EP1584132A1

EP1584132A1 - Turbo-machine and method for operating the same

Info

Publication number: EP1584132A1
Application number: EP03782430A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Detlef Haje; Helmut Pollak
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 2003-01-13
Filing date: 2003-12-17
Publication date: 2005-10-12
Also published as: AU2003290069A1; US7304396B2; CN1739229A; EP1437822A1; US20060091731A1; WO2004064230A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a turbo-machine (1) comprising a rotor (3), a stator (5), and a flow channel (7) for an actuating fluid (A) used to drive the rotor (3). Said turbo-machine (1) comprises a magnet (9) for producing a pre-determinable magnetic field (B) in the flow channel (7). The invention also relates to a method for operating a turbo-machine (1) comprising a rotor (3), a stator (5), and a flow channel (7). According to the invention, an ion-containing actuating fluid (A) flows through the flow channel (7) and a defined magnetic field (B) is produced in the flow channel (7), ions (27) being deviated into the magnetic field (B).

Description

description

Fluid machine and method for operating a fluid machine

The invention relates to a turbomachine with a rotor and a stator, a flow being formed analogously for an action fluid, through which the rotor can be driven. The invention further relates to a method for operating a turbomachine with a rotor and a stator and a flow channel.

Turbomachines are known, for example conventional steam turbines or gas turbines, in the case of their designs the energy conversion is usually carried out by means of so-called vane grids or paddle wheels, which flow through the turbomachine with an action fluid, e.g. Steam or hot gas, drive the rotor of the turbomachine. The blade grids used here have the function of converting pressure energy into kinetic energy in the flowing action fluid and converting kinetic energy into mechanical energy. These vane grids are usually designed as rotor blades attached to the rotor or as guide vane gratings in the housing.

When designing such vane grids, in particular in the case of high temperatures of the action fluid flowing through the flow channel, in addition to the flow optimization, the strength, for example of vane and vane fastening, must be taken into account. It is particularly important that the strength values of the high-temperature materials used decrease significantly with high temperatures. However, a higher process temperature is generally sought, since this is associated with an increase in the thermodynamic efficiency of the turbomachine. This influence of the high operating temperature on the strength values of the materials used also applies to the rotors thermally turbo machines. In addition to the blades, the rotor is one of the most highly stressed components, especially since it is exposed to considerable centrifugal forces when high material temperatures are present. Centrifugal rotor forces act both on the rotor shaft and on the rotor blades, which are arranged on the circumferential surface of the rotor shaft. In addition, there are other high-temperature effects on blades or rotors. Examples include high-temperature corrosion or oxidation. Blades for extremely high application temperatures, such as gas turbine blades, are therefore partially made from single-crystalline workpieces and, because of the high temperatures of the action fluid, for example the hot gas, require considerable cooling. For this purpose, a coolant mass flow is provided, which in the case of a gas turbine is taken, for example, from a compressor upstream of the gas turbine as compressor extraction air, which is guided through a complicated channel and bore system inside a hollow blade to cool the blade (swirl, impact or film cooling). In addition, such blades for high-temperature use in hot, aggressive media require thermal insulation layers for heat insulation and corrosion protection layers. In the case of gas turbines, turbine operating temperatures of the hot gas of 1200 ° C. and beyond are possible. In steam turbines, the typical process data is between 540 ° C to 600 ° C for the live steam temperature at about 250 to 300 bar live steam pressure of the steam fed to a conventional high-pressure sub-turbine.

The conversion of pressure energy into kinetic energy and kinetic energy into mechanical energy using guide vane grids and moving vane grids with conventional blading therefore have certain disadvantages. The blades naturally have a certain wall thickness or thickness due to the manufacturing process, which reduce the effective flow cross section of the flow channel. This effect is also known as the blocking effect. Furthermore, due to the finite number of blades, no optimal homogeneous deflection of the action fluid can take place. In addition, vane gratings have a flow resistance, ie boundary layers form on the vanes, which lead to secondary losses in the subsequent vane gratings and, in extreme cases, can even cause blockage in the case of compressors in connection with an additional incorrect flow. As already discussed above, because of the use of high-quality high-temperature materials, because of the increased material and manufacturing costs, blades for use in high-temperature applications are very expensive and their strength is limited. The height of the blades, ie the maximum blade length, is limited due to the strength considerations in the high centrifugal loads of rotor blades. In the event of a blade failure, for example as a result of detachment from the rotor due to the maximum permissible centrifugal force being exceeded, considerable consequential damage can occur in the turbomachine. For example, in an axial turbomachine, in particular the subsequent blade grids arranged in the flow direction of the action fluid can be destroyed. Another disadvantage of the known blading is due to the gap losses that always occur. Gap mass flows of action fluid that occur between a blade and one of the

Passing the blade through forming a gap opposite component results in a loss of efficiency (gap loss). In order to keep the losses as low as possible, the gap mass flows must be limited by tight games which are very complex to manufacture. A minimum clearance must not be undercut for reasons of operational reliability of the turbomachine. Such gap losses were examined, for example, in the dissertation by Helmut Pollak "Experimental investigations of the flow processes in axial cold air turbines with special consideration of the radial gap currents and their influencing parameters", Rheinisch / Westfälische Hochschule, Aachen. In the book "Power Plant Technology for the Use of Fossil, Regenerative and Nuclear Energy Sources" by K. Straus, 4th edition, Berlin, Heidelberg, Springer Verlag, 1998, pages 363-370, magnetohydrodynamic energy converters and power plant concepts based on magnetohydrodynamic energy conversion are described. The magnetohydrodynamic principle as such has been known for a long time and has already been introduced into concepts for power plants, so-called “MHD power plants” in the aforementioned literature reference. The basis of magnetohydrodynamic energy conversion (MHD) is the principle of electromagnetic induction, which is also used in the conventional dynamo. According to this principle, a voltage is induced in an electrically conductive material when it moves relative to a magnetic field.

