Patent ID: 11530644

Abstract:
An Ericsson cycle turbine engine. The Ericsson cycle turbine may comprise: a centrifugal gas compressor, shaft, at least one heat exchanger, and a reaction turbine. The centrifugal gas compressor may function as a spinning wheel trompe and may be fed with a gas-liquid mixture. The centrifugal gas compressor may separate a gas from the gas-liquid mixture and compress that gas via centrifugal acceleration. The shaft may couple to the downstream end of the centrifugal gas compressor and may have an annular space to permit the compressed gas to travel therein. The heat exchanger may introduce heat to the compressed gas, such that isothermal expansion is approached. The reaction turbine may couple to the downstream end of the shaft and may rotate the shaft when releasing the compressed gas against a plurality of vanes. The liquid may be mercury, oil, or water. The gas may be helium, air, argon, or ammonia.