrical frame but are not mechanically coupled to the
cylindrical frame or each other.
[0018] According to a fifth aspect, a combustion engine comprises:
(A) a generally cylindrical frame; (B) a turbine capable of
generating electrical power; and (C) a plurality of engine elements
disposed within the cylindrical frame and selected from the group
comprising a compressor, bypass fan, combustor, or
magnetohydrodynamic accelerator; wherein the plurality of engine
elements are electrically, but not mechanically, coupled to the
turbine.
[0019] According to a sixth aspect, a method of operating a
combustion engine comprises: (A) providing a shaftless engine
having: i) a generally cylindrical frame with interior and exterior
surfaces, ii) a turbine comprising at least one arcuate blade array
movably coupled relative to the interior surface of the cylindrical
frame and a plurality of induction coils disposed about the
perimeter of the cylindrical frame; and iii) a combustor for
generating plasma exhaust comprising ionized molecules of a first
polarity; (B) exposing at least one of the blade arrays to plasma
exhaust; (C) converting kinetic energy from the plasma exhaust
incident on the blade array into rotational motion of the blade
array relative to the interior surface of the cylindrical frame;
and (D) converting mechanical energy from the rotational motion of
the blade array into electrical energy by inducing an electric
current in the induction coils with a magnetic field.
[0020] According to a seventh aspect, a combustion engine comprises
(A) generally cylindrical frame; and (13) a turbine disposed within
the cylindrical frame and configured to generate electrical power,
the turbine comprising: i) at least one arcuate blade array movably
coupled relative to the interior surface of the cylindrical frame,
ii) a plurality of induction coils disposed about the perimeter of
the cylindrical frame; and (C) combustor for generating plasma
exhaust comprising ionized molecules of a first polarity; wherein
at least a portion of the blade array comprises a magnetic material
having a magnetic charge opposite the polarity of the ionized
molecules of the plasma exhaust.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The above and further advantages of the invention may be
better understood by referring to the following description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0022] FIG. 1A-C are cutaway, cross-sectional view of an MAGJET
embodiment in accordance with the disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a conceptual cross-sectional view of an aerospike
in accordance with the disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a conceptual, cross-sectional view of the
aerospike inner shaft with the intake slots in an open position in
accordance with the disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a conceptual, cross-sectional view of the
aerospike inner shaft with the intake slots in a closed space
position in accordance with the disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an ion plasma combustor in
accordance with the disclosure;
[0027] FIGS. 6A-D are conceptual, cross-sectional view of the
aerospike relative to the engine inlet in various positions;
[0028] FIGS. 7A-B are front and side transparent views,
respectively, of the plasma combustor of FIG. 5;
[0029] FIGS. 8A-B are perspective and side transparent views,
respectively, of the fuel injector of the plasma combustor of FIG.
5;
[0030] FIGS. 9A-B are conceptual, cross-sectional view of double
and single port fuel injectors, respectively, of the plasma
combustor of FIG. 5;
[0031] FIG. 10 is a conceptual, cross-sectional view of the
superconducting turbine rotor blade power generation pairs in
accordance with the disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of the rotor blade power
generation pairs of FIG. 10 relative to the induction coils and
illustrating the magnetic flux pattern formed therebetween;
[0033] FIGS. 12A-C are perspective, top and side transparent views,
respectively, of a turbine vane pair in accordance with the
disclosure;
[0034] FIG. 13A is a perspective, partially transparent view of a
turbine vane in accordance with the disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 13B is a top, cutaway view of a prior art turbine blade
showing of airflow around the leading edge thereof;
[0036] FIG. 13C is a top, cutaway view of a turbine blade showing
of airflow around the leading edge thereof in accordance with the
disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 14 is a conceptual, perspective view of an electrode
gas plasma accelerator in accordance with the disclosure;
[0038] FIG. 15 is a conceptual, partially transparent, perspective
view all a single ring accelerator;
[0039] FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram of an ion plasma
control system in accordance with the disclosure;
[0040] FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of an compressor
control system in accordance with the disclosure;
[0041] FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of an turbine control
system in accordance with the disclosure;
[0042] FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram of an bypass fan system
in accordance with the disclosure;
[0043] FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram of an electrical
Brayton cycle control system accordance with the disclosure;
[0044] FIGS. 21-22 are conceptual diagrams of vain blades
placements in accordance with the disclosure;
[0045] FIG. 23 is a cutaway, cross-sectional view of an alternative
embodiment in accordance with the disclosure; and
[0046] FIG. 24 is a cutaway, cross-sectional view of another
alternative embodiment annotated with equation reference numbers
which correspond to the equations listed in appendix A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0047] FIG. 1A-C R. schematic representations of an aerospace
supersonic aerospace gas turbine engine (1) in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment comprises an outer casing or exoskeleton (15)
extending the along an axial centerline axis (2). Exoskeleton (199)
has a generally a hollow cylindrical shape the specific dimension
of which may be selected by the designer for specific parameters of
high-speed flight. Exoskeleton (15) may comprise, in one embodiment
in the outer casing and the inner casing having a space there
between. Turbine engine (1) further comprises an inlet section (3)
into which air enters and is propelled in a bypass fan section (4)
by the first of two counter-rotating bypass fans, after which the
air is diffused and straightened through a counter-rotating
diffuser (5) and further propelled by any second bypass fan (5). An
aerospace ram (7) which moves in and out linearly along the axial
centerline 2 and is attached to a slotted section of the bypass
tunnel (6) to accommodate retraction and extension of the aerospike
ram (7) to selectively accept bypass air/ram air to increase
cooling or thrust or both, and to provide ionized seed flow to an
magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) continuous continuous electrode gas
plasma generator/gas accelerator (8) at the rear to the engine (8)
for seeding the air flow electrically through electric plasma seed
electrodes (9), turbine engine (1) further comprises swirl reducing
diffuser (10) as a means of reducing mass air flow swirl,
compressor section (11) for compressing air in the compressor
section, a fuel combustor section (12) for combusting the
compressed air received from the compressor section with a fuel and
for generating combustion gases, a means for ionizing the fuel into
a plasma via electrically charged and magnetic field generating
fuel injectors (13) within the combustor (12), a means of
extracting the kinetic energy from the combusted gases in a high
speed exhaust stream exiting the combustor and turning a
multi-stage, segmented power turbine (14). Turbine engine (1) when
further comprises power turbine generating electricity (16) for
generating electricity utilizing high speed, superconducting,
static electromagnets, embedded in the turbine section engine
casing (15) and a means for simultaneously magnetically levitating
the same. Turbine engine (1) further comprises a means of embedding
permanent magnets in pairs (17) of turbine blades and generating
continuous high strength magnetic field flux to generate electric
power via the static superconductor electromagnets (15) and an
exhaust nozzle through which the combustion gases are exhausted
from the engine in a nozzle section which is in alignment of the
MHD drive generator/accelerator (18). A section of electromagnets
are sequentially spaced so as to accelerate the exhaust flow
creating additional thrust which coming from the ion plasma fuel
combustor (12) includes electric and magnetic field generating fuel
injectors for generating ions having a positive charge (+) which
then hit the accelerator electrode permanent magnet plates (which
are negatively charged (-)) and are accelerated, increasing exhaust
velocity and thrust, to control thrust on take-off and landing and
for attenuating the exhaust flow volumetrically through the pulsed
phased MHD electric accelerator (20).
[0048] Flowpath Overview
[0049] Ambient air enters the S-MAGJET supersonic engine (1) at the
engine inlet section (3), is accelerated in the first stage of the
dual counter-rotating bypass fan section (4), and is expanded,
diffused volumetrically, and has aerodynamic swirl reduced, in the
counter rotating diffuser (5). The rapidly moving ambient air is
compressed in a multi-stage, counter rotating, stator-less
compressor, the illustrative embodiment having eight stages, where
the atmospheric pressure of the air is raised approximately 50 to
60 times. Subsequently, the temperature of the pressurized air
increases dramatically to approximately 2250 Fahrenheit. The now
high temperature air is forced into the ion plasma fuel combustor
(12) under the velocity vector and compressive force generated from
the compressor (11) and is ignited by an array of the electric and
magnetic field generating fuel injectors (13) of plasma fuel
combustor (12), to create molecularized, charged ion fuel
combustion gases, i.e. a plasma, within the ion plasma fuel
combustor (12). The combustion gases are utilized to drive the
multi-stage counter rotating gas turbine (14) and integrated
superconducting electric generator (14). In the illustrative
embodiment, turbine (14) is made up of eight distinct, counter
rotating power turbine stages, with a first set of two high
pressure (15) power turbine stages followed by a set of four medium
pressure power turbine stages (21), and then a set of low pressure
turbine stages which are magnetically levitated as a complete
system (16) thereby reducing drag and turbo-vane swirl.
Additionally, the dual, counter rotating bypass fan (4), counter
rotating single stage diffuser (5) and stator-less compressor are
also magnetically levitated at (22) and (23), the high-speed
superconducting multistage high pressure power turbine (15) is
preceded, in a longitudinal and axial manner, by a single row of
static, high pressure stator vanes. The stator vanes straighten
exhaust flow, maintain enthalpy and kinetic energy levels and
contribute to overall power extraction from the gas flow for the
turbine and electric generation capability of the combined 8-stage
power turbine (24).