In an MHD generator, an electrically conductive fluid flows through the magnetic field. As a result of the effect of the magnetic field, charges of the same name are separated in the fluid and thus the potential energy of the plasma is converted directly into electrical current. The electrical conductivity is a particularly important property of the working fluid in MHD generators. If you want to use the flue gases from the combustion of fossil fuels as work equipment, they must be in the plasma state in order to be electrically conductive. In this state, the atomic bonds between the electrons and the nuclei are broken - the gas then consists mainly of free electrons and positively charged ions. The partial ionization of a gas is achieved by heating to very high temperatures of more than 2000 ° C. For practical reasons, the conductivity should be at least 10 S / m. Such values of this magnitude can only be achieved in combustion gases at temperatures of 2000 to 2500 ° C with the addition of easily ionizable materials such as cesium or potassium. However, due to the functional principle envisaged for an MHD power plant, these power plant concepts could not be developed until they were ready for use. The principle of the MHD generator according to this concept is to generate the plasma state, a state in which positive ions and electrons are present in the gas, by combustion with strongly heated combustion air in a pressure-carrying combustion chamber. The hot plasma enters a so-called diffuser as it exits the chamber. In this diffuser, the positive ions and the electrons are deflected by a magnetic field to different electrodes, where the electrons are absorbed and the ions lose their charge due to the uptake of electrons. In this way, a charge flow is caused directly, ie a current is generated. After exiting the MHD generator, the gas is still very hot, around 2300 K. To further utilize this heat energy available in the hot gas, the incoming combustion air is preheated to around 2100 K using heat exchangers. The remaining heat energy is fed to a downstream steam process by conventional waste heat boilers. This concept is fraught with considerable problems which have hitherto prevented its practical large-scale implementation:

For example, to achieve a plasma at 2500 K, as already described above, the gas can be inoculated with easily ionizable substances (potassium, cesium). These alkali metals are expensive and difficult to handle. In addition, they lead to contamination and corrosive attack of the heat exchanger surfaces, as are provided in the air heater and in the waste heat boiler. Furthermore, the extremely high temperatures to achieve the plasma state pose considerable challenges for the MHD generator with regard to suitable high-temperature materials. Components of the diffuser and the heat exchanger are also affected. Furthermore, it must be noted that the achievable efficiency of the currently known and used GUD power plants is now so high that it is very difficult to achieve a large increase in efficiency with the technology of the MHD generators. In this respect, the upstream connection of a - technically difficult to implement - MHD generator before the steam power process competes with the upstream connection of a gas turbine that has already been tried and tested on an industrial scale. On the way to a commercial MHD system, difficult problems can also be solved outside of the actual MHD generator. Most of these are due to the high temperature level in the plasma channel, for whose construction all previously known metallic materials are eliminated. With electrodes too, erosion, corrosion and thermal voltages have limited the operating time to less than 1000 hours. Despite intensive research, the commercial realization of an MHD system is currently not in sight.

In a summary assessment of the previously known

Concepts can be said that in conventional gas turbines and steam turbines, the blades and rotor, along with the combustion chamber and boiler components, are among the most stressed components of such turbomachines. The entrance blading is particularly affected due to the high temperatures of the hot action fluid. The high temperature strength of the blade materials limits possible operating temperatures and sometimes requires technically complex cooling measures. For the manufacturers of gas turbines and steam turbines, however, increasing the upper process temperature is an essential starting point for increasing efficiency. Considerable efforts to raise the upper process temperature can be observed in some areas of both gas turbine and steam turbine technology. In contrast, the use of the magnetohydrodynamic effect in the above-described MHD power plants is still not used on an industrial scale because of the inadequate feasibility, above all because of the disadvantageous principle of action and the technological difficulties.

The object of the invention is to provide a turbomachine which overcomes the disadvantages of the known concept described above. avoids. Another object of the invention is to provide a method for operating a turbomachine.

The first-mentioned object is achieved according to the invention by a turbomachine with a rotor and a stator, a flow channel for an action fluid being formed through which the rotor can be driven, a magnet being provided which serves to generate a predefinable magnetic field in the flow anal.

The invention describes a completely new concept for a turbomachine, in which the magnetohydrodynamic effect is used to deflect the flow medium within turbomachines instead of vane grids. Thus the realization of an "MHD-

Turbine "or a" MHD compressor ^λλ possible. The magnetohydrodynamic effect causes a deflection of electrically charged particles of a fluid in the flow channel of the turbomachine. The magnet is provided to generate a defined magnetic field, the charged particles in the action fluid according to the Lorenz force If an electric charge is moved at a certain speed in a given magnetic field, described by magnetic induction, the electric charge experiences a force, which is always perpendicular to the speed, so charged particles in the action fluid flowing through the flow channel experience through the defined magnetic field generated by the magnet is a deflection if the magnetic field has at least one component perpendicular to the direction of movement of the charged particles, ie the direction of flow of the action fluid extensive homogeneous magnetic field forced onto a circular path. When passing through a finite, ie a spatially limited magnetic field, the particles thus follow an arc. This effect is used according to the invention to deflect the action fluid even in the flow channel of a turbomachine. By the Magnets can be generated in the flow channel in both a temporally and spatially defined magnetic field, which leads to a defined deflection of charged particles in the action fluid and a deflection of the action fluid itself as a result of the entrainment effect due to impulse transfer. The deflection advantageously takes place in the form of defined deflection planes between the rotor and stator, which are defined by the magnetic field and which have a limited extent in the main flow direction of the action fluid, for example in the axial direction in the case of an axial machine (localization of the magnetic field). The effect of providing a magnetic deflection plane for the charged particles or the action fluid through the magnetic field is very similar to that of a conventional vane grille: in the case of an axial flow machine, for example, a mainly axial flow of the action fluid is deflected in a flow with both axial and also a tangential component, due to the fact that due to the Lorenz force, a tangential component is impressed on the charged particles perpendicular to the direction of flow through the interaction with the magnetic field. This deflection is associated with a conversion of the pressure energy of the action fluid into kinetic energy, analogous to a guide grill of a conventional turbine. In the same way, it is possible to convert a flow of the action fluid with an axial and tangential component into a predominantly axial flow - by converting kinetic energy into mechanical work, analogous to a playpen of a conventional turbine. A suitable magnetic field configuration with a spatial and possibly time-generated magnetic field in the flow channel by the magnet therefore allows, analogously to conventional turbines, a progressive expansion of the action fluid with the production of mechanical work, which can be transferred to the rotor in the form of rotational energy.

