Patent GB-288378-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to power plants
IPC: B64D27/24
Filed: 1927-01-10
Abstract: 288,378. Lasley, R. E. Jan. 10, 1927. Generating combustion products under pressure.-An explosive mixture is formed in a compressing chamber 15 and burnt in a combustion chamber 1, the products of combustion operating the motor 6, and air is supplied to the chamber 15 by a compressor 32 operated by the shaft- 7 of the motor when a certain speed is reached but operable independently of the shaft on starting, as by an electric motor 38. A second compressor 31 driven by the motor 6 forces the air for mixture with the products of combustion as they pass from the combustion chamber to the motor through a nozzle 2. A steam-generator 25 with superheating coil 22 is mounted in the combustion chamber and supplies steam to the compressing chamber 15 by nozzles 17, 18 and to the combustion products by a nozzle 46. As shown, the motor comprises a turbine having fixed and movable blades 5, 6, and on starting, a valve 55 in a fuel supply pipe 53 leading from a tank 54 is opened, allowing fuel to enter a throat 16 connecting the compressing chamber with the combustion chamber, and the electric motor 38 is started, driving through gearing 36, 37 the fan 32 to supply air through the passage 42 to the compressing chamber 15. The combustible mixture is ignited by a hot point 91 in the combustion chamber and a valve 26, being in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, causes the products of combustion to pass through the fire-tubes of the steam generator 25 before passing through the nozzle 2 and manifold 4 to the turbine. When the speed of the turbine equals that of the fan 32 a centrifugal clutch 33 operates to drive the fan 32 from the turbine shaft and switch off the electric motor 38. When the temperature of the combustion products rises above a predetermined degree a thermostat 40 acts through rods 41 to open a sleeve valve 3 surrounding the nozzle 2 permitting cold air from the fan 31 to mix with the products of combustion.' A pressure regulator 28 connected with the steam-generator 25 acts when the steam pressure reaches a certain point to move the valve 26 into the position shown in full lines so that the combustion products pass around the superheating coil 22 to the nozzle 2 and do not pass through the boiler tubes. The steam passes to a valve 21 supplying the nozzles 17, 18 and controlled through a lever 51 by a centrifugal governor 52 on the shaft 7. which also controls a valve 56 in the fuel supply pipe 53 and a valve 44 in the air passage 42. When greater speed is desired a lever 58 is forced inwardly to increase the tension upon the spring 59 of the centrifugal governor and a valve 48 may be opened to permit steam to pass to the nozzle 46 and accelerate the discharge of the combustion products. The manifold 4 decreases in sectional area to allow for the shrinkage in volume of the motive fluid due to the admixture with air. The exhaust gases from the turbine pass through a feed-water heater 64 and enter a condenser 9, passing through slots 63, Fig. 3, and condenser tubes 67 to a dome 65 in which is located a sprayer head 73. The turbine shaft 7 extends through a housing 69 in the dome 65, slots 71 in the housing providing passage for the non-condensable gases to openings 12 leading to a fan 13 on the shaft 7 exhausting the gases to a stack 14. Water of condensation from shed plates 68, 72 collects in a pan 61 and is discharged through a pipe 10 to a reservoir 11, whence it passes by a pipe 85 to a pump 79 driven from the turbine and supplying the sprayer head 73 through a pipe 81 and a second pump 75 through a pipe 82. The pump 75 supplies the water through a pipe 83 to the feed-water heater 84 and the supply of feed-water to the steam-generator 25 is regulated in accordance with the water level in the steam-generator by a thermostatic valve 86 in the feed pipe 90 operated by a rod 89. A hand pump 92 may be used for supplying water to the feedwater heater in case of emergency.