[0050] The hollow core 25 extends for the axial length of the
engine (1) and allows ambient air to pass without being subject to
the actions of the bypass fan (4), the compressor (11), the
combustor (13) or the power turbine generator (14). Further, the
design of the engine (1) is such that a portion of the ambient air
subjected to acceleration in the bypass fan (4) is directed, within
the outer engine casing (26), but outside of the compressor,
combustor and power turbine generator, to exit the engine through
the mixed flow supersonic nozzle section (27) in conjunction with
the exhaust combustion gases (28), and the bypass air moving
between the outer casing of the engine and the inner casing of the
engine core (29), and the bypass tunnel formed by the hollow core
(25). When the engine is in operation, the various rotating
elements of the engine, namely the dual counter rotating bypass fan
(4), the multi-stage electromagnetic compressor (13), and the
8-Stage electromagnetic segmented power turbine generator (14), are
maintained in position in the engine by magnetic levitation air
bearings located at turbomachinery locations of the dual counter
rotating bypass fan magnetic coils (22), the multi-stage segmented
compressor levitation coils (11), and the electromagnetically
segmented multi-stage power turbine levitation coils (16),
respectively, such that the weight of the rotating elements is
borne by the outer engine casing in the absence of an internal
engine shaft. In the illustrated embodiment, static elements of the
engine, as well as the rotating elements of the engine when not in
operation, are supported within the outer engine casing by means of
high speed arrestment pelton wheel systems in the bypass fan
turbomachinery section (30), the multi-stage segmented compressor
(31), and the electromagnetically segmented multi-stage power
turbine.
[0051] The load bearing surface in the S-MAGJET is the outer casing
of the engine and not a load bearing drive shaft as in current
designs. Since all of the superconducting electromagnetic ring
motor and ring generator systems are an integral part of the engine
exoskeleton, the centripital mechanical load of the operating
turbine is one of compression where all rotating machinery is
stressed in a positive sense, being under mechanical compression.
Thus, high performance, high temperature fiber reinforced ceramic
matrix composites (CMC) may be utilized in the rotating machinery.
The rotating components of the compressor including the diffuser,
the stator vanes, rotating compressor blades, the electromagnetic
trunion which houses the superconducting power generation coils,
motor coils and magnetic levitation permanent magnets and Halbach
Arrays are all under mechanical compressed loads. In compression,
CMCs out perform superalloyed composites as used in current turbine
technology by weight, strength, and high temperature thermodynamic
resistance and thermodynamic cycling performance.
[0052] In S-MAGJET the load bearing surface is the exoskeleton,
i.e., the rotating machinery spins against the outer wall of the
hybrid engine where the magnetic levitation air bearings are
located, thus the centrifugal forces developed as the machinery
spins to generate power and is directed against the
exoskeleton.
[0053] Inlet Section
[0054] Inlet section (3) comprises an aerospike ram (7) for
alternatively permitting or preventing ambient air from entering
the hollow core 25 of the engine. Extending or retracting of
aerospike ram (7) relative to hollow central shaft in the forebody
behind the aerospike ram either opens or closes the hollow shaft
core via a plurality slotted gates (32) via electric actuators (33)
which consists of an aerodynamically-designed double shaft of the
hollow core.
[0055] The point of air entry to the hollow core shaft is through
an axially, extending or receding, aerospike which adjusts the
amount of ambient air, under the control of electric actuators
(33), into the inlet by moving in or out dependent on air speed,
the amount of air needed for cooling and the required velocity and
mass flow needed to maintain a given speed and altitude of the
aircraft to which the S-MAGJET supersonic aerospike engine is
integrated. Depending on the in and out axial motion of the
aerospike attached to the hollow shaft, the axial slotted gates
(32) are opened and closed. The hollow core has a double wall about
gates 32 to obtain the sliding component axially to provide
extension and retraction of the aerospike (7). The aerospike and
axial hollow core shaft is articulated via a series of electric
actuation drivers (33) to provide movement, and where the hollow
core shaft is a smaller diameter aft of the slotted gates 32 and
fits tightly into a larger diameter hollow core shaft forward of
this position 34. The slotted gates, stationed radially about
circumference (FIG. 3) of the hollow core shaft,when the aerospike
is extended or retracted, opens (FIG. 3) and closes (FIG. 4) the
slotted gates about the hollow core shaft (FIG. 2, element 32).
When the aerospike is extended forward, the slotted gates are open
and ambient air is allowed into the hollow shaft for cooling and
increase of volumetric and mass air flow and a gap is formed
between the trailing edge of the aerospike conical form and the
leading edge of the conical body aft of the inlet lip (36).
[0056] The forward aerospike is generally conically shaped, with a
tip (35) at the forward-most end of engine inlet 3 which forms a
shock cone structure to manipulate the shock waves in terms of
shock wave coalescing and shock train development where the
magnitude (amplitude and frequency) has a negative impact on drag,
aerothermodynamic heating, acoustic vibration, and the subsequent
shock entrainment, all of which contributing to formation of back
pressure, inlet un-stall and compressor stall during critical
flight speed transitions, for example from Mach 2.5 to 3.5. The
aerospike positioning is depicted in FIG. 6 exemplifying the
formation of shock waves at different flight speeds and the
attenuation thereof. Beginning with the aerospike fully closed and
no inlet air into the central hollow-shaft bypass tunnel (FIG. 6A)
where at Mach 1.0, shock waves begin forming above Mach 1.1 and
near the very edge of the inlet cowl, and inside the inlet cowl,
causing a supersonic wave formation shock train that propagates
past the bulge of the supersonic aerospike. The aerospike offers a
reduction in velocity of inlet mass air flow which is required
prior to reaching the bypass fan, but more importantly the shock
waves cause back pressure within the inlet and internal to the
inlet as these multiple shock progress toward the dual
counter-rotating bypass fan (4). Despite the velocity of the inlet
air being slowed the supersonic shocks propagate and multiply
creating shock trains which can cause low frequency acoustic
vibration. The invention the S-MAGJET Supersonic Aerospike Engine
attenuates the low frequency, multiple shock trains forming at the
inlet of the engine, and, by moving forward and outward axially,
dissipating the shock train by drawing a portion of the inlet air
into the central hollow shaft via the shaft gates opening (32) as
depicted beginning in FIG. 6B, by approximately one third. In this
position the first shock train is removed from the inlet. With the
shaft gates open, simultaneously, bypass air moves down the central
hollow core shaft 25 of the engine, providing cooling to the
combustor and the power turbine, increasing the efficiency of
combustion. As the aerospike extends forward to compensate for
cooling via the core bypass shaftless tunnel, and thereby reducing
the number of shocks entering the inlet, it also adjusts for the
position of the shockwaves and reduces the impact angle moving from
acute angles to obtuse angles as observed with the aerospike moving
from the approximately one-third position in FIG. 6B, to the
approximately two-thirds position in FIG. 6C, and finally the fully
extended position in FIG. 6D.
[0057] The rearward portion of the aerospike (7) and the entry
gates formed axially in the circumference around the hollow core
shaft are designed in a complimentary fashion such that the
rearward portion of the aerospike may be positioned behind and
inside the front portion of the aerospike and close the entry gates
to prevent the ambient air from entering the hollow core shaft
tunnel. Further, the supersonic aerospace may be extended out of
and away from the rearward portion of the aerospike in such a
fashion to permit ambient air to enter the hollow shaft entry gates
intermittingly spaced around the shaft specifically to move bypass
air down the shaft and to attenuate back pressure at the inlet and
reduce shock train frequency. The forward hollow shaft engine core
(25) fits either inside or outside of the diameter of the rearward
hollow shaft engine core (38), and is attached to the rearward
portion of the aerospace and may be moved either out or in to open
or close off the hollow shaft entry gates port to the ambient air.
Such shaft is not continuous, but contains a multitude of gates
(6), (32), and (36) which, as the shaft is extended, permit ambient
air to pass through the shaft from the entry port into the hollow
core.
[0058] The inner diameter of the inlet section is greater than the
outer diameter of the supersonic aerospike at center and which
centers inside the inlet cowl plug and is larger than the outer
diameter of the other engine components. The diameters of the
supersonic aerospike, the hollow shaft entry gate ports, the hollow
core shaft, the electric compressor mechanism and compressor blades
and stages, the power turbine operation and its stages, and the
other elements of the engine are adjusted relative to each other so
as to permit the optimum operation of the engine, in subsonic,
transonic and supersonic modes of operation. In subsonic and
transonic modes of operation, the supersonic aerospike is retracted
to close off the hollow shaft entry gate ports of the engine such
that all of the ambient air entering the inlet is directed into the
bypass fan section of the engine.
[0059] Bypass Fan Section
[0060] The components of the bypass fan section include two
alternating rows of bypass fan blades and diffuser blades, such
that the forward most row is a row of bypass fan blades and the aft
most row is a row of bypass fan blades. The row of blades in
between is a set of diffuser blades, such that the rows of fan
blades and diffuser blades rotate in opposite directions.
[0061] The bypass fan blades and the diffuser blades are suitably
secured to an inner ring that forms a portion of the circumference
of the hollow core of the engine and to an outer ring. In the case
of the counter rotating row of diffuser blades, which constitute a
rotating drag and swirl-reducing diffuser, the outer ring forms a
part of the outer engine casing. In the case of the rotating rows
of bypass fan blades or diffuser blades, there is a perimeter ring
to which they attach where the outer portion of the tips of the
bypass fan blades and diffuser blades contain moldable high
temperature ferrous permanent magnets inside the blades which
continuously are molded to the perimeter inside ring, which lies in
close proximity and rotates inside an outside perimeter ring and
which is magnetically levitated against the fixed outside ring
which is a part of the engine casing. The outside perimeter ring
contains superconducting induction coils such that the entire
bypass fan blade or diffuser rotor assembly with their respective
inner perimeter ring assembly constitutes the rotating element of a
superconducting ring motor. The stationary element of each ring
motor within the outer perimeter ring consists of coils of
superconducting wire maintained at a constant temperature of not
less than -307 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Degrees Kelvin) and through
which an electric current is passed, thus creating a magnetic field
through which the perimeter of the inner rotating ring element (the
bypass fan blade or diffuser blade rows) rotates within the outer
rotating ring element.
[0062] The inducement of an electric current in the coils located
at the perimeter of the bypass fan blade rows and the diffuser
blade rows causes the perimeter of theses blade rows, which are
attached to their expected inner perimeter rings, to rotate in
response to the manipulation of the magnetic field around the
circumference of the blade row. Manipulation of the magnetic field
is achieved with the superconducting motor coils in the outer
perimeter ring, which lies in close proximity to the inner
perimeter ring to which the balked rows are attached and the
permanent magnets are embedded into the tips. In the illustrative
embodiment, the inner portion of the rows of blades (that portion
surrounding the hollow core) is designed so that the cross section
of the channel through which the air passes in the bypass fan
section is reduced from front to rear in a fashion similar to that
shown in FIG. 3. Because of their shape and arrangement, the rotor
blades accelerate, when rotating. The velocity of the ambient air.