With the invention, the function of deflecting the flowing action fluid is advantageous, which at high Temperatures can only be achieved by means of conventional blades at considerable costs or not at all, but are still guaranteed here compared to conventional turbine technology achieved by a magnetic field or by magnetic fields. The invention advantageously combines the known functional principle of conventional turbomachines with the deflection effect of a magnetic field on charged particles. At the same time, the specific disadvantages of the MHD power plant concept can be avoided because the operation of the turbomachine does not necessarily require the thermal generation of a plasma at extremely high temperatures. In contrast to an MHD generator, direct power generation through charge deflection on electrodes is not used either, but mechanical energy in the form of rotational energy of the rotor is generated when the action fluid is expanded in the turbomachine. This makes it possible to achieve significantly higher process temperatures in the development of new gas turbine and steam turbine technologies with the concept of the turbomachine, which leads to an increase in the thermal efficiency of the turbines. This makes it possible to use a new, advantageous mode of operation for turbomachinery construction, with fundamental improvements being expected.

In a preferred embodiment of the turbomachine, the stator has the magnet. It is possible to integrate the magnet into the stator, so that the magnetic field generated by the magnet has an anal effect on the flow. It is also possible for the stator to have a plurality of magnets, so that the magnetic field in the flow channel can be set very precisely in accordance with the requirements. In the case of an axial machine, in which the stator usually also forms an outer boundary of the flow channel and at the same time as the outer housing of the

Fluid machine can function, the magnet is advantageously particularly accessible for any maintenance or revision work or for attaching sensors (eg magnetic field sensors) to diagnose the turbomachine. Furthermore, when a ferro-magnetic substance is selected, the stator material can also be used to increase the magnetic flux density and thus the magnetic field in the flow channel.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the turbomachine, the magnetic field is directed radially and has at least one change of sign along the axis of rotation of the rotor in relation to the radial direction.

A radial magnetic field can be generated, for example, by a magnet attached to the stator, the magnetic field extending radially inward through the flow channel into the rotor. The change of sign of the radial magnetic field component along the axis of rotation provides at least one area in the flow channel in which the field lines of the magnetic field run radially inward from the stator to the rotor, for example, and at least one second area in the flow channel in which field lines emerge from the rotor radially outward extend through the flow anal and enter the stator. In the second area there is therefore a sign of the magnetic field which is reversed in relation to the radial direction than is the case in the first area. With the change of sign of the magnetic field it is possible to deflect charged particles in the flow channel in opposite directions perpendicular to the direction of movement of the charged particles, ie the action fluid. In the case of an axial turbomachine, it is favorable to provide at least one change of sign of the magnetic field, so that there are at least two different spatial areas with a magnetic field of different signs along the axis of rotation of the rotor. When a charged particle moves along the axial direction of the turbomachine, tangential deflection takes place in the first area, for example clockwise. In the second area, the charged particle experiences a force in the opposite direction, for example counterclockwise.

Based on the following simplified considerations, the functional principle of the turbomachine will be presented as a model: The field lines of the deflection magnetic field are only in their main direction of action, i. H. radial between rotor and stator, i.e. there is an idealized consideration of essentially parallel magnetic field lines which are directed either radially inwards or radially outwards. This simplification neglects the influence of scatter and its effects, which should be permitted within the framework of clarifying the basic principle. Furthermore, the movement of the ions compared to the considerations of gas dynamics, which considers the thermal movement of the particles equally distributed in all spatial directions, is only taken into account to the extent that results from the inflow of the action fluid. The inflow of the action fluid is superimposed on the thermal movements, which are assumed to be essentially equally distributed. In this respect, when considering the deflection effects, the velocity of the flowing action fluid superimposed on this thermal uniform distribution comes into play - on a statistical average.

When entering a magnetic field defined radially between the rotor and stator by the magnet in the flow channel, electrically charged particles present in the flowing action fluid are deflected by the magnetic field. The main direction of flow of the action fluid is assumed to be the axial direction, as is the case, for example, with an axial turbomachine. A force that is dependent on the magnetic flux density in the flow channel, the speed and the charge of the particles acts on the loaded particles and is directed perpendicular to the direction of movement. This distraction force is also known as the Lorenz force. Either electrons come as charged particles with a comparatively low mass and a negative elementary charge or single or multiply charged positive ions with a significantly higher mass. Because of the different signs of the charged particles, the electrons are deflected in the opposite direction to the positive charged ions. Due to the significant mass differences (about a factor of 10 ⁴ ), the electrons are also forced into a much smaller circular path than the ions. If the radial magnetic field is set so that the ions experience a deflection when they pass through the magnetic field, which corresponds in effect to the deflection by a conventional vane grid, the electrons are consequently drawn onto a much smaller circular path, the radius of which is generally is smaller than the axial extent of the radial deflection field. The electrons do not leave the magnetic field like the ions with a well-defined, well-defined deflection, but instead reach a circular path with a significantly smaller radius or a helical path, depending on the original direction and speed when entering the magnetic field. Collisions between electrons and other particles of the action fluid also result in changes in the trajectory and possibly in the speed of the electrons, so that they can ultimately also leave the magnetic field. As a result of the targeted deflection of the ions provided with a comparatively high mass by a certain circumferential angle when passing through an area of the flow channel flooded with a magnetic field, in particular with a radial magnetic field, and the essentially diffuse exit of the significantly lighter electrons caused by collision processes transmit an angular momentum to the action fluid containing the charged particles. Depending on the spatial arrangement, strength and sign of the magnetic field generated by the magnet in the flow channel, different deflection effects, ie a different angular momentum transfer to the action fluid, can thus be set in terms of amount and direction. An axially extending magnetic guide vane region with a constant sign of the magnetic field and an axially extending rotor blade region with a sign of the magnetic field that is opposite to the guide vane region are preferably provided.

