Fuel energy conversion
Fuel energy conversion
Keywords: Steam turbines, Rocket motors
Inventors: Bernard Ennis (USA), Anthony Cirrito (USA)Patent number: US5938975Publication date: 17 August 1999Title:Method and apparatus for total energy fuel conversion systems
The invention describes a process of producing power comprising: providing a turbine adapted to generate shaft work, said turbine having a combustor; and a rocket engine having a nozzle and a compressor means; feeding fuel and oxidant to the rocket engine and the rocket engine compressor means; feeding carbonaceous matter and steam into the rocket engine nozzle; processing the output of the rocket engine nozzle into fuel for the turbine; introducing said fuel and oxidant for the turbine to the turbine combustor; and recycling a substantial portion of the hot exhaust from the turbine to the rocket engine compressor means; and controlling the inlet temperature to the turbine. Apparatus for producing power comprising a rocket engine and a turbine adapted to generate shaft work is also disclosed. An alternative process comprises providing a steam turbine adapted to generate shaft work; and a rocket engine having a nozzle and a rocket engine compressor means; feeding fuel and oxidant to the rocket engine; feeding carbonaceous matter and water, steam or water-steam mixture to the rocket engine nozzle; processing the output of the rocket engine nozzle into fuel for a boiler and a heat source for a second rocket engine; boiling water in said boiler to produce water vapour; using the resultant water vapour to power said steam turbine. Transforming the output of the second rocket engine into a fuel product is also disclosed.