By design, the rotating diffuser blades increase the pressure and
decreases the velocity of the air flow between the rows of rotor
blades so as to increase mass flow which is the desired product
equivalent for thrust up through the low supersonic condition of
S-MAGJET or Mach 1.2. The counter rotating diffuser blade row
(counter to the bypass fan blade rows) re-directs the air away from
the turbulent flow created by the first bypass fan stage, expands
the air and increases pressure, so that the rearward bypass fan
blade row may maximize gain increases in the mass flow and velocity
of the air, and is accelerated by the fan blades to exit the rear
bypass fan with the least possible turbulence.
[0063] Air leaving the bypass fan section of the engine is divided
into two air streams. A first air stream, the bypass air stream
(29), passes around the compressor, the combustor, the power
turbine and its perimeter superconducting generators. The second
airstream is directed into the multistage magnetic compressor (11).
The bypass air stream (29) provides a large mass flow of air at low
velocity and high volume, and, hence, high thrust at low speed to
assist in rapid acceleration from take off up to Mach 1.0.
Additionally the bypass airstream provides cooling to the ion
plasma compressor both internally through the rearward hollow shaft
engine core (38) and externally (40) in the mixed-flow bypass duct
components of the engine. In addition, under the appropriate
circumstances, bypass air may be removed from the bypass air flow
and vented to the outside atmosphere, by a controlled bypass air
vent (41).
[0064] Compressor
[0065] The components of the compressor section include a plurality
of rows of compressor blades, each of which rotates in the
direction opposite to that of the preceding row of rotor blades
(51). Each row of compressor rotor blades is suitably secured to an
inner ring that forms a portion of the circumference of the hollow
core of the engine and to an outer ring. A stationary perimeter
ring external to of each blade row and adjacent to the engine
casing contains superconducting propulsion induction compressor
coils of a ring motor. Such coils are maintained at a constant
temperature of approximately not less than 20 degrees Kelvin with
liquid hydrogen (52) such that the entire compressor rotor outer
ring assembly constitutes the fixed element of the ring motor. Each
compressor blade row is a rotating element of each ring motor,
consisting of permanent magnets, thus creating a magnetic field
through which the perimeter of the rotating element, e. g. the
blade row, rotates within the superconducting propulsion induction
compressor coils. When an electric current is passed into the
induction ring motor coils, a magnetic field is induced, causing
the perimeter of the blade row to rotate in response to
manipulation of the magnetic field around the circumference of the
blade row.
[0066] The compressor blade rows, and the spacing between the blade
rows, are arranged such that no intermediate stationary stator
blade rows are required to straighten the compressed air flow at
any given velocity, and that the counter rotating stages of each
compressor row achieve the removal of aerodynamic swirl, further
achieve higher compression ratios with fewer stages within the
engine. Without stationary stator stages, compressed air is counter
compressed in each follow-on stage, where the kinetic energy of the
accelerating air and the increase in the endothermic conservation
(thermodynamic conservation and air temperature rise) raises the
stator stage compression ratio. This design of the magnetic
compressor offers a simpler architecture and lower weight since
fewer stages are used.
[0067] The rotating turbine blade pair structures are fabricated
out of ferromagnetic material which form a vane disk assembly vane
disk assembly comprising of a ring with an evenly spaced array of
aerodynamic vanes affixed on either the outside (47) or inside (43)
diameter. Two of these turbine vane assemblies are affixed together
with one set of vanes oriented such that their centers align with
the gaps in the other vane disk assembly (97). The two vane disk
assemblies are spaced apart by a nonmagnetic spacer ring (98). In
alternative embodiments, a larger, even number of vane disk
assemblies may be utilized.
[0068] A stationary, coaxial solenoidal coil is arranged adjacent
to the vane disk assemblies on the opposite side of the ring from
the vanes. This solenoidal coil may be fabricated of a normal
conducting material or a superconducting material and may be
surrounded by a ferromagnetic ring having a C-shaped cross section,
the opening of which face us the vane disk assembly. When
energized, this coil supplies magnetic flux which flows out though
one vane disk assembly, through a stationary armature assembly
located opposite the rotating vane assembly, and returns through
the other vane disk assembly. The optional C-core provides a low
reluctance path to complete the loop of magnetic flux.
[0069] A stationary armature assembly is affixed facing the vane
disk assemblies (99). The armature assembly is of unique
configuration where a specific number of poles and wiring are used
to create a switched reluctance rotating electric machine using the
aerodynamic rotating turbine vanes as magnetic pole features; with
this design the armature assembly does not necessitate the use of
conventional iron teeth, and the ferromagnetic structure may be of
a laminated type or sintered ferromagnetic material type (100).
Conventional iron teeth are replaced with a non-magnetic and
non-conductive material instead. The armature coils are fabricated
from superconducting ribbon using many layers of the ribbon, of
thin thickness, fabricated into a cabled superconductor. Backing
iron may be used or may be replaced with a non-magnetic material as
a support structure.
[0070] The engine functions as a superconducting motor if the vanes
need to be propulsed as in the compressor section of the turbine to
compress a fluid flow such as air for combustion, or as a
superconducting generator as in the power turbine section of the
described S-MAGJET, driven by fluid flow in the hot exhaust stream
coming from the ion plasma combustor in the engine and generating
electric power. Such result may be achieved by energizing the
solenoid coil with a direct current in the static armature at the
perimeter. In the case of the compressor, an appropriate driving
voltage and current coming form the power turbine is applied to the
armature assembly to drive the vanes as a superconducting
motor/compressor, or electric power is available at the
superconducting armature terminals (101) if the machine were to be
used as a generator/turbine. The rotating vane assembly may be
supported by a magnetic bearing approach (16 and 48).
[0071] By varying the speed of each turbine stage row
interdependently, the kinetic energy extracted from the combustor
exhaust flow and transformed into mechanical energy, and, hence,
thrust and electricity may be optimized and operational speed timed
perfectly to performance requirements of the engine regardless of
the speed, altitude, air density, of which the aircraft is
operating.
[0072] Stationary diffuser blade rows are located between The high
pressure section and the middle pressure section and the low
pressure section of the power turbine, and at the beginning of the
nozzle section. The stationary diffuser blade rows serve to direct
the air flow and maintain its velocity, so as to increase the
efficiency of the power turbine blade rows to extract energy from
the exhaust stream, thereby improving engine performance and
eliminating turbulence. The inner portion of the rows of blades,
i.e. that portion surrounding the hollow core, are designed such
that the cross section of the channel through which the air passes
in the compressor section is varied from front to rear to achieve
an optimum velocity and pressure of the air flow. The design of the
rotor blades is such that the rotor blades remove energy from the
exhaust gas.
[0073] According to the illustrative embodiment, to control
compression, i.e. the compression ratio, and, hence the speed of
each compressor, a control processing systems is utilized on a
stage by stage basis as illustrated in FIG. 4, where each stage of
the compressor has a compressor stage controller (304, 306, 308,
310 . . . nth) for any given plurality of compressor controllers.
In this embodiment, a controller is located at each stage location,
and a primary management controller for all the compressor stages
(302) may be located at the central engine control system. Each
compressor stage controller manages an input signal and a power
signal from the central engine control systems.
[0074] Combustor
[0075] A Combustor 53 in the illustrative embodiment is an ion
plasma combustor of annular cylindrical design as illustrated in
FIG. 7A-9B. By means of an electric current provided by the turbine
generators (54), fuel is injected into the compressed air flow
through a series of ion plasma, dual mode (55) fuel injectors (56)
which are located around the perimeter of the annular combustor.
The annular shape of a double lip (57), with the fuel injectors
sitting inside the double lip provides smooth transition (58) of
the heated compressed air from the compressor, into the double lip
and dissipates it into the multiple fuel injector discs (59) which
surround each ion plasma combustor dual port (60) and single port
fuel injector (61), which then cover the periphery (62) of the
annular combustor. Each injector provides both a plasma coil
generator made up of electric coils (63) and a permanent magnet to
create the magnetic field (64) through the forebody of the injector
(65) which holds the circular array of permanent magnets. The fuel
is discharged under pressure from the ejector and is ionized by the
plasma coil generator (63) and is then placed and controlled by the
electromagnetic field created by the magnetic field array of the
injector (64). Each combustor injector is made up of a fuel feed
line (66), a fuel pump (67), a fuel filter chamber (68), and a fuel
charge reservoir (69). Electric current from the high speed
superconducting static electromagnetic 2-stage high pressure power
turbine (15) provides electric power to a ground cable (70) and a
direct current (DC) 3-phase charge line (71) which runs internally
to the inner wall of the injector.
[0076] Combustor 53 comprises a series of magnetic flame holders,
encased in high temperature ceramic coatings along the perimeter of
the outside circumference of the transitional wall of the annular
combustor (72), and a series of electromagnetic field ionization
coils on the inner annular ion plasma casing wall (73), opposed to
and opposite from the magnetic flame holder series, which
collectively control the plasma mass flow, ion plasma fuel decay
rate, fuel ionization density, electric charge, toxic emissions
(CO2, SO2, NO2) and velocity of the combustion gases derived from
the complete combustion of the plasma fuel as it exits from the
front end of the combustor to the rear of the combustor where the
magnets are encased in high temperature ceramic coatings along the
perimeter of the outside circumference of the annular combustor and
the inner transitional wall of the annual combustor.
