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Electrodynamic Controls For Reduced Leakage and Increased Efficiency in Turbines

IP Title

Electrodynamic Control of Turbine Blade Clearance Leakage Loss in Turbomachinery Applications

Detailed Technology Description

None

Application Date

Dec 11, 2009

Application No.

9,347,331

Others

*Abstract

Invention

The University of Florida is seeking companies interested in commercializing a new way to stop leaks from turbine engines, a common problem that saps engine efficiency. A wide variety of industries, ranging from aircraft to energy production, use turbine engines. In these engines, flowing fluid or gas powers a turbine that rotates inside a casing. The fluid or gas can leak out the gap between the tip of each turbine blade and the casing around the turbine. The amount of leaking fluid or gas depends on the size of the gap. Controlling these leaks could improve overall efficiency tremendously: Efficiency loss at the tip of each blade accounts for between 20 and 45 percent of the engine’s total efficiency loss. Reduced efficiency also means the engine needs more cooling air, which pollutes the atmosphere with more carbon dioxide emissions. A University of Florida researcher has developed a system that not only controls leaks but does so with electric fields, which does not inflict the wear and tear on the engine like current mechanical systems.

Application

More efficient turbine engines for use in industries including but not limited to aviation and power generation

Advantages

• Employs a non-mechanical system of controlling leaks, avoiding wear and tear on turbine
• Increases efficiency of engine, cutting energy costs
• Requires less cooling air, reducing carbon-dioxide emissions to the environment

Technology

The new method of controlling leaks would use electrodes at the tip of each blade to create electromagnetic fields that push back the fluid or gas that would otherwise leak out. The system might also use magnets, or multiple electrodes. It can control leaks of any gas or liquid that can be ionized. The power to the leak-control system can be adjusted based on the size of the gap between the tip of the turbine blade and the casing around the turbine. Using lower power for smaller gaps would save still more energy. The leak-control system already achieves a huge energy savings: the more efficient engines require less cooling air, which also results in less carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere.

*IP Issue Date

May 24, 2016

*IP Publication Date

Jul 22, 2010

*Principal Investigator

Name: Subrata Roy

Department:

Country/Region

USA