GB851940A - Improvements in or relating to power plant including a closed cycle gas turbine engine - Google Patents

Abstract

851,940. Gas turbine plant. ROLLS-ROYCE Ltd. Nov. 14,1958 [Dec. 24, 1957], No. 40016/57. Class 110 (3). A closed cycle gas turbine plant having an accumulator 18 which is charged with working gas bled off for the cycle and from which gas is fed back to the cycle, comprises an aerodynamic compressor connected in an auxiliary closed cycle with a fluid-operated machine, a controllable bleed for varying delivery of gas from the outlet of the main cycle compressor to the inlet of the aerodynamic compressor and a one-way bleed connection from the outlet of the aerodynamic compressor to the accumulator. The main cycle 10 comprises an axial flow compressor 11 delivering through a preheater 12 and a main heater 13, which may be a nuclear reactor, to a compressor-driving turbine 14 and a power turbine 15 in series, the exhaust returning to the compressor inlet through the preheater 12 and a water-cooled pre-cooler 17. The auxiliary closed cycle 21 comprises an axial flow or centrifugal aerodynamic compressor 22 which delivers by a conduit 25 to the fluid-operated machine, which is shown as a turbine 26 connected by a shaft to the aerodynamic compressor, the exhaust from the turbine returning to the compressor by way of a water-cooled precooler 28. The compressor 22 is also driven by a shaft connecting it to the compressor 11 by way of clutches and gear-boxes 33 and 34, an additional load 32 in the form of an auxiliary generator being interposed. The inlet of the compressor 22 is connected to the main cycle 10 by a conduit 29, the rate of flow of the gases from the cycle 10 being controlled by a valve 30. The delivery of compressor 22 is connected with the accumulator 18 by a conduit 38 which includes a non-return valve 39. The accumulator 18 is connected with the inlet of the compressor 11 by a conduit 19 which includes a valve 20. The valves 20 and 30 are operated in opposition, one opening as the other closes, to vary the power output of the plant. In one modification of this drive, this generator is dispensed with, in another (Fig. 3, not shown) the additional drive to the compressor 22 is obtained from an electric motor. In a further modification, no additional drive is provided, a heater being then provided in the conduit 25 between the outlet of the compressor 22 and the turbine 26. The working fluid of the cycles may be helium.