Rotating Internal Combustion Engine With Integrated Turbine Chambers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal combustion engines and gas turbine engines have inefficiencies in combustion processes and mechanical energy transfer, particularly in the number of stages required for operation and the integration of combustion and energy harvesting mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A rotating internal combustion engine with a combustion turbine that utilizes constant volume combustion chambers, where combustion gases exert thrust to rotate blades, which in turn drive a drive shaft, integrating combustion and energy harvesting into a single mechanism with fewer stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a typical gas turbine engine is used with separate combustion and turbine sections, then continuous combustion can be achieved, but the device complexity and number of stages increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the combustion chamber and turbine blade functions into a single integrated component. The combustion chamber walls serve dual purposes: containing combustion gases and acting as turbine blades that convert thermal energy to mechanical rotation. This eliminates the need for separate combustion and turbine sections, reducing the number of stages while maintaining continuous combustion operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The combustion chamber walls are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: they contain the combustion process, direct gas flow, and act as turbine blades for energy extraction. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the system while maintaining the reliability of continuous combustion.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If constant pressure combustion is used in gas turbine engines, then continuous operation is achieved, but energy transfer efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the combustion parameter from constant pressure to constant volume combustion. By maintaining constant volume in the combustion chambers while enabling continuous operation through multiple chambers, the system achieves more efficient energy transfer during combustion, converting thermal energy to mechanical work more effectively than traditional constant pressure combustion.
3Reliability
If piston engines with four stages are used, then complete combustion cycles are achieved, but the device complexity and mechanical energy transfer losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple combustion stages into a continuous operation system with integrated combustion chambers and turbine blades. Instead of four distinct piston strokes, the system achieves complete combustion cycles through continuous flow and rotation, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining thermodynamic completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the reciprocating piston-mechanical system with a continuous rotation turbine system. This substitution eliminates the need for complex valve timing, piston connections, and crankshaft mechanisms associated with four-stage piston engines, while still achieving complete combustion cycles through the continuous flow architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The engine achieves efficient mechanical energy generation with fewer stages, enhancing energy transfer efficiency and reducing complexity by combining combustion and turbine functions in a single, rotating system.
Implementation Method 1
combusting the fuel and intake air mixture within the closed combustion chambers forms combustion gases
Implementation Method 2
exhausting the combustion gases drives rotation of the blades through thrust
Data Source
AI summary
A rotating internal combustion engine is provided. The engine includes a drive shaft and a rotatable cylinder coupled with the drive shaft. Combustion chambers are formed through the rotatable cylinder. The combustion chambers are defined by combustion blades of the rotatable cylinder. The engine is configured to generate power from combustion of the gases and from turbine movement caused from the combustion gases. Also disclosed is a fixed cylinder combustion engine.