Bladeless turbines: a geothermal prime-mover and re-injection pump
The success of economically converting geothermal energy depends upon the solution to the problem of handling a two-phase effluent of steam and hot brine for recovery of energy. The effluents contain high percentages of superheated water and dissolved solids. More costly closed or binary cycle systems that utilize some form of heat exchange system with attendant penalties in system efficiency and deposition problems are necessary. The new bladeless turbine developed by U. S. Federal Engineering and Manufucturing, Inc., of San Diego discards conventional impulse and reaction design principles in favor of boundary layer drag'' to accomplish the energy conversion from steam, or hot brine, to rotating shaft power without any impingement''. The hot steam and liquid are brought into the turbine case by suitable peripheral nozzles at a tangent to a number of flat discs that are fixed on a rotating shaft. The hot effluent with a high kinetic energy is directed inwardly with a helical path until discharged through holes in the discs located near the shaft. (MOW)
- Research Organization:
- Federal Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc., San Diego, CA
- NSA Number:
- NSA-29-015034
- OSTI ID:
- 4352145
- Journal Information:
- Geotherm. Energy Mag., v. 1, no. 1, pp. 20-21, Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-74
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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