[0077] The magnetic and electric flame holder (73) and combustion
device systems (72) and manage the shape of the combusting flame
front of the ignited plasma fuel/air mixture, which becomes ionized
by the initial electromagnetic field charge at the injector and
forms, at a very high temperature (2800 F) and high velocity (1850
ft/sec.). The plasma (fuel molecules holding a positive charge)
then moves as a combustion front, moving from the front to the back
of the ion plasma combustor, evolving the combustion process of
consuming all the carbon based fuel through the superior
atomization process which is catalyzed by the formation of the
electric charged plasma. As the combustion front moves, the
magnetic and electric flame holder and combustion device systems
(72) and (73) retard the decay rate, which typically would follow a
specific decay rate based on plasma density and rate of electric
discharge, and sustain the electric charge so that may stay as a
high speed plasma flow and benefit from being accelerated in the
segmented electromagnetic plasma accelerator plate nozzle (19).
[0078] Upon combustion, the exhaust air expands and enters the
turbine generator of the engine (1). An additional feature of the
combustor is the cooling effect provided by the air passing through
the hollow core in the center of the combustor (74), the design of
which hollow core may be varied at the combustor to increase the
cooling effect of the hollow core air flow.
[0079] Power Turbine
[0080] The components of the power turbine section comprises a
plurality of six rotor stages, arranged in three pairs of rows,
each of which rotates in the direction opposite to that of the
preceding row of rotor blades shown in FIG. 6. Each row of rotor
blades is suitably secured to an inner ring that forms a portion of
the circumference of the hollow core 25 of the engine (43) and to a
static intermediate outer perimeter cooled casing and ring (44).
The static outer-perimeter ring of each turbine blade pair row
contains superconducting power generation induction coils (45) such
that the entire rotor assembly constitutes the rotating element of
a superconducting ring generator. The stationary element of each
ring generator consists of coils of superconducting wire maintained
at a constant temperature of not less than approximately 20 degrees
Kelvin (-293 degrees Fahrenheit) through superconducting cooling
coils carrying liquid nitrogen (46). The superconducting coils are
bathed in the liquid hydrogen coolant within a static intermediate
outer perimeter cooled casing (44). The rotational direction of the
turbine blades with their ferrous neodinium permanent magnet
turbine blade cores passing the electromagnetic superconducting
coils in the static superconducting power generation coils
generates a high density electromagnetic field from which an
electric current can be pulled and used as an electric power source
for the aircraft.
[0081] The inner portion of the rows of turbine blade pairs, that
portion surrounding the hollow core, as shown in FIG. 5, is
designed so that the cross section of the channel through which the
air passes in the compressor section is varied from front to rear
so as to achieve an optimum thrust vector component of the exhaust
air from the ion plasma combustor against the turbine pair blade
rows, which rotate at high velocity and generating high density
electric current from the superconducting generation coils. While
rotating, the design and arrangement of the turbine rotor blades,
from stage to stage accelerates the velocity of, and contributes to
the endothermodynamic action of, existing exhaust gases out of the
nozzle.
[0082] The turbine blade pairs are magnetically levitated by pairs
of permanent magnets (48) in the distal (inner ring end) portion of
the rotating turbine ring assembly, e.g. the inner ring assembly
with respect to the outer turbine ring and engine casing. A
repulsive magnetic field is actively controlled by the passing of
electric current from the turbine generator into the magnetically
levitating copper coils (49). The power generating turbine has
three sets of turbine pairs which are levitated against a grooved
ring channel (50) and are positioned geometrically so that both out
of plane forces and axial forces as the turbine rotates are tightly
controlled. Rotational forces of the power generation turbine
produce out of plane loads and in-plane loads. Additionally a
system of high speed arrestment pelton wheels is configured in the
outer engine casing upon engine shut down to capture the turbine
upon ceasing operation.
[0083] By varying the speed of each turbine stage row
interdependently, the kinetic energy extracted from the combustor
exhaust flow and transformed into mechanical energy and hence
thrust and electricity may be optimized and operational speed timed
perfectly to performance requirements of the engine regardless of
the speed, altitude, and density, of the aircraft in which the
S-MAGJET engines is located.
[0084] In one embodiment of the superconducting power turbine ring
generator, the turbine ring stage comprises a series of turbine
blade rows (150) within the inclusivity of a series of alternating
magnet plasma actuators (151) at or near the leading edge of each
turbine blade (152) and induction electrodes (153) in parallel and
in close proximity to the plasma actuators (151), at or near the
leading edge of the turbine blade airfoils (152). The turbine
airfoil blade core comprises a magnetic ferrous material (154) that
carries a large magnetic charge effective acting as a rotating
magnet when passing the superconducting generation coils (155) on
the fixed outer ring of the gas turbine which are aligned with each
turbine stage. Since the blades are electrically charged they
induce electric current in the induction electrodes, which in turn
may sequentially switch on or off via optical electrical sensors
(156) the electrical current at the stations where the plasma
actuators are located along the leading edge. In this manner,
electrical current may create in specific regions of the turbine
blade airfoils, an ability to geometrically morph, manipulate or
control aerodynamic flow, upon the impinging air flow exhaust gases
(157) so that aerodynamic drag is removed or reduced, thus
turbulence about each individual blade is removed or reduced (158).
Drag reduction by this method, electromagnetically, also provides a
cooler operating environment, sense, at the molecular level, the
exhaust flow coming from the combustor is positive (159), while
space the turbine airfoil blade and the plasma actuators and
electrodes are negative 160), the molecules are attracted to the
surface of the airfoil, hence the surface of the airfoil (161)
creates a laminar flow condition. Additionally, dependent of
atmospheric and environmental conditions, exhaust flow past the
electrically flow controlling turbine blades may so be adjusted so
that contaminants in the exhaust stream flowing past the turbine
stages may be manipulated to reduce emissions of oxidants (CO2,
NO2, SO2). In the illustrative embodiment, the turbine airfoils are
staggered in pairs circumferentially around the perimeter of an
upper edge outer induction superconducting drive ring (162) and a
lower edge rotating inner induction superconducting drive ring
(163) with a non-ferromagnetic structural induction bridge
component between the two blades. This method of electrifying the
power turbine ring generator at the turbine blade with the embedded
magnet plasma actuators and induction electrodes provides a method
of controlling and generating increased thrust and efficiency
levels in the S-MAGJET gas turbine. Additionally, with this
configuration, power is generated as the series of turbine stages
with the electromagnetic drag reduction turbine blades, static and
rotating circumferential ring masses pass one another and electric
current is generated.
[0085] Magnetohydrodynamic (MILD) Accelerator
[0086] The S-MAGJET engine utilizes, as a component of the nozzle,
a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) accelerator (FIG. 14-15) where electric
power from the superconducting ring turbine generator is utilized
to create a ionized gas source (110) from the combustor and
maintain it as it exists and enters the MHD Accelerator (111).
Initially the ion plasma combustor ionizes the exhaust gas through
the ion plasma combustor dual-port fuel injector (60), the gas
passes through the combustor as a plasma carrying a negative charge
and upon existing is attracted to and is accelerated by the first
series of ring accelerator induction electrode plate (109). In the
system as exhibited in FIG. 15, V is the voltage load across the
accelerator. B is the magnetic field measured in Tesla. The Lorentz
Force is the product of B and V, and U being the flow speed or
velocity of the accelerated exhaust plasma. Typical current draw to
a plasma accelerator is high, however, the disclosed engine
utilizes the technique of seeding the plasma electrically before it
enters the accelerator induction electrodes to increase the
magnitude of the current flow by an order of magnitude. This
process of the electromagnetic nozzle design in a segmented
supersonic engine and the process of seeding the flow electrically
with ring plasma accelerators was previously not possible as the
high power source is critical to its successful operation and no
on-board high power energy generation source was available unlike
in the superconducting ring generator technology available in
S-MAGJET.
[0087] Design of the S-MAGJET Segmented MED Accelerator with only
the high voltage field available from the superconducting ring
turbine power generator is much less complex since the field will
ionize the air itself.
[0088] Seeding the plasma jet exhaust stream with low ionization
energy from an electric source results in a tremendous increase in
conductivity relative to the unseeded usual gas. For instance, a
supersonic vehicle flying at altitude of 30 km at Mach 3.6 would
ionize the air after a bow shock to 1.0 a 20-fold increase over a
non-seeded or electrified jet exhaust stream. However, he
vehicle-scaled power requirement to fan air-breathing engine
incorporating thermal ionization and thrust generation by an
electromagnetic accelerator as in this topology requires at least
10 MW continuous pulse phase power.
[0089] Referring to FIG. 15, Generation and Acceleration load
equations denote algebraic expressions of the magnetic field as it
relates to power to overcome the Hall Effect and to generate the
magnetic field load which accelerates a single plasma ion particle
from one ring electrode plate to the next. The notation J is the
current field in amps/m2, where E exemplifies the electric field in
volts/meter, and where conductivity in ohms/meter defines the
ability of the electrode series circumferentially to pull a single
ionized plasma molecule one linear meter down the MHD accelerator
tunnel 1.times. meter/second against the voltage load, V. In
S-MAGJET the MHD accelerator nozzle is approximately 4.5 meters
long, with the acceleration load equation, defined algebraically as
equation 8A-2. Increases in J are exponential to the spanwise
Cartesian coordinate y, as a fraction to x, the streamwise
Cartesian coordinate, this as a product of the conductivity O
(theta) as it relates to x, divided by the magnetic field B.
Therefore it is B which must be maximized to overcome the voltage
load and optimize the accelerating load path of the streamwise
Cartesian coordinate x, minimizing the Hall effect in the process,
while maximizing the Lorentz force, Fl as ionized particles per
unit volume, N/m3. B is increased per unit volume as the exhaust
stream from the combustor is seeded electrically, therefore
increasing Tesla T, which is what is wanted with the high power
density electric current from the superconducting ring generator
making this possible. It is this combination of electric seed in a
multiple ring MHD accelerator using on board high power electric
current in a pulse phase array which decrease in volumetric and
circumferential size, essentially compressing the flow field,
increasing T, thereby providing magnitudes of accelerated particle
flow higher than what is achievable in the art.
