Heat regenerative mini-turbine generator

Abstract

A compact, lightweight steam turbine is connected to a central shaft that drives a high pressure pump, a high efficiency generator and a blower. An igniter burns fuel exiting a fuel injector to generate heat in a cyclone combustion chamber. Water pumped through coils is heated in the combustion chamber to produce steam energy to drive the turbine. Exhaust steam is directed through a centrifugal condenser having an arrangement of flat plates to condense the steam to a liquid state. The turbine drives the generator at a high rpm, through the connected shaft, to generate electric power.

1 . A generator for producing electric power comprising:
 a combustion chamber;   a fuel burner for burning fuel to generate heat in said combustion chamber and including a fuel injector communicating with said combustion chamber and an igniter for burning fuel exiting said fuel injector;   a blower for directing air flow into said combustion chamber to promote burning of the fuel and for circulating the heat from the burning fuel through said combustion chamber;   at least one steam tube coil in said combustion chamber;   at least one steam ejection nozzle connected to said at least one steam tube coil;   a water pump for pumping water from a collection reservoir through said at least one steam tube coil, wherein the water is heated by the heat in said combustion chamber to produce steam for release from said at least one steam ejection nozzle;   a steam driven turbine;   said at least one steam ejection nozzle being structured and disposed to direct a flow of pressurized steam into said turbine to cause driven rotation of said turbine;   a central shaft connected to said turbine and rotatable with said turbine;   an alternator driven by rotation of said central shaft for generating electric current;   a condenser for condensing exhaust steam exiting said turbine to produce liquid condensate, and said condenser being structured to direct the liquid condensate into the collection reservoir; and   an electric power output connected to said alternator.   
   
   
       2 . The generator as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of said steam tube coils in said combustion chamber; and   a plurality of said steam ejection nozzles, with each of said plurality of steam ejection nozzles connected to a respective one of said plurality of steam tube coils, and said plurality of steam ejection nozzles being structured, disposed and arranged to direct the flow of pressurized steam into said turbine to cause driven rotation of said turbine.   
   
   
       3 . The generator as recited in  claim 1  wherein said combustion chamber surrounds said at least one steam tube coil. 
   
   
       4 . The generator as recited in  claim 2  wherein said combustion chamber is structured and disposed to surround said plurality of steam tube coils. 
   
   
       5 . The generator as recited in  claim 1  wherein said water pump is driven by rotation of said central shaft. 
   
   
       6 . The generator as recited in  claim 1  wherein said blower is driven by rotation of said central shaft. 
   
   
       7 . The generator as recited in  claim 1  wherein said blower is structured and disposed for directing the air flow around said condenser for cooling the exhaust steam. 
   
   
       8 . The generator as recited in  claim 1  wherein said electric power output includes a voltage regulator. 
   
   
       9 . The generator as recited in  claim 8  wherein said electric power output includes at least one pair of connection terminals. 
   
   
       10 . The generator as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a fuel tank for holding a supply of fuel; and   a fuel pump for directing fuel from said fuel tank to said fuel burner.   
   
   
       11 . A generator for producing electric power comprising:
 a combustion chamber;   a fuel burner connected to a fuel supply, and said fuel burner being structured for burning fuel to generate heat in said combustion chamber;   a blower for directing air flow into said combustion chamber to promote burning of the fuel and for circulating the heat from the burning fuel through said combustion chamber;   at least one steam tube coil in said combustion chamber;   at least one steam ejection nozzle connected to said at least one steam tube coil;   a water pump for pumping water from a collection reservoir through said at least one steam tube coil, wherein the water is heated by the heat in said combustion chamber to produce steam for release from said at least one steam ejection nozzle;   a steam driven turbine;   said at least one steam ejection nozzle being structured and disposed to direct a flow of pressurized steam into said turbine to cause driven rotation of said turbine;   a central shaft connected to said turbine and rotatable with said turbine;   an alternator driven by rotation of said central shaft for generating electric current;   a condenser for condensing exhaust steam exiting said turbine to produce liquid condensate, and said condenser being structured to direct the liquid condensate into the collection reservoir; and   an electric power output connected to said alternator.   
   
   
       12 . The generator as recited in  claim 11  further comprising:
 a plurality of steam tube coils in said combustion chamber; and   a plurality of said steam ejection nozzles, with each of said plurality of steam ejection nozzles connected to a respective one of said plurality of steam tube coils, and said plurality of steam ejection nozzles being structured, disposed and arranged to direct the flow of pressurized steam into said turbine to cause driven rotation of said turbine.   
   
   
       13 . The generator as recited in  claim 11  wherein said combustion chamber surrounds said at least one steam tube coil. 
   
   
       14 . The generator as recited in  claim 12  wherein said combustion chamber is structured and disposed to surround said plurality of steam tube coils. 
   
   
       15 . The generator as recited in  claim 11  wherein said water pump is driven by rotation of said central shaft. 
   
   
       16 . The generator as recited in  claim 11  wherein said blower is driven by rotation of said central shaft. 
   
   
       17 . The generator as recited in  claim 11  wherein said blower is structured and disposed for directing the air flow around said condenser for cooling the exhaust steam. 
   
   
       18 . The generator as recited in  claim 11  wherein said electric power output includes a voltage regulator. 
   
   
       19 . The generator as recited in  claim 18  wherein said electric power output includes at least one pair of connection terminals. 
   
   
       20 . The generator as recited in  claim 11  further comprising:
 a fuel tank for holding the supply of fuel; and   a fuel pump for directing fuel from said fuel tank to said fuel burner.