In the magnetic guide vane area, the flow velocity is increased by deflecting the action fluid flowing in the axial direction analogously to conventional turbine guide vents. A tangential component is superimposed on the main axial flow direction, whereby pressure energy is converted into kinetic energy. The magnetic guide vane region has a defined sign of the magnetic field, i.e. radially inward or radially outward in the entire guide vane area. The magnetic guide vane area is spatially a partial area of the flow channel. The strength of the magnetic field can, however, vary within the magnetic guide vane area, but is preferably almost constant. The magnetic guide vane region thus defines, so to speak, a deflection plane which acts as a guide grille or a deflection disc which extends in the axial direction and which, viewed abstractly, has an effect on the action fluid which is equivalent to a conventional turbine guide grille.

In an analogous manner, the largely axially directed flow of the action fluid is deflected in the magnetic rotor blade region in such a way that the angular momentum extracted from the medium is transmitted to the rotor of the turbomachine. In the magnetic guide vane region and in the magnetic rotor blade region, the magnetic field is directed essentially radially. The magnetic guide vane area and magnetic rotor vane area form spatially different sub-areas of the flow channel, for example. In this embodiment, the action fluid is deflected in the turbomachine in the form of, for example, spatially limited deflection in the axial direction. NEN or deflection discs by a radially directed deflection magnetic field, which extends through the flow channel between the stator and rotor. Due to the spatially limited expansion in the flow direction of the action fluid (deflection disk or deflection plane), the effect of the magnetic guide vane region and the magnetic rotor vane region is very similar to the effect of vane grids in conventional turbomachines, for example gas turbines, steam turbines and compressors. The predominantly axial flow is deflected into a flow with an axial and tangential component, pressure energy being converted into kinetic energy. In this respect, the magnetic guide vane area is to be considered analogously to a guide grid of a conventional turbine with regard to the basic mode of operation. In the magnetic blade area, a flow with an axial and tangential component is deflected into a predominantly axial flow, with kinetic energy being converted into mechanical work. In essence, this effect is analogous to the effect of a playpen on a conventional turbine. Advantageously, a suitable arrangement of successive magnetic guide vane areas and moving vane areas allows a progressive expansion of the working fluid analogous to conventional turbines with mechanical energy in the form of rotational energy of the rotor.

The magnetic rotor blade region is therefore preferably arranged axially downstream of the magnetic guide blade region in the flow direction of the action fluid. In this way, a stage analogous to a conventional turbomachine with a stator and an impeller is realized. The magnetic stage of the turbomachine has a magnetic guide vane region and an axially adjoining magnetic rotor vane region. The magnetic blade area does not have to directly adjoin the magnetic guide area in the direction of flow. Between the magnetic guide vane area and the axially downstream In the magnetic blade area, the flow channel can be field-free or essentially without a significant magnetic field. In such an intermediate area there is practically no further deflection of the charged particles and therefore no further angular momentum transfer to the flowing action fluid containing the charged particles.

A number of magnetic guide vane regions and rotor blade regions are preferably arranged alternately along the axis of rotation. Thus, several magnetic stages, i.e. a plurality of axially, i.e. magnetic guide vane regions and magnetic rotor vane regions arranged alternately one behind the other along the axis of rotation. This can again be seen in a certain analogy to the known turbomachines with several stages arranged axially one behind the other. Depending on the requirements, turbomachines with different number of stages and stage sizes can each be designed comprising a magnetic guide vane area and a magnetic vane area adjoining it.

To limit the magnetic field in the magnetic guide vane region, the magnetic guide vane region preferably comprises a projection of the stator that extends radially inward. A local increase in the magnetic flux density is achieved by the radially inwardly extending projection, ie the magnetic field lines are concentrated in the space between the projection and the rotor lying inward in the radial direction. With this configuration, a magnetic dipole structure is locally achieved approximately, whereby depending on the polarity selected, for example, magnetic field lines emerging from the projection form a magnetic north pole, while the opposite rotor surface into which the magnetic field lines form a south pole. The spatial confinement of the field enables a targeted deflection of charged particles in the Action fluid, so that in analogy to a conventional turbomachine, a guide vane is realized, the principle of which is based, however, on magnetic deflection of charged particles.

However, compared to conventional blading in the magnetic guide vane of the invention, advantageously no complex geometries are required for the projection. With regard to its geometry and its magnetic properties of the material, the projection can be designed in such a way that the best possible results are achieved, similar to a pole piece. The projection can be structurally easily adapted to the radial symmetry, in particular to the cylindrical surface contour of the rotor, and consists of a material with high magnetic permeability in order to achieve correspondingly high magnetic flux densities of the radial deflection magnetic field.

In a preferred embodiment, for the axial limitation of the magnetic field in the magnetic guide vane region, the stator has a radially inwardly extending circumferential ring, on which the projection is arranged. The circumferential ring extends completely around the axis of rotation of the rotor. The axial extent of the circumferential ring also essentially determines the axial extent of the magnetic field.

Due to the axial and radial inclusion, a magnetic deflection plane - due to its axial dimension, more precisely, a magnetic deflection disk - is realized in the magnetic guide vane area, in analogy to a guide vane series or grid in a conventional turbomachine.

For this purpose, in a preferred embodiment, a plurality of projections extending radially inward are arranged over the full circumference of the stator. Due to the large number of projections, an equally effective and therefore increased deflection of the flow medium is achieved over the entire circumference, According to the number and arrangement of the projections, spatial areas with a high magnetic field strength are formed. For reasons of symmetry, the projections are advantageously regularly distributed over the full circumference of the stator, for example along an imaginary regular polygon. An embodiment with a circumferential ring as described above, on which a plurality of projections are arranged, is particularly favorable for radial and axial field confinement.

With regard to the magnetic rotor blade region, in a particularly preferred embodiment, for the spatial limitation of the magnetic field, it comprises a radially outwardly extending projection of the rotor. The advantages of this configuration result in analogy to the magnetic guard panel area:

A local increase in magnetic flux density is achieved by the radially outwardly extending projection, i.e. the magnetic field lines are concentrated in the space between the projection and the stator opposite the projection in the radial direction outwards. With this configuration, a magnetic dipole structure is locally implemented, depending on the polarity selected, e.g. Magnetic field lines emerging from the projection form a magnetic north pole, while the opposite stator surface into which the magnetic field lines enter forms a south pole. The spatial confinement of the field enables a targeted deflection of charged particles in the action fluid, so that, in analogy to a conventional turbomachine, a rotor blade based on magnetic deflection of charged particles is hereby realized.