[0090] Seeding of chemical catalysts potassium or cesscium, in
place of,or in addition to, seeding with low ionization energy from
an electric source, results in increases by approximately 20 fold
the current flow where up to 900 A at 80V was passed through the
system. S-MAGJET has been sized in the 54,000 lb. thrust class to
provide over 14 MW in flight under supersonic operational
conditions creating a flow with a conductivity of up to 500 A=m
with electrical seeding. Note that units of conductivity are
labeled using A=m which is equal to O.sub.--1=m. Historically,
conductivity has been described using mhos per meter although the
unit name Siemens (S) has been designated for O.sub.--1 to make A=m
equal to S/m.
[0091] Control Systems
[0092] Contained throughout the engine are systems of sensors and
controllers, such as optical and electrical sensors, that measure
pressure, velocity, acceleration, temperature and other aspects of
air flow, electromagnetism, electric power generation, temperature
and the engine operations. Such sensor systems are placed in the
various sections of the engine in a manner to provide sufficient
information to embedded computer systems on the aircraft to enable
the operation of the engine to be optimized to the particular
operating conditions to which the engine is subject. Further,
controllers of various types are located throughout the sections of
the engine to enable the speed of the ring motors and the ring
generators to be regulated, ionization of exhaust gases to create
plasma, and percentages of active magnetic plates to be on to
create increased exhaust velocity flow. An electrical distribution
system enables the electrical current from the turbine generators
to be distributed to the ring motors of the bypass fans and of the
compressor stages, and also to the combustor for ionization for
ignition of the fuel and control of the fuel burn.
[0093] As illustrated in FIG. 16, the ion plasma combustor (13) is
controlled by a series of controllers, sensors, switches, relays,
power buses, and rectifiers that sense and generate data for
embedded software processors which run the engine, designated the
ion plasma combustor power control system (75). The power control
system (75) is governed by baseline data from the engine operating
environment through sensors which pick up atmospheric input (76),
electrical field input (77) and combustor temperature sensor input
(78). These sensor elements provide feedback in the loop for the
S-MAGJET engine via a switch controller (79), which acts as a
clearing house and data bus for switching to appropriate
controllers in various aspects of engine 1. A Data controller (80)
is part of the power control system processing and controlling
three main power controls: capacitor bank (81), pulse phase power
(82) and 3-Phase Multi-Governor (83) which is connected to an
energy storage system (84) to dump excess electric power generated
in the engine but not used. A flame front controller (85) monitors
the geometric position, flame intensity and decay rate of the
plasma combustion flame front at any given point in time in the ion
plasma combustor, as the flame travels from a forward position to a
rearward position in the combustor. A switch relay (86) with
functional capability to switch in multiple inputs from Rm1-Rmx,
wherein n is the number of switching function inputs, which are
connected to the combustor core thermal generator processor (87)
and the ion plasma fuel combustor (13) segmented
magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) continuous electrode gas plasma generator
(8). Switched relay data from the control and process operational
elements of the engine are passed to the electrical power
management system through power buses (88, 89 and 90), which filter
the switched relay signals, and are then inverted by being passed
into rectifiers (91, 92 and 93) to the point where the processed
signal and electric power is connected to the electromagnetic ion
plasma injector(s) (94, 95 and 96).
[0094] The compressor (11) is controlled (FIG. 17) through a
controller which takes in processed control signals (118) from the
flight deck inputs and electric power (116) from the turbine
generator and energy storage devices to operate, and provides
control signal inputs to each successive compressor stage from the
first stage (204) to the second stage (206) to the third stage
(208) and up to the Nth stage (210). In the illustrated embodiment,
since the S-MAGJET has eight stages, eight compressor stage
controllers are utilized. Each compressor stage of the controller
(204), for example, has an embedded processing unit, referred to as
compressor stage controller (212), in communication with a series
of sensors (214) and electrical machine components such as
permanent magnets (216), applications which utilize active magnetic
bearings (220), and sensor controller for compressor blade
positioning and speed (218).
[0095] Similarly, power turbine (14) is controlled (FIG. 18)
through a controller which takes in processed control signals (218)
from the flight deck inputs and electric power (216) from the
turbine generator and energy storage devices to operate, and
provides control signal inputs to each successive turbine stage
from the first stage (304) to the second stage (306) to the third
stage (308) and up to the Nth stage (310). In the illustrated
embodiment, since the S-MAGJET has six stages, six turbine stage
controllers are utilized. Each turbine stage controller (304), for
example, has an embedded processing unit, referred to as turbine
stage controller 312 in communication with a series of sensors
(314) and electrical machine components such as permanent magnets
(316), applications which utilize active magnetic bearings (320),
and sensor controller for compressor blade positioning and speed
(218).
[0096] The bypass fan 4 is controlled (FIG. 19) through a
controller which takes in processed control signals (401) from the
flight deck inputs and electric power (402) from the turbine
generator and energy storage devices to operate, and provides
control signal inputs (403) to each dual counter rotating bypass
fan stage, from the first stage (404) to the second stage (405), up
to any number of Nth stages (406). In the illustrated embodiment,
since the S-MAGJET has two counter rotating, superconducting ring
motor bypass fans, so two bypass fan stage controllers would be
needed, each bypass fan stage has an embedded processing unit
termed a bypass fan stage controller (407), and spun off from that
are a series of sensors (408), and electrical machine components
such as permanent magnets (409), and applications which utilize
active magnetic bearings (410), and sensor controller for
compressor blade positioning and speed (411).
[0097] Electrical Brayton Cycle
[0098] The topology and electromagnetic architecture of S-MAGJET
provides an operational gas turbine Electrical Brayton Cycle (FIG.
20) which is created from the management and manipulation of the
segmented electrical architecture of the engine and the ability to
independently control the tangential velocities of airflow in the
compressor, and hence compression, delay or advance as it relates
to thermodynamic expansion and combustion in the power turbine, and
advance or delay the combustion process by controlling the
position, density, and magnitude of the flame front in the ion
plasma combustor. As illustrated in FIG. 20, the Electrical Brayton
Cycle is controlled by a power control system (502) which provides
control signals from a central computer (531) to the segmented
electrical compressor (508), the ion plasma combustor (506),
segmented electrical turbine generator (504) and segmented dual
counter rotating bypass fan (532). A cryogenic refrigeration system
(510) provides liquid nitrogen coolant to the superconducting
induction motors of the segmented bypass fan and compressor, and to
the electromagnetic AC switched reluctance power generator coils in
the segmented turbine. Power is provided to each one of these
turbomachinery systems as denoted by the segmented electric
compressor (508) receiving power (524) from the power controller;
the ion plasma combustor (506) receiving power (520) from the power
controller (502); the segmented electrical turbine generator (504)
receiving power (516) from the power controller (502) and the dual
bypass fan (532) receiving power (533) from the power controller.
Signal processing is also provided by the power controller to these
same turbomachinery systems as denoted by the control signals (526)
for the segmented electric compressor (508); control signals (522)
for the ion plasma combustor (506); control signals (518) for the
segmented electrical turbine generator (504); and the control
signals (534) for the dual bypass fan (532). Electrical power (514)
for cryogenic cooling maintenance of the liquid nitrogen is
provided from the power controller (502) to the cryogenic
refrigeration system (510) and control signals are passed into and
out of the power controller through an insulated processing trunk
line (512) to carry those signals.
[0099] The Brayton Cycle is used for gas turbines where both
compression and expansion processes take place in rotating
machinery. The Electrical Brayton Cycle is formed by the
electromagnetic segmentation of the S-MAGJET engine and is a
departure from the more typically known in the art Brayton Cycle,
that is considered the only engine cycle for gas turbine engines,
both this is for thermal turbomachinery that have stage limiting
drive shafts and exhibit only thermal efficiencies of roughly
35%.
[0100] Brayton Cycle components usually operate on an open cycle;
fresh air at ambient conditions is drawn into the compressor, where
its temperature and pressure are raised. The high-pressure air
proceeds into the combustion chamber, where the fuel is burned at
constant pressure. The resulting high-temperature gases then enter
the turbine, where they expand to the atmospheric pressure through
a row of nozzle vanes. This expansion causes the turbine blades to
spin. Exhaust gases leaving the turbine in the open cycle are not
re-circulated. The ideal cycle that the working fluid undergoes in
this closed loop is the Brayton cycle, which is made up of four
internally reversible processes: 1) Isentropic compression (in a
compressor); 2) Constant pressure heat addition; 3) Isentropic
expansion (in a turbine); 4) Constant pressure heat rejection.
[0101] Efficient compression of large volumes of air is essential
for a successful gas turbine engine. The object of a good
compressor design is to obtain the most air through a given
diameter compressor with a minimum number of stages while retaining
relatively high efficiencies and aerodynamic stability over the
operating range. Compressors typically contain a row of rotating
blades followed by a row of stationary (stator) blades. The
invention of S-MAGJET does not contain stators, as rotating rows of
compressor stages remove the need to use stators and the kinetic
energy is transferred via timing sequences of rotation and speed
from stage to stage, work is more effectively transferred by the
precise electromagnetic velocity and rotational speed of each
compressor. Aerodynamic drag and swirl is removed as there is no
disturbance at the rotor. All work done on the working fluid is
done by the rotating rows, each counter rotating stage to the
previous one converts the fluid kinetic energy to pressure
immediately without straightening of flow at a stator, and counter
rotates the direction of the fluid to the next rotor stage reducing
kinetic losses less than compressors with stator stages.
[0102] The conceptual illustrations of FIG. 21 demonstrate the
increase in tangential velocity where Vd increases linearly in
respect to Bd at a greater magnitude than in a compressor with
stators, as lack of stators allows Vd to increase due to the
working radius, Wr of the working fluid increasing, and opposing Wr
for the previous counter rotating compressor stage having greater
kinetic energy also, due to lack of fluid flow straightening
stators, this exhibited Vc and total magnitude Wr.
