Double-ended ceramic helical-rotor expander

Patent · 01 January 1995

OSTI ID:869762

Mohr, Peter B ^[1]; Myers, Wendell B ^[1]

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1. Livermore, CA

A ceramic helical rotor expander using a double-ended or tandem herringbone type rotor arrangement with bearing and seal assemblies remote from the hot gas inlets and especially capable of operating at an inlet temperature of above 1100.degree. C. The rotors are solid or hollow and bonded to hollow metal shafts, and mounted in a composite or simple prismatic casing. The rotors, casing and shafts are constructed from low expansivity materials. In the preferred embodiment the rotors are constructed of silicon nitride and the shafts constructed of an molybdenum alloy, with the metal shafts being supported in bearings and secured to synchronizing gears. The rotors and casing may be provided with coolant channels therein, and are constructed to eliminate the problem of end leakages at inlet temperature and pressure, and the need for high temperature bearings and seals.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5393209
• OSTI ID: 869762
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/418/
1100
alloy
arrangement
assemblies
bearing
bearings
bonded
capable
casing
ceramic
ceramic helical
channels
channels therein
composite
constructed
coolant
coolant channel
coolant channels
degree
double-ended
eliminate
embodiment
especially
expander
expansivity
gas
gas inlet
gears
helical
helical-rotor
herringbone
hollow
hollow metal
hot
hot gas
inlet
inlet temperature
inlets
leakages
materials
metal
molybdenum
molybdenum alloy
mounted
nitride
operating
preferred
preferred embodiment
pressure
prismatic
provided
remote
rotor
rotor expander
rotors
seal
seals
secured
shafts
silicon
silicon nitride
simple
solid
supported
synchronizing
tandem
temperature
therein
type
type rotor