In this case, a plurality of projections extending radially outward are preferably arranged over the full circumference of the rotor. Due to the large number of projections, an equally effective and therefore increased deflection of the flow medium is achieved over the entire circumference, the number and Arrangement of the projections spatial areas with high magnetic field strength are formed. For reasons of symmetry, the projections are advantageously distributed regularly over the full circumference of the rotor, for example along an imaginary regular polygon. In this case, an embodiment with a circumferential ring, as already described in connection with the magnetic guide vane region, on which a plurality of projections are arranged, is particularly favorable for radial and axial field confinement.

The turbomachine preferably has an ionization device for generating charged particles in the action fluid. The ionization of neutral particles in the action fluid can take place in different ways by means of the ionization device, for example by impact ionization or by radiation ionization. Depending on the cross section for the ionization of certain neutral particles, a suitable ionization process is to be selected, on the principle of which the ionization device should work. High temperatures such as in the case of thermal plasma generation are advantageously not required. Multiple ionization is also possible. By means of the ionization device, an ion-containing action fluid can thus be generated or provided, which drives the magnetohydrodynamic flow machine of the invention when it flows through the flow channel.

The turbomachine preferably has a recombination device for recombining charged particles in the action fluid.

The object directed to a method is achieved according to the invention by a method for operating a turbomachine with a rotor and a stator and a flow channel, in which an ionic action fluid flows through the flow channel and a defined magnetic field is generated in the flow channel, ions in the Magnetic field can be deflected. The advantages of the method result in an analogous manner from the advantages of the turbomachine described above.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, the rotor is set in rotation due to the deflection of ions due to the interaction with the magnetic field.

Further preferably, a radial magnetic field acting on the ions is generated in the flow channel in such a way that when

Flowing through the flow channel, the tangential speed component of the ion-containing action fluid is specifically influenced. The effect of the Lorenz force on the charged particles, i.e. the ions, which are significantly heavier than the electrons, are used specifically to impart a net angular momentum (swirl) to the action fluid. The angular momentum transfer can lead to an increase in swirl or to a decrease in swirl of the flowing, relaxing action fluid.

A radial magnetic field is preferably generated in the flow channel, which alternates along the flow direction of the ion-containing action fluid. Alternating magnetic field means that the radial component of the magnetic field has at least one change of sign along the direction of flow, i.e. a polarity reversal of the radial component takes place.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, the magnetic field is regulated in terms of time and / or space. This can e.g. by means of an appropriate arrangement and electrical control of the magnet or the magnets to generate a predefinable field distribution in the flow analog.

The ion-containing action fluid is preferably formed by ionizing particles in the action fluid before flowing through the flow channel. This can be done for example through one of the entry openings Ionization device upstream of the flow channel can be reached.

Ions are more preferably formed by ionization of particles in the action fluid while flowing through the flow channel. The in situ generation has the advantage that the ions can be generated specifically in the areas where they are also required for imparting a magnetic deflection, i.e. in the magnetic vane area or the magnetic blade area.

To generate the ions, these are preferably formed by impact ionization. Alternatively or additionally, ions are formed by radiation ionization, action fluid being irradiated with radiation which has an ionizing effect on particles in the action fluid. This radiation can be UV radiation or X-ray radiation, for example.

The action fluid is preferably cleaned of harmful substances in a recombination process and / or a catalytic process. The cleaning is preferably carried out during and / or after flowing through the flow channel.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. It shows in a simplified and not to scale representation

1 shows a section of a turbomachine based on a magnetohydrodynamic principle,

2 shows a trajectory of a charged particle in a spatially limited magnetic field,

3 shows a sectional view in the axial direction through a magnetic guide vane region along the section line III-III of the turbomachine shown in FIG. 1, IG 4 sectional view in the axial direction through a magnetic blade area along the section line IV-IV of the turbomachine shown in FIG. 1,

IG 5 in a diagram the pressure and speed curve for a conventional turbine,

IG 6 for comparison with FIG 5 in a diagram the pressure and speed curve for a turbine with magnetohydrodynamic blading

7 shows in a block diagram the arrangement of the process functions using the example of a steam turbine using magnetohydrodynamic blading, and

8 shows in a block diagram the arrangement of the process functions using the example of a gas turbine using magnetohydrodynamic blading

The same reference numerals have the same meaning in the figures.

Figure 1 shows a detail of a turbomachine 1, which works on a magnetohydrodynamic principle.