[0103] Further examination of the creation of the Electrical
Brayton Cycle and how it is sustained through kinetic energy
extraction in the electrical compressor is examined in the vector
analysis for a paired, counter rotating, two stage compressor blade
rows as in FIG. 22. An increase in velocity work flow and
extraction of increased kinetic energy due to work done on the
fluid is exemplified in the magnitude increase from stage to stage
of Vb as compared to V'c. Here the tangential velocity, which is
drag, reduces across the rotor as greater work is done stage to
stage exhibited in the vector Wr, brought on by the electrics and
electromagnetic drag reduction at the ferromagnetic compressor
blade; as similarly described in the electromagnetic turbine blade
analysis.
[0104] Utilising CMCs, S-MAGJET is designed to operate at the
higher more efficient combustion temperatures for Jet-A fuels and
biofuels. Additionally, a more complete combustion from the higher
compressed air temperatures is achievable, because of the
electrically driven and segmented compressor, which affords
compression ratios higher than 70:1, more than twice as high as
current engine technology.
[0105] Alternative Subsonic Implementation
[0106] An alternative embodiment of the S-MAGJET embodiments
described herein, is referred to as the MAGJET. As illustrated in
FIG. 23, MAGJET has a similar structure and many of the same
components as the S-MAGJET embodiments and is a suitable engine
design for use in subsonic conditions (below Mach 1.0 or 760 MPH at
sea-level). Absent from the MAGJET embodiment are the features of
an aerospike for controlling shockwaves and mass flow spillage, as
described with reference to the inlet section of the supersonic
embodiment. Also, the dual counter-rotating bypass fan sections are
housed in separate, but connected, structures driven by
superconducting ring motors (102) without an aerospace and narrowed
inlet. In this alternative embodiment, the bypass fan is designed
to maximize the mass of air flow at a low velocity, whereas in the
supersonic embodiment, the dual bypass fan is significantly smaller
in diameter and sized to maximize the velocity of the airflow, with
less mass, but more speed. In the subsonic embodiment illustrated
in FIG. 23, the diameter of the bypass fan is increased and the
bypass fan section is contained in a separate bypass fan duct or
shroud (103) that is supported by the gas turbine engine outer
engine casing (104) and the hollow shaft structure.
[0107] There are numerous other significant features of the
subsonic embodiment described herein. For example, the use of the
turbine rows of the engine as rotors for electrical generators
enables the generation of many megawatts of electrical energy
(105). In addition, the use of magnetic air bearings to transfer
the weight and rotational forces of the rotating components of the
engine, and the availability of electric current in quantities
sufficient to power the rotating elements of the bypass fan and the
compressor, eliminates the need for a turbine shaft (106). Further,
bypass air may be channeled down the center of the engine through
an inner tunnel bypass air duct and may so be diverted through
gates or ducts, so as to provide inner internal cooling to the
turbine power generation system and simultaneously feed bypass air
directly into the combustor for cooling. Such air is not compressed
by the compressor, but is compressed by a ram air effect via the
velocity of the air flow from the speed of the engine traveling
through the atmosphere when attached to an aircraft (107).
[0108] In an alternative embodiment to those described herein, the
superconducting ring motors which drive the bypass fans and the
compressor stages take electric power from the superconducting ring
turbine generators. In this embodiment, the motors are induction
electric machines and permanent magnets are not used. In such
embodiment, the electric field is induced by an electric current
passed into the stationary armature located about the engine casing
which induces an electromagnetic charge and a field flux into the
induction coils in the bypass fan and compressor blades.
[0109] Engine Segmentation in Theory
[0110] S-MAGJET uses a counter-rotating dual axial fan, with a
diffuser in between each stage and at the axial fan exit, that
includes a rotating blade row having blades that receive a
supersonic entry flow in the absolute frame and decelerate the flow
to a lower supersonic velocity exit flow, while adding work to the
flow to increase stagnation pressure. For supersonic entry flow the
electric counter rotating bypass fan and the counter rotating
diffuser, slows the flow path to a point of ideal inlet conditions,
which is obtained electrically and independently from other
rotating components of S-MAGJET, and to ideal atmospheric
conditions and mass flow rate, hence less kinetic energy form the
flow path needs to be absorbed by the inlet and a lighter
structural and more aerodynamically effective supersonic inlet is
achieved along with improved laminar flow dynamics to the engine
bypass fan face.
[0111] The counter rotating diffuser in S-MAGJET reduces airflow
swirl and back pressure to the compressor thereby maximizing the
diffusion of inlet airflow at the high subsonic Mach number
condition (Mach 0.95) before it enters the electrical compressor.
In the supersonic diffuser of MAGJET, the supersonic derivative of
the engine airflow swirl can be further reduced as inlet air is
slowed to a subsonic condition, maximizing diffusion prior to
entering a six (6) stage compressor. Conversely in the subsonic
derivative of the engine, MAGJET, the engine design has a nine
stage electrical compressor. In S-MAGJET, high-subsonic (Mach 0.95)
exit guide vanes downstream of the diffuser are used to remove
swirl from the subsonic flow before it enters the low pressure and
high pressure compressor stages of the superconducting multi-stage
axial compressor turbine, and the bypass duct. The counter rotating
supersonic diffuser in MAGJET for subsonic flight operations
reduces airflow swirl toward the compressor, creating laminar flow
upon entrance of the flow into the compressor. This maximizes the
performance of the first several stages of the compressor stages
1-4, increasing baseline compression ratio efficiencies and
ultimately creating close to 100% compressor efficiency by laminar
flow control of air prior to compressed air temperature rise and
combustion.
[0112] For any constant speed of airflow, specific flow can be
increased by electrically reducing the current, and thus RPM, to
the rotor, and its subsequent back pressure, which therefore can be
decreased until the rotor chokes (back pressure goes to zero),
therefore S-MAGJET can have constantly corrected airflow for all
flight conditions, and at all bypass fan and corrected air speed
and airflow rates.
[0113] Within the compressor, S-MAGJET has a higher hub/tip design
ratio on the compressor blades, across all the compressor stages.
This allows for a larger variation in sweep, mean blade axial
length, and blade velocity. Thus, each stage loading can be higher
as mass airflow proceeds along the axial length of the compressor.
Stage loading can be higher as the tangential velocity is
maintained at the proximity of the blade tip, at the integrated
electromagnetic trunion, and not at the medial end of the blade
where a drive shaft would be located in the prior art. The
mechanical force vector is thus higher because of the blades being
tip driven with electric power generated by the superconducting
ring motors. In this way, tangential velocity may be increased and
blade loading increased allowing for increases in sweep, blade area
and mean blade axial length. In this way, higher hub/tip design
ratios can be engineered in blade design that allows for higher
mass flow and therefore higher performance with fewer compressor
stages.
[0114] Additionally, a twin counter rotating bypass fan may be used
to achieve a higher mass air flow at greater loadings, allowing for
higher thrust in S-MAGJET than in similar sized prior art
supersonic engines. In S-MAGJET 6.5:1 compression per stage
compression ratio may be achieved and thus each stage compression
ratio may be as high as 12.5:1 to 15.0:1. This higher compression
ratio improves mass airflow, air density and increases the airflow
temperature allowing for an overall compression ratio of 60:1 to
70:1 over the entire compressor.
[0115] S-MAGJET also provides for optimization of flow area, in the
90 percentile range, and the optimized dimensions of the flow path
from one electrical compressor stage to the next is achieved as the
compressor blades are an integrated structural and aerodynamic
component of the outer ring trunion where the superconducting
induction coils are located, and that allow for the magnetic
levitation in combination with the Halbach Arrays, housed in close
proximity and tangentially to the induction coil superconducting
electromagnets. This allows for the removal of eddy currents from
the air flow and for the removal of aerodynamic non-laminar
anomalies. These introduce significant drag induction to the
optimization of the flow path. Additionally, the integrated
structures of S-MAGJET, i.e., the blending of the blade tips to the
inner walls of the inside superconducting induction coil inner ring
motor save weight as out-of-plane loads are reduced by the
exoskeleton architecture of the engine. In-plane, and axial loads
are carried through to the circular structure of the ring motor
trunion, hence compressor blade dimensions and materials can be
optimized to the lightest weight for operation and cooling.
[0116] In the various compressor stages, blade number and spacing
may be reduced and the tip chords and root cords of compressor
blades are increased thereby increasing mass air flow loads at
reduced RPM. This also allows for increased stage loading, raising
compression efficiency, and thus a lower the number of compressor
blades that are utilized in each compressor stage are needed,
thereby reducing blade count by 15%-20%. This reduces weight,
reduces cost, and increases compressor efficiency that also
increases fuel temperature burn and fuel efficiency in operation at
all flight conditions. Additionally, lower blade counts improve
blade cooling as flow path dynamics and entropy is reduced due to
higher mass flow rates per blade in any rotating compressor
stage.
[0117] In the compressor stages, chord to height ratios, C/H, can
be increased due to higher stage loading conditions. This is
possible because of the rim driven electrical drives on the bypass
fan(s) and the compressor/diffuser stages, where each compressor
and rotor counts as a compressor stage. The mechanical load
capacity of a rim driven electrical machine is higher than a
traditional drive shaft machine, as are the size and direction of
the tangential velocity vectors at the trunion blade tips of each
stage. In S-MAGJET, force vectors are larger in magnitude and
direction, thus tangent velocities are greater, at the bypass fan
and compressor blade chord height ratios, therefore a higher
loading per fan blade can be sustained per stage.
[0118] The counter rotating bypass fans and rotating diffuser and
rotating compressor stages in the S-MAGJET design are driven
independently, thus creating a different loading coefficient from
the first bypass fan stage to the second bypass fan stage, and from
the first compressor stage to the second compressor stage. This
allows for the mass flow loading differentials to be maximized to
each velocity vector of each fan and compressor stage. This then
allows the diffusion factors for each fan and compressor stage to
be adjusted electrically by varying the RPM and the loading factor
on the fan blades and compressor blades. This allows for the axial
length velocity to be maximized for each stage and blade Mach
number to be raised, driving overall engine efficiency and fuel
burn rate reductions to efficiencies above 100% over current engine
art.
