Continuously Variable Turbine Eccentric Piston Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current turbines lack efficiency in energy extraction and conversion, necessitating a design improvement for enhanced performance.
Innovation Solution
A continuously variable turbine design featuring a case assembly with a rotor assembly and valve assemblies, including a ring piston and rotor body, articulating seal components, and biasing members to maintain continuous surface seals, allowing for efficient operation under high pressures and versatile applications as a compressor or engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional turbine designs are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the energy extraction efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine is divided into multiple independent valve assemblies (first and second valve assemblies) with separate valve bodies, seal components, and biasing members. Each valve assembly independently controls fluid flow to the rotor, allowing for modular manufacturing and maintenance while improving overall energy extraction efficiency through continuous variable area control.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assemblies incorporate movable seal components that can dynamically adjust the flow area between the valve body and seal component. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the turbine to optimize energy extraction efficiency across varying operating conditions, transforming from a static to a continuously variable design.
2Power
If higher operating pressures are implemented, then the power output increases, but the sealing reliability becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing members (springs) automatically apply continuous outward biasing force to the seal components, ensuring they remain in constant contact with the valve bodies. This self-service mechanism maintains sealing reliability under high operating pressures up to 3000 psi without requiring external control systems or complex sealing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal component design incorporates curved surfaces that change the contact parameters between the seal and valve body. The curved geometry distributes contact stresses and maintains reliable sealing under varying pressure conditions, enabling the turbine to operate safely at high pressures while preserving seal integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed flow area valves are used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the adaptability to different operating conditions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assemblies are designed with movable seal components that can adjust the flow area to serve multiple functions: optimizing performance across different operating conditions, controlling fluid distribution to the rotor, and adapting to varying pressure and flow requirements. This multi-functionality is achieved while maintaining relatively simple valve body structures that are easier to manufacture than complex adjustable mechanisms.
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 design achieves higher efficiency and operational flexibility, maintaining seals up to 3000 psi and enabling the turbine to function effectively as both a compressor and engine, with potential for multi-stack configurations and integration in thermal engines.
Implementation Method 1
each valve assembly includes at least at least one biasing member that urges the seal component against the ring piston
Implementation Method 2
the seal component of each valve assembly is an articulating seal component relative to the valve body to maintain the continuous surface seal between the seal component and the ring piston
Implementation Method 3
A turbine is a rotary device that extracts energy form a fluid a converts it into useful work
Data Source
AI summary
A continuously variable turbine includes a case assembly with a case body defining a chamber, a rotor assembly positioned in the chamber, and a pair of valve assemblies. The rotor assembly includes a ring piston and a rotor body positioned within the ring piston. The rotor body is connected to a shaft, and the rotor body rotates concentrically about an axis extending through the shaft while the ring piston rotates eccentrically about the axis. Each valve assembly is positioned outside of the ring piston relative to the rotor assembly and includes a valve body and a seal component attached to the valve body. Each seal component has a surface with a curvature that matches the outer curvature of the ring piston to form a continuous surface seal between the seal component and the ring piston as the ring piston rotates eccentrically about the axis. The position of the continuous surface seals in the chamber defining a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber between the surface seals. The case body includes an intake port and an exhaust port for each sub-chamber.