For this purpose, the turbomachine 1 has a rotor 3 extending along an axis of rotation 11. A stator 5 surrounds the rotor 3 concentrically spaced over the entire circumference, so that an annular axial flow channel 7 is formed, to which an ion-containing action fluid A, for example an ion-containing steam or a gas, can be supplied. The rotor 3 can be driven by the action fluid A when it flows through the flow channel 7, magnetic deflection effects on charged particles 25, in particular on ions 27, in the action fluid A being used in a targeted manner. For this purpose, the turbomachine 1 has a magnet 9 for generating a predeterminable magnetic field B in the flow channel 7. The magnet 9 is integrated in the stator 5 in a stationary manner and can, for example, be configured as a magnetic coil as shown, the field strength of the desired magnetic field B in the flow channel 7 being achieved by adjusting or regulating an electrical current strength through the coil. Advantageously, this construction only uses static windings. In order to increase the magnetic flux density, the stator 5 is at least partially made of a ferromagnetic material. Likewise, the rotor 3 is made of a ferromagnetic material. This results in a good magnetic field ring closure and particularly high flux densities are achieved in the flow channel 7 precisely where the interaction of the magnetic field B with the ions 27 is provided. The magnetic field B is directed essentially radially in the flow channel 7, ie perpendicular to the main flow direction parallel to the axis of rotation 11 of the action fluid A loaded with ions 27. Along the axis of rotation 11 of the rotor 3, the magnetic field B has at least one sign change with respect to the radial direction, ie there is at least one polarity reversal. The magnetic field distribution is set such that, viewed spatially, an axially extending magnetic guide vane region 15 with a constant sign of the magnetic field is formed in the flow channel 7. Furthermore, an axially extending magnetic blade region 17 is provided with a sign of the magnetic field B that is opposite to that of the guide blade region 15. An almost field-free space 35 is formed between the magnetic guide vane region 15 and the magnetic blade region 17, in which there is no magnetic deflection of the charged particles 25. A magnetic rotor blade region 17 is axially downstream of a magnetic guide blade region 15, forming the axial intermediate space 35. The magnetic field configuration formed in this way can be referred to, analogously to a conventional turbine stage, as a magnetohydrodynamic stage or MHD stage. Egg- ne number of such MHD stages are arranged one after the other along the axis of rotation 11, so that a corresponding number of magnetic guide vane regions 15 and rotor blade regions 17 are arranged alternately along the axis of rotation 11 in the turbomachine 1 to form a respective field-free intermediate space 35. The intermediate space 35 is delimited radially inwards, ie on the rotor side, and radially outwards, ie on the stator side, by a respective flow guide plate 33. Due to the desired field freedom of the intermediate space 35, the flow guide plate 33 is not made of a ferromagnetic material in an advantageous embodiment.

2 shows a path curve 37 (trajectory) of a positively charged ion 27 in a spatially limited magnetic field B, as is idealized by the MHD blading in the turbomachine 1 of FIG. 1. Here, a spatially limited area 39 with a magnetic field B is shown, which is delimited in the axial direction by field-free areas .39A, 39B. Due to the effect of the Lorentz force F _L on the charged ion 27 moving with the velocity v, a deflection takes place in the area 39 perpendicular to the magnetic field direction and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the ion 27, which leads to a curved trajectory 37 in the area 39. In contrast, in the field-free areas 39A, 39B there is no deflection, ie the path curve runs essentially undisturbed, ie in a straight line. This elementary field distribution of the magnetic field B and its effect on a flowing, expanding ion-containing action fluid A is proposed for the first time in a turbomachine with the concept of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a greatly simplified sectional view in the axial direction through a magnetic guide vane region 15 along the section line III-III of the turbomachine 1 shown in FIG. 1. The stator 5 concentrically surrounds the rotor 3 to form the flow channel 7. To limit the magnetic field B in magnetic Guide vane region 15, the magnetic guide vane region 15 has a plurality of projections 19 which extend radially inwards and are arranged over the full circumference of the stator 5. The projections 19 are arranged on a circumferential ring 29A which extends radially inward into the flow channel 7 and are connected, for example, in one piece to the latter. The circumferential ring 29A, which has the projections 19, completely surrounds the rotor 5 and forms part of a stator housing (not shown in more detail). For a better overview, the field distribution of the magnetic field B is only shown in a partial area of the guide vane area 15. The polarity is selected such that the magnetic north pole N is formed at the projections 19 of the stator 5, so that the field lines emerge at the projections 19, penetrate the flow channel 7 predominantly inwards in the radial direction and through the rotor surface 41 into the interior of the rotor 3 enter. Due to the ions 27 in the flowing action fluid A, a charge current is reached through the flow channel 7, which interacts with the magnetic field in the magnetic guide vane area 15 and in the magnetic blade area 17 (FIG. 4), an inductive effect being noted. Due to the charge current itself - analogous to a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field - a magnetic field is generated, which is superimposed on the external magnetic field B in the flow channel. As a result, field areas with increased field line density are formed along the charge current in the case of a constructive superimposition, and at the same time corresponding field areas with lower field line density in the case of destructive overlay. Since magnetic field lines tend to shorten, this leads to a deflection of the charge current from the field area with increased field line density to the field area with low field line density (Lorentz's law).

FIG. 4 shows, in an analogous representation to FIG. 3, a sectional view in the axial direction through a magnetic blade area 17 along the section line IV-IV of the FIG 1 shown flow machine. To spatially limit the magnetic field B in the magnetic blade area 17, the magnetic blade area 17 has a plurality of projections 21 which extend radially outward and are arranged over the full circumference of the rotor 3 on a circumferential ring 29B of the rotor 5. The circumferential ring 29B serves for the spatial limitation, in particular in the axial direction, of the magnetic field B in the magnetic rotor blade region 17 and extends radially outward. The polarity of the magnetic field B in relation to the magnetic blade area 17 (FIG. 3) is chosen here such that magnetic north poles N are now formed at the projections 21 of the rotor 5, so that the field lines emerge at the projections 21, the flow channel 7 in penetrate radially outward and enter the inside of the stator 3 through the stator surface 43. The projections 19, 21 result in a concentration of the magnetic field lines, ie an increased strength of the radial magnetic field B in the guide vane region 17 or in the rotor blade region 15, and thereby the interaction of the magnetic field B with the charge current on the ions due to the movement of the ions 27 local areas limited. Magnetic deflection planes (guide planes and running planes) or deflection disks based on the axial dimension are thus realized by the field distribution in the guide vane region 17 and the rotor blade region 15.

The provision of such magnetic deflection planes for the charged particles 25, 27 or the ion-containing action fluid A by the magnetic field B is very similar in effect to a conventional vane grille:

In the case of an axial flow machine 1 - as discussed here by way of example - a predominantly axial flow of the action fluid A is deflected in a flow with both an axial and a tangential component, due to the fact that due to the Lorentz force F _L (FIG. 2) charged particles 25, 27 perpendicular to the direction of flow through the interaction with the magnetic field B a tangential component is impressed. This deflection is associated with a conversion of pressure energy of the action fluid A into kinetic energy, analogous to a guide vane of a conventional turbine. In the same way, it is possible to convert a flow of the action fluid A with an axial and tangential component into a predominantly axial flow - by converting kinetic energy into mechanical work, analogous to a playpen of a conventional turbine. A suitable magnetic field configuration with magnetic field B in the flow channel 7 generated spatially and possibly temporally by the magnet 9 thus allows, analogously to conventional turbines, a progressive expansion of the action fluid A while obtaining mechanical work, which in the form of rotational energy on the rotor 3 - against the magnetic-induced change in angular momentum to be recorded, so that it rotates at an angular velocity ω.