[0119] The independently driven stages also allow for additional
compression of the fluid flow direction between the rotor and the
diffuser and for the blade airfoil camber line. The airfoil profile
is therefore distributed differently from the current art across
the camberline to reduce drag losses and raise stage coefficient
efficiency. S-MAGJET allows for the airfoil profile of the
compressor blades to have more wash-out, i.e., a higher pitch as
compared to chord length and ratio of chord to thickness is greater
all contributing to lower drag--greater chord compared to
thickness, and less thickness at the mean aerodynamic chord. In
general, the greater thickness of the airfoil is distributed more
forward as it relates to the camberline of the blade. This
increases lift and decreases drag for each airfoil, and increases
the compressor ratio per stage. This allows for greater thrust to
weight ratios and lower overall end-to-end drag coefficients, along
with increased overall engine performance and efficiency.
[0120] The increase of C/H ratio reduces the required number of fan
blades in the counter rotating bypass fan of S-MAGJET and the
number of compressor blades in the compressor sections that are
needed to achieve higher levels of compression than the current
art. This allows for increasing adiabatic efficiencies and reducing
entropy of the thermodynamic mechanism of the engine. Additionally
blade spacings between airfoiled blades can be reduced, thus
further reducing the weight of each S-MAGJET compressor stage while
maintaining compression coefficient efficiencies at a maximum.
[0121] Reduction of the mean radius of the flow radius, which is
defined as the average of the tip radius and hub radius of a bypass
fan blade, compressor blade, or a turbine blade, can be achieved as
well.
[0122] S-MAGJET provides for increases in chord/height ratios since
there is no center body, i.e., drive shaft, to the bypass fan, the
compressor rotor blade stages, or turbine blade stages as they
relate to tip and hub radiuses of these components. This is
maintained as true in the second embodiment of the invention, the
subsonic MAGJET engine technology derivative. The electric drive
utilizing superconducting ring motors and ring generators to
electrically drive the bypass fan and compressor, allows this open
design space to radically reduce the mean radius and flow radius.
This allows the S-MAGJET flow radius geometries to be adjusted so
that lower bypass fan speeds are achievable for high thrust
efficiency on fan blades, such that the bypass fan speeds can be
slowed dramatically compared to compressor speeds (2500 RPM vs.
8000 RPM).
[0123] S-MAGJET can have lower bypass fan speeds as the bypass fans
are differentiated from the compressor electrically. At a lower fan
speed setting of S-MAGJET, the inlet guide vanes to the fan at the
front of the engine can be radically differentiated in terms of
inlet flow angle, and thus reduce the drag of the mass air flow as
it impinges on the bypass fan blade, and subsequent impingement on
the first several stages of the compressor. The higher the chord to
height ratios can be increased, the slower speed requirements of
the fan, and hence increases in efficiency.
[0124] As discussed above, S-MAGJET reduces the need for the number
of stages to achieve the same compression ratios required for
combustion. In MAGJET, the number of compressor stages is reduced
by 1) inlet flow angle to compressor stages reduced, 2) tip radius
and hub radius of compressor blades is reduced by increasing
compressor efficiency and reducing drag, 3) chord to height ratios
can be reduced on the compressor rotating stages, therefore
compressor blades may be closer together, increasing pressure ratio
per stage, thus higher compression ratios may be achieved down the
length of the axial compressor with fewer stages, 4) The airfoil
profile is distributed differently, from current art, across the
camberline to reduce drag losses, and thus raising compressor stage
coefficient efficiency. As in the case of the S-MAGJET technology
the airfoil profile of the compressor blades have more wash-out
(higher pitch as compared to chord length and ratio of chord to
thickness is greater all contributing to lower drag--greater chord
compared to thickness) and less thickness at mean aerodynamic
chord, with greater thickness distributed more forward as it
relates to the camberline. This increases lift and decreases drag,
subsequently increasing compressor ratio per stage with these blade
designs, 5) the rotating compressor stages in the hybrid
turbomachinary MAGJET are driven electrically, and all
independently, thus creating a different loading coefficient from
the first compressor stage to the second compressor stage, thus the
mass flow loading differentials can be maximized to each velocity
vector of each compressor stage, consequently diffusion factors for
each compressor stage are adjusted electrically (variation of the
RPM and therefore the loading factor on the compressor blades),
thus the axial length velocity can be maximized for each stage and
blade Mach number optimized to dramatically raise compression
design points and overall compression ratio, 6) better optimization
of flow area (in the 90 percentile range) and associated dimensions
of the flow path from one compressor stage to the next is achieved
as the compressor blades are an integrated structural and
aerodynamic component of the outer ring Minion where the permanent
magnets are housed.
[0125] The lower number of stages required to achieve a desired
compression ratio allows for a compressor design to effect
mean-line diffusion factors--D, and mean-line solidity--A, and
polytropic efficiency--E, thus effecting the overall efficiency of
the superconducting electrically rim-driven axial compressor
machine as a compounding medium and consequently the overall
compressor ratio across the machine. Higher compression ratios
(above 35:1) offer greater efficient fuel burn, reduced power and
drag losses and greater overall thrust in the S-MAGJET
turbomachine. The ideal is to raise polytropic efficiency above
97%, of which state-of-the-art designs do not exceed (typically for
high performance military low-bypass turbofans efficiency is at
86-88%).
[0126] In S-MAGJET, because each rotor stage can be independently
controlled, the rotor stages can operate at different Mach numbers,
where for each state the Mach number can be maintained, or
increased, hub/tip ratio reduced, axial Mach number increased, and
the total change in temperature across each stage, instead of being
constant, can be raised having a positive effect on the atomization
of the fuel as the compressed air (and thus heated air) enters the
combustor.
[0127] Inlet guide vanes are designed to add swirl in the direction
of rotor motion to lower the Mach number of the flow relative to
the rotor blades. S-MAGJET allows for the first rotor stage
velocity at the compressor, and angular vector to be adjusted to
match more closely the inlet Mach number, hence energy conservation
is raised as the mass flow moves to the second compressor stage,
the third stage and so on. The second rotor stage can be set at the
optimum velocity to match the falling Mach number due to swirl and
the velocity vector of the preceding rotor stage in the electric
compressor. This allows for the electric compressor energy to be
conserved so that the compression ratio can be increased to a
higher level per each given unit of energy consumed.
[0128] Surge and choke lines that bound the operating range of a
gas turbine engines are set to maximize the compressor aerodynamic
steady state performance and define the boundary points of
operation for the compressor within the S-MAGJET turbomachine. To
assure compressor stability during operation, an engine compressor
is designed with a given surge margin. Typically large surge
margins as a design point for steady performance and operation are
employed due to transient conditions that move the compressor
operating point (compression ratio, mass air flow, mass and stage
loading, temperature rise and turbine/compressor rise ratio) close
to the surge line. Large surge margins place the compressor
operating line and end points far from the surge line and preclude
the operation at the desired peak pressure rise or maximum
efficiency region of the compressor and the turbine. Two types of
instability can develop in a compressor; surge and stall. Surge is
a global asymmetric oscillation of flow through the compressor
which can reverse the flow during a portion of the surge cycle.
These oscillations can result in engine damage from the unsteady
thrust load or the ingestion of combustion gases into the
compressor and engine inlet. In severe surge cycle, the reversed
flow through the compressor can extinguish combustion, resulting in
a "flameout", or total loss of power.
[0129] Rotating stall is a local flow deficit that rotates around
the compressor annulus. This flow deficit, or cell, is a region in
which the local mass flow is near zero. The invention of an
electric turbine using superconducting rim-driven compressors and
bypass fans as in S-MAGJET described here-in may be so adjusted so
as to remove the flow-deficit, maintaining local mass flow
velocities above zero, thus reducing the deficit and improving
S-MAGJET engine steady performance above current state of the art
supersonic and subsonic mechanically drive shafted turbines.
Rotating stall may consist of one or more multiple cells that
rotate around the compressor at an angular speed which is a
fraction of the rotor speed. This instability results in a loss of
compressor performance that may require the shut down of the engine
to clear. Operating a compressor in rotating stall can contribute
to fatigue damage of the blading resulting from the rotating stall
unsteady aerodynamic loading. Also the loss in compressor
performance during rotating stall can move the compressor to the
operating point where surge is initiated by the operating point
crossing the surge line.
[0130] In S-MAGJET variable speed compressor stages may operate at
different speeds and therefore adjust the velocity of flow, angular
velocity, mach number flow, and angular vector and shock, pressure
ratio, and compression efficiency, so that the surge margin, or
compressor stall point may not only be reduced, but that it can be
controlled, and consequently operation at peak pressure rise may be
maintained and the surge point moved closer to the maximum
compressor efficiency operating point without crossing it into
stall or surge conditions.
[0131] In S-MAGJET, each superconducting rim driven ring motor
compressor stage has an optimized RPM and velocity of flow Mach
number set from the preceding stage to the next. The design point
of the electric compressor is set to maintain the velocity and the
pressure of the exit flow from each stator (fixed vane) of a rotor
stage to the subsequent rotor stage, rotating at a different RPM,
but set to the optimization pressure, temperature and Mach number
of the flow to maximize pressure rise between the stages. This
optimization is accomplished by actually lowering the flow rate a
small percent between the stages. The "stage efficiency" of an
adiabatic multistage compressor is defined as the ratio of the
ideal work per unit mass of flow to the actual work per unit mass
flow between the same total pressures. The other measure of
efficiency which is beneficial in the preliminary design of
compressors is the polytropic efficiency. The polytropic efficiency
of an adiabatic compressor is defined as the ratio of the ideal
work per unit mass to the actual work per unit mass for a
differential pressure change.
[0132] In the limit, as pressure ratio approaches on for a given
stage, the "stage efficiency" approaches the "polytropic
efficiency". In current art micro-flow energy, enthalpy and
efficiency management cannot be done through the micro-management
of the airflow between one compressor stage (rotor stage) and the
next because every component is connected to a shaft. In S-MAGJET,
the shaftless design, where each compressor stage, can be run
independently and therefore the micro-management of energy,
enthalpy (and entropy reduction) and compression efficiency
management is possible. In MAGJET, multiple compressor stages are
also present and each is run independent electrically to optimize
the compressor variables and present maximum performance for
enthalpy, efficiency and micro-flow energy management.
