GB647089A - Improvements in elastic fluid power plants - Google Patents

Abstract

647,089. Elastic-fluid power plants. AKTIEBOLAGET LJUNGSTROMS ANGTURBIN. March 18, 1948, No. 8067. Convention date, May 22, 1947. [Classes 110(ii) and 110(iii)] In a plant comprising one or more powergiving engines of the positive-displacement type and a separate compressor-driving engine, the conduits supplying both, or all engines with working-fluid are in open communication so that the decreasing speed of the power-giving engines allows an increase in supply of fluid to the compressor-driving engine to increase the torque developed by the power engine. In Fig. 1 the power-giving engine 14 and the compressor engine 12 are of the meshing screw types such as described in Specification 645,848. Fluid, usually air, is taken through an inlet 18, compressed into a chamber 28 and forced through cooling channels in the engine rotor from ducts 32, 52. The air thus heated passes through pipes 30, 36 to a combustion chamber 16, with a liquid or gaseous fuel supply 38, the combustion gases flowing through pipes 40, 42 to the screw engines 12, 14 respectively. Exhaust gases from ports 58, 60 may pass to atmosphere or to a regenerator. As the engine 14 slows down under heavy load on its shaft 50, the gas flow through the pipe 42 is decreased and that through the pipe 40 increased to increase the speed of the engine 12 and thus increase the flow of air through the compressor 10. The compressor may be of any type and the engine 12 need not be of the displacement type but may be a gas turbine. Fig. 4 shows another arrangement having a gas turbine 66 driving a compressor 10 and two combustion chambers 68, 70 with a common supply 74 of compressed air. Air is taken in at 18, compressed and delivered through a pipe 72 leading to the cooling system of the power engine 14. Combustion gases flow through pipes 80, 82 to the turbine 66 and engine 14. Exhaust ports 84, 58 are provided, leading to atmosphere or to regenerators. Part of the compressed air may byepass the cooling systems and pass directly to the combustion chamber as by way of a pipe 86 with valve 88. The plant may be used for traction purposes, oil-well drilling, power shovels and the like where a large starting torque in wanted. Compressed air may be mixed with working fluid on its way to a turbine or engine.