In order to compare the MHD fluid flow machine 1 with a conventional turbine, e.g. a steam turbine, the pressure curve 49 and the speed curve 51 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 for a conventional positive pressure turbine with conventional blading (FIG. 5) and for a turbomachine 1 with MHD blading. The path 37 in Figure 5 of a particle, e.g. of a gas or steam molecule, through the turbine stages, which are each formed from a conventional stator 45 and impeller 47, is qualitatively very similar to the path 37 of an ion 27 when passing through the magnetic stages of the invention, each of which axially successively from a magnetic guide vane region 15, a field-free space 35 and a magnetic blade area 17 are composed. This analogy can also be found in the pressure curve 49 and in the speed curve:

The pressure curve 49 of the action fluid A expanding in the axial direction is in the middle partial diagram of FIGS. 5 and 6 against the axial length L (Figure 6) or against the number of steps (Figure 5). The pressure p is plotted on the Y axis of the coordinate systems and the axial run length L or the number of steps on the X axis. In both partial diagrams, the pressure p decreases in steps in the same way along the X-axis, with a significant pressure drop in particular in the magnetic guide vane region 17 and rotor blade region 15 in accordance with the pressure curve over the conventional guide vane series 45 and the rotor vane series 47. In between, the pressure p is approximately constant.

The speed profile 51 of the action fluid A expanding in the axial direction is plotted in the lower partial diagram of FIGS. 5 and 6 in relation to the axial running length L (FIG. 6) or in relation to the number of stages (FIG. 5). The speed c is plotted on the Y axis of the coordinate systems and the axial run length L or the number of steps on the X axis. In these cases, the speed c means the so-called absolute speed, a variable that is generally known in turbine construction.

The speed c alternates in two partial diagrams _n equally between a minimum value and a maximum value Cmi c _max. The speed c rises above one

Row of guide vanes 45 from the minimum value c _{m ± n} up to the maximum value C _ma χ, reaches a plateau-shaped nearly constant section to then decrease over the subsequent row of rotating blades 47 back from the maximum value c _max to the minimum value c _m i _n. This speed profile 51 can also be found exactly in the corresponding lower partial diagram of FIG. 6, where these effects on the speed c also occur during the axial expansion of the action fluid A through a magnetic guide vane region 15, the intermediate space 35 and the magnetic rotor blade region 17. In a block diagram, FIG. 7 shows, in a highly simplified and schematic manner, the arrangement of the process functions D1 to D7 and process devices using the example of a steam turbine using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) blading of the invention. First of all, upstream process functions D1 and D2 are provided, which are carried out before the actual MHD process in a turbomachine 1, here a steam turbine with a steam process. The upstream process functions initially include the supply of heat into the action fluid A, here the water or water vapor. The action fluid in process step D1 can be heated, for example, in a boiler, a steam generator boiler. This is followed (optionally) in D2 by a conventional steam turbine process, in which the heated action fluid A flows through a conventional steam turbine blading in a work-guiding manner and thereby partially relaxes. To generate an ion-containing action fluid A, the ionization of particles in the action fluid A is provided in process step D3. For this purpose, an ionization device 23 is implemented, which generates ions 27 (cf. also FIG. 1) with sufficient density in the action fluid A, for example by means of radiation ionization or electron impact ionization. The actual MHD process is carried out in process step D4. The ionic action fluid A flows through the flow anal 7, a defined magnetic field B being generated in the flow anal 7, the ions being deflected in the magnetic field. The rotor 3 of the MHD flow machine 1 is set in rotation due to the deflection of the ions 27 due to the interaction with the magnetic field. Ions 27 can also be generated by ionization of particles in the action fluid A while flowing through the flow channel 7 in the MHD process step D4. If necessary, a process step D5 follows the MHD process step D4, in which the action fluid is cleaned of harmful substances in a recombination process and / or in a catalytic process. A recombination device 31 is implemented for this cleaning step, for example. The downstream Process steps D6 and D7 are conventional in nature: Thus, a conventional steam turbine process takes place (optionally) in D6, with the still hot action fluid A flowing through a conventional steam turbine blading while performing work and thereby relaxing further. In this way, the highest possible overall efficiency of the entire steam turbine system can be achieved. Finally, in process step D7, the heat is removed from the largely relaxed action fluid A in a condenser 53.

In a further block diagram, FIG. 8 shows, in a highly simplified and schematic manner, the arrangement of the process functions G1 to G7 and process devices using the example of a gas turbine using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) blading of the invention. First of all, an upstream process function D1 is provided, which is carried out before the actual MHD process in a turbomachine 1, here a gas turbine with a gas turbine process. The upstream process function Gl initially comprises the compression of an action fluid A, here of compressor air in a conventional one

Compressor part. Subsequently, an MHD compression process optionally takes place in G2, in which an ion-containing action fluid A is generated by means of an ionization device 23 and is compressed in an MHD process in an MHD compressor with MHD blading. The action fluid A compressed in this way is then heated in step G3. The heating of the action fluid A in process step G3 can be carried out, for example, in the combustion chamber of the gas turbine, the compressor air from process step G2 being burned together with a fuel and thus a hot combustion gas being available as action fluid A for the subsequent process step G4.