[0133] In S-MAGJET, every compressor stator rotor, i.e., the rotor
is rotating, and driven electrically where compressor blades driven
by the superconducting rim-driven (ring motors) machines compress
the air from one compressor stator stage to the next, is a slower
moving airfoil blade row, thus having the capacity to add net
energy to the flow, as well as acting as a conversion device to the
flow, adding some kinetic energy to the flow and raising the static
pressure simultaneously of the flow. This thermodynamic enthalpy
reaction can change the Brayton Cycle, which is the engine cycle of
all current turbine art. Kinetic energy added to the flow provides
an enthalpy reaction, raising heat addition and pressure to the
second stage Phase of the Brayton Cycle, therefore there is
potential for S-MAGJET to generate a wholly new defined "electric
turbine" engine cycle which would be novel and unique as compared
to current art.
[0134] Because each compressor rotor may be driven independently
and at different speeds, the engine may be used more efficiently at
different stages of the flight envelope. The electrical control of
the bypass fan(s) and the compressor affords sensors in the blades
of the bypass fan and compressor to detect changes in atmospheric
pressure (hence altitude) and adjust all of the different speeds of
the bypass fan(s) and compressor stages to optimize compression,
thus combustion for that given altitude, consequently there is no
lapse in power as operational altitude is raised due to lower air
density and the ability to compress air, in effect there is no
off-design condition.
[0135] Another advantage of the electrically driven compressor is
that rotational speed of the rotor stages does not suffer from
spool up or spool down time (the time spent increasing or
decreasing the rotational speed of the drive shaft) as is the case
of current art in turbine designs. The speed of the compressor
rotors can be more quickly adjusted due to the electric rim driven
high tangential loads (superconducting ring motors), and hence
higher velocity force vectors, to achieve optimum performance of
the engine based on different flight conditions, airframe loads,
and optimal combustion performance can be achieved.
[0136] Additionally, with the drive shaft removed in the compressor
section, fan section and power turbine section, a "donut hole", and
that runs through the center of the combustor, appears in the
center of the bypass fan, compressor rotors and power turbine
blisks, rotating components (rotor and stator) and generating
electrical power in the power turbine utilizing the superconducting
ring generators integrated into the outer engine casing of MAGJET.
Thus the bypass fan, compressor and power turbine of the engine are
protected against "cyclic fatigue" which comes from the production
of load paths resulting from the acceleration and deceleration of
rotating machinery attached to drive shafts as is the case in the
current art. S-MAGJET suffers to a lesser degree from these load
path buildups, and has significantly less cyclic fatigue of the
rotating turbomachinary components, as well as all of the engine
functions in out-of-plane compression loading.
[0137] In addition, S-MAGJET, provides thrust as by-pass air around
the combustor but also acts as a supercharger to the turbine. To
achieve a supercharging effect on the turbine, mass air-flow is
accelerated exponentially, in relation to the velocity of the air
in question, at any given rate of change in time. The supercharging
effect upon the turbine is due to the very high optimal pressures
now achievable by the superconducting, multistage axial compressor,
which can be tuned to the flight condition and altitude for which
the electric compressor fan is designed.
[0138] S-MAGJET also provides a further advantage in that
rotational speed of the rotor stages does not suffer from spool up
or spool down time (the time spent increasing or decreasing the
rotational speed of the drive shaft) as is the case in traditional
turbine designs, and the speed of the compressor rotors can be more
quickly adjusted to achieve optimum performance of the engine based
on different flight conditions, airframe loads, and optimal
combustion performance.
[0139] Because there is no drive shaft, the center "Donut hole"
created by lack of a drive shaft offers flow through cooling which
is routed to the center of the engine for cooling of the combustor
casing thus lowering the "Delta rise" in temperature of combustion
gases created from compressed air and atomized fuel.
[0140] Losses in compressor airfoils are normally quantified in
terms of drop of total pressure divided by the dynamic pressure of
incoming flow. This ratio is called the "total pressure loss
coefficient", total pressure loss across the compressor airfoils
increases with incidence angle and Mach number. Transient flow
occurs between compressor rows at the diffuser. The ability in
MAGJET to electrically control the RPM, and hence the Mach number
of each compressor rotor, of each individual compressor stage, and
on either side of the alternating rows of diffusers down the axial
length of the compressor can be used to reduce the total pressure
loss coefficient.
[0141] There are multiple compressor stages in the concept design
of the MAGJET hybrid. Electric control of the compressor rotors
subsequently affords the ability to adjust the RPM of each
compressor stage of the five, and maximize the reduction of
pressure drop, and hence pressure loss, as well as reduce the
deleterious effects of swirl as seen in current turbine compressor
art and related overall turbomachinary. By adjustment of blade Mach
number at the compressor tips with each compressor on either side
of a diffuser, kinetic energy of the mass flow is maintained,
pressure build up is maintained, and the reduction of velocity in
the diffusers is kept to a minimum while building pressure ratio
increases down the compressor. Both S-MAGJET and the subsonic
derivative MAGJET allows for the electrical control input in
fractional adjustments through highly sensitive speed and pressure
sensors/controllers on the trunions of the rotor and the rotor ring
such that the pressure loss coefficient, thus the differential of
suction spillage off the compressor airfoils, which correlates to
Mach number differential of each compressor rotor stage is
minimized. The pressure loss coefficient integrated to the
stationary deceleration losses of each diffuser, compressor losses
and suction spillage at each compressor airfoil is also minimized
from one stage to the next in the axial compressor, and the "total
pressure loss coefficient" is reduced, hence raising total
efficiency of the electrical compressor in S-MAGJET.
[0142] The performance of a gas turbine engine can differ
significantly from that predicted independent steady flow models in
software design tools. This is because of the inherent unsteady
interactions that occur between the various components, i.e.
unsteady flow in the form of eddy currents, combustor swirl, etc.
The consequences of these dynamics can be quite dramatic, including
the unexpected crossing of the compressor surge line while
transitioning between engine operating points, i.e. moving from
high power take-off thrust settings to design point cruise
altitudes and conditions at lower power settings. The unexpected
crossing of the compressor surge line in current art of turbine
engines during engine transients can result in a complex series of
dynamic interactions between the engine components driven by
rotating stall and surge. These unsteady operating cycles can be
dangerous as they can move to design points in operation of
catastrophic failure of rotating high speed turbine components, and
in lesser cases substantially reduced performance and durability.
These unsteady engine operations near or at surge and stall produce
extreme loading for the turbomachinery blading, resulting in high
cycle fatigue (HCF) failures. These failures cause the catastrophic
failures of engines throwing turbine and compressor blades and
completely shutting down in flight. Surge and rotating stall
results in dangerous compressed and heated flow induced blade
vibrations due to the rapid loading and unloading of the blading.
S-MAGJET allows for the electrically driven, stator and rotor
electric interdependent/independent design to be sensor monitored
and can delay the onset destructive aerodynamic loading which
occurs from the operation approaching a surge or stall point.
Further, recovery from rotating stall and surge behavior is
actually possible and also can be prevented because the surge and
stall condition line can be an important issue since it is
impossible to guarantee that an engine can avoid such behavior
during its operational lifetime.
[0143] The application of an external electric field to a flame can
affect its propagation speed, stability, and combustion chemistry.
External electrodes, arc discharges, and plasma gas injectors have
been employed to allow combustible gas mixtures to operate outside
their flammability limits by gas heating, injection of free
radicals, and field-promoted flame stabilization. The present
invention of S-MAGJET utilizes a plasma-generating electrode fuel
nozzle, that employs an electric-arc generated from the turbine
ring generator(s) of S-MAGJET, behind the combustor at very high
voltage and amperage. The fuel nozzle delivers pulsed phased
millisecond plasma discharge voltages to the atomized fuel stream
prior to combustion, to produce an ionized fuel, whereby the plasma
discharge breaks down the long chains of hydrocarbons in the fuel
into smaller parts--large fuel molecules are broken into small fuel
molecules, creating free radicals and other active species in the
gas stream, by which then the fuel is mixed with an oxidizer (air),
the overall result is a more efficient fuel burn. The plasma
enhancement through the use of the plasma-generating electrode fuel
nozzle modifies combustion, flame structure, flame size, and flame
power density extending the fuel-lean burn limits and therefore
increasing caloric fuel burn efficiency. This ion plasma injection
combustor technology consists of an electronic device that can be
attached to an existing fuel injector that applies electrical
voltage to the atomized fuel stream prior to combustion--generating
a plasma in the fuel. This effect essentially breaks down the long
chains of hydrocarbons in the fuel into smaller parts--allowing the
fuel to be burned more completely, resulting in more miles per
gallon, or reducing harmful emissions.
[0144] The 54,700 thrust class S-MAGJET engine described herein
will allow replacement of all engines for the new regional and
luxury business class light supersonic business and transport jets,
and the MAGJET 25,000-30,000 lb thrust class will allow the engine
described herein to replace current engine technology for the new
narrow-body regional jet airliners and medium-to-large size
business jets. The 120,000 lb. thrust class engine is of a size
where it will retrofit and offer advanced and superior performance
to all wide body, long range, subsonic (maximum speed 0.85)
airliners compared to current engine technology using mechanical
drive systems versus hybrid electric.
[0145] FIG. 24 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the
turbine engine described herein. FIG. 24 is annotated with position
indicators which referred to the equations listed in Appendix A
which relate to the location within the turbine and air flow
pattern most relevant to the calculation.
[0146] Appendix A, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein
by reference, forms part of the subject disclosure and describes
the mathematical quotations relevant to numerical analysis of the
performance parameters and characteristics of a supersonic turbine
accordance with the disclosure.
[0147] Although various exemplary embodiments of the invention have
been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art
that various changes and modifications can be made which will
achieve some of the advantages of the invention without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be obvious to
those reasonably skilled in the art that other components
performing the same functions may be suitably substituted.
* * * * *