Patent GB-904966-A (GB)
Abstract: 904,966. Elastic-fluid turbines; powergenerating systems. BABCOCK & WILCOX Ltd. June 26, 1961 [June 25, 1960; Aug. 6, 1960], No. 23117/61. Classes 110 (3) and 122 (3). [Also in Group XXXIII] A prime mover comprises a closed container part of which affords a liquid space and another part of which affords a vapour space, the container being supported for rotation about an axis, means being provided for collecting vapour produced by heating the liquid in the liquid space and discharging it in the form of one or more jets into the vapour space, the or each jet being so disposed as to produce rotation of the container about the axis, and further means being provided for returning vapour condensed in the vapour space back to the liquid space. In Fig. 1 the container 10 is mounted by means of stub shafts 11, 11A in bearings 12, 12A for rotation about a vertical axis. The container is provided with fins 10a and the lower portion of the container is disposed in a stream of heating fluid which flows as indicated by arrows A, while the upper portion of the container is disposed in a stream of cooling fluid which flows as indicated by arrows B, the two streams being separated by a thermally insulating partition 14 on which is mounted a bearing 13 which supports the weight of the container. A funnel shaped partition 20, 23 is disposed within the container and provides a liquid space 21 and a vapour space 22. A drum 26 is disposed in the upper portion of the container and is connected to the funnel portion 20 by means of conduits 25. Tangentially-directed slot-like nozzles 27, 28 are provided in the wall of the drum 26. A quantity of liquid such as water is contained within the liquid space 21 of the container. In operation, steam is generated in the lower part of the container and flows through conduits 25 into the drum 26 discharging therefrom through the nozzles 27, 28 so causing the container to be rotated. The steam issuing into the space 22 is condensed by the flow of cooling fluid B and the condensate returns to the space 21 through the funnel 20, 23, the flow being assisted by means of a helical vane 24 disposed within the funnel portion 23. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the lower portion of the container is shaped to provide an annular water space 31 into which extends a frusto-conical flange 38, 33. Steam generated in the water space passes through conduits 34, 35 and discharges through tangentially directed nozzles 36, 37 into the steam space where it is condensed by the cooling fluid stream B then returned to the water space. In a further embodiment, Fig. 7, a fixed cylindrical casing 101 is provided, the casing having an inlet 102 and outlet 103 for passage of heating fluid A, and air inlet 106 and outlet 107 for passage of cooling fluid B. A hollow rotor 111 is supported within the casing 101 by means of bearings 116, 117, transverse partitions 118, 119 being disposed between the rotor 111 and the casing 101 so as to separate the cooling fluid and the heating fluid, the cooling fluid entering at 106 passing through openings 121 into the rotor 111 and discharging therefrom through outlets 122 and 107. A series of hollow ring members 123 is disposed within the heating fluid space A between the casing 101 and the rotor 111 and a series of hollow ring members 124 is disposed within the cooling fluid space B within the rotor, the ring members 123, 124 lying in the same plane being interconnected by a series of ducts 125 which extend towards the outer part of the ring member 123. A steam tube 126 is disposed within each duct 125, each tube 126 having at its radially inner end a tangentiallydirected nozzle 127. Each ring member 123 contains a quantity of water which in operation is converted into steam, the steam passing through the pipes 126 and discharging through the nozzles 127 so effecting rotation of the rotor. The steam issuing into the ring member 124 is condensed by the flow of cooling fluid and water is returned through the ducts 125 to the water space by centrifugal force. In a further embodiment, a series of hollow members are mounted on a rotating disc, a portion of each hollow member being disposed in a stream of heating fluid below the rotary disc, and the remaining portion of each hollow member being disposed in a stream of cooling fluid above the rotary disc. Steam generated in the lower portion of each hollow member passes upwardly through a tube and discharges through a tangentially-directed nozzle' into the vapour space there being condensed by the flow of cooling fluid. In another embodiment two units similar to Fig. 1, are combined in one casing. The embodiment shown in Fig. 7 may be utilized as a jet-propulsion unit for ships, the cooling water passing through the rotor 111 and outlet 122 being utilized as a propulsion jet. Fins would be disposed on the inside surface of the rotor 111 to act as a pump.