To generate an ion-containing action fluid A, the ionization of particles in action fluid A is provided in process step G4. For this purpose, an ionization device 23 is implemented, which is used for example by means of radiation ionization or electrical Ion impact ionization 27 (see also FIG. 1) with sufficient density in the action fluid A is generated. In process step G4, the actual MHD process is carried out at the same time. The ion-containing action fluid A flows through the flow channel 7, a defined magnetic field B being generated in the flow channel 7, the ions 27 being deflected in the magnetic field. The rotor 3 of the MHD turbomachine 1, here an MHD gas turbine, is set in rotation due to the deflection of the ions 27 due to the interaction with the magnetic field. Ions 27 can also be generated by ionization of particles in the action fluid A before entering the flow channel 7 in the MHD process step G4. If necessary, a process step G5 follows the MHD process step G4, in which the action fluid A is cleaned of harmful substances in a recombination process and / or in a catalytic process. A recombination device 31 is implemented for this cleaning step, for example. The downstream process steps D6 and D7 are of a conventional nature: Thus, a conventional gas turbine process takes place (optionally) in G6, whereby the still hot action fluid A, ie the hot gas, flows through a conventional gas turbine blading while performing work, and further relaxes and cools down. In this way, the highest possible overall efficiency of the entire gas turbine system, which includes process steps G1 to G7, can be achieved. Finally, in process step G7, the heat is removed from the already largely relaxed and cooled action fluid A in a waste heat boiler 55, another heat exchanger device or a chimney.

In summary, it should be noted that - as has been shown - MHD blading for a turbomachine can mean that both magnetic guide vane regions 15 and magnetic rotor vane regions 17 are implemented in a turbomachine 1 using the magnetohydrodynamic effect. But it is also possible to use a conventional les stator or a row of guide vanes 45 to combine with a magnetic blade area 17 or a magnetic guide blade area 15 with a conventional impeller or blade row 47. In this sense, "mixing stages" with MHD and conventional blading in a turbo machine or in one Process system can be implemented with a turbomachine 1. It is expedient for the operation of the turbomachine 1 to precede the ionization device 23 with the MHD process, so that a sufficiently high density of ions 27 in the action fluid is guaranteed as soon as it enters the flow channel 7 of the turbomachine 1 Post-ionization can be carried out continuously or repeatedly in the course of the process, ie while the flow-through channel 7 is being filled with the ion-containing action fluid A, by means of suitable ionization devices 23. A recombination device 31 can be used after flows In the MHD blading or occasionally also in the course thereof - in particular in the case of devices or components in the flow channel 7 requiring protection - be provided for cleaning. In the latter case, it is advisable to ionize action fluid A again in flow channel 7 before action fluid A flows into the next magnetic guide vane region 15 or rotor blade region 17.

Claims

claims

1. turbomachine (1) with a rotor (3) and a stator (5), a flow channel (7) for an action fluid (A) being formed, through which the rotor (3) can be driven, characterized by a magnet (9) for generating a predeterminable magnetic field (B) in the flow channel (7).

2. Turbomachine (1) according to claim 1, that the stator (5) has the magnet (9).

3. Fluid flow machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the magnetic field (B) is directed radially.

4. Flow machine (1) according to claim 3, so that the magnetic field (B) along the axis of rotation (11) of the rotor (3) has at least one change of sign with respect to the radial direction.

5. Turbomachine (1) according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that an axially extending magnetic guide vane region (15) with a constant sign of the magnetic field and an axially extending magnetic rotor vane region (17) with respect to the guide vane region (15) reverse sign of the magnetic field (B) is provided

6. Turbomachine (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the magnetic blade region (17) is arranged axially downstream of the magnetic guide vane region (15) in the flow direction of the action fluid (A).

7. turbomachine (1) according to claim 5 or 6, that a number of magnetic guide vane regions (15) and rotor vane regions (17) are arranged alternately along the axis of rotation (11).

8. Fluid flow machine (1) according to claim 5, 6 or 7, so that the spatial stator (5) has a radially inwardly extending circumferential ring (29A) for spatial limitation of the magnetic field (B) in the magnetic guide vane region (15).

9. Turbomachine (1) according to claim 5, 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that to limit the magnetic field (B) in the magnetic guide vane region (15), the magnetic guide vane region (15) has a radially inwardly extending projection (19) of the Stator (5) comprises.

10. turbomachine (1) according to claim 9, so that a plurality of projections (19) extending radially inward are arranged over the full circumference of the stator (5).

11. turbomachine (1) according to one of claims 5 to 10, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the spatial limitation of the magnetic field (B) in the magnetic blade area (17) of the rotor (3) has a radially outwardly extending circumferential ring (29B).

12. Turbomachine (1) according to one of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that to limit the magnetic field (B) in the magnetic blade area (17) of the magnetic blade area (17) a radially outwardly extending projection (21) of the rotor (3) includes.

13. Turbomachine (1) according to claim 12, so that several radially outwardly extending projections (21) are arranged over the full circumference of the rotor (3).

14. Fluid machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, g e k e n n z e i c h n e t d u r c h an ionization device (23) for generating charged particles (25) in the action fluid (A).

15. Fluid machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, g e k e n n z e i c h n e t d u r c h a recombination device (31) for recombining charged particles (25) in the action fluid (A).

16. A method for operating a turbomachine (1) with a rotor (3) and a stator (5) and a flow channel (7), in which an ion-containing action fluid (A) flows through the flow channel (7) and in the flow channel (7) a defined magnetic field (B) is generated, ions (27) being deflected in the magnetic field (B).

17. The method according to claim 16, so that the rotor (3) is set in rotation due to the deflection of ions (27) due to the interaction with the magnetic field (B) due to the interaction with the magnetic field (B).

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that a radial magnetic field (B) acting on the ions (27) is generated in the flow channel in such a way that the tangential velocity component (v) of the ion-containing action fluid when flowing through the flow channel (7) (A) is specifically influenced.

19. The method according to claim 16, 17 or 18, so that a radial magnetic field (B), which alternates along the flow direction of the ion-containing action fluid (A), is generated in the flow channel (7).

20. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, that the magnetic field (B) is regulated in time and / or in space, in accordance with one of the claims.

21. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 20, that the action fluid (A) containing ions is formed by ionizing particles in the action fluid (A) before flowing through the flow channel (7).

22. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 21, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that ions

(27) by ionization of particles in the action fluid (A) while flowing through the flow channel (7).

23. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 22, so that ions (27) are formed by impact ionization

24. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 23, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that ions

(27) are formed by radiation ionization.

25. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 24, characterized in that the action fluid (A) is cleaned of harmful substances in a recombination process and / or a catalytic process.

26. The method according to claim 25, that the cleaning is carried out during and / or after flowing through the flow channel (7).