System and method for power production using a hybrid helical detonation device

Abstract

The system and method described herein uses a hybrid pulsed detonation engine (PDE) system to drive a turbine that powers an electric generator. The combustion chamber of the PDE is shaped in a helical form, so that the external length of the section is reduced, while maintaining the distance for acceleration to detonation. This allows the achievement of deflagration to detonation transition without the help of turbulence enhancing obstacles, while keeping the overall size of the detonation tube small. The PDE output can be scaled by: increasing the cross sectional area of the detonation chamber; increasing the number of detonation tubes; and increasing the frequency of operation of the PDE. The replacement of conventional deflagrative internal combustion engines, including gas turbines and reciprocating engines, with pulsed detonation engines for electric power generation, may provide fuel savings and have a lower environmental impact.

1 . An electric power generating system comprising:
 a pulsed detonation engine comprising a hybrid helical detonation tube, which receives fuel and air and provides combustion exhaust;   a turbine stage which receives the exhaust and provides rotational energy; and   a generator which receives torque from the turbine and generates electric power.   
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , where in
 the pulsed detonation engine comprises at least two hybrid helical detonation tubes.   
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a plenum which combines the combustion exhaust from the at least two hybrid helical detonation tubes before feeding the exhaust to a turbine stage.   
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least two turbine stages, each subsequent stage driven by an exhaust from a previous stage.   
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a single stage axial fan which is driven by one of the at least two turbine stages.   
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the turbine stage comprises an axial turbine.   
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein,
 each turbine stage drives a generator which produces electric power.   
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the axial turbine has two or more sections, each section having two or more stages.   
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a gearing and transmission system to transfer torque from a first turbine section to a compressor, and to transfer torque from a second turbine section to a generator.   
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a single stage axial fan, which supplies air to cool the at least two hybrid helical detonation tubes.   
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the single stage axial fan supplies air for combustion within the hybrid helical detonation tube.   
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a diameter of the hybrid helical detonation tube is larger than a cell-size of a received fuel and air mixture, thereby increasing the combustion exhaust, thrust, of the pulse detonation engine.   
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the received fuel is gaseous, liquid, or derived from a solid fuel by gasification.   
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fuel consists of any of propane, methane, natural gas, acetylene, kerosene, and diesel.   
   
   
       15 . A method of generating electric power, the method comprising:
 injecting fuel and air into a pulse detonation engine stage;   combusting the fuel and air in at least one hybrid helical detonation tube of the pulse detonation engine stage and outputting the exhaust to a turbine stage;   converting the combustion exhaust to torque in the turbine stage;   driving a generator stage using the torque from the turbine stage; and   outputting electric power from the generator stage.   
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , the method further comprising:
 diverting heat generated from the at least one hybrid detonation tubes to a fuel cell.   
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 15 , the method further comprising:
 diverting heat generated from the at least one hybrid detonation tubes to a steam generator system.   
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 15 , the method further comprising:
 scaling the electric power output by varying a number of the at least one hybrid helical detonation tubes that is used for combustion.   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 15 , the method further comprising:
 scaling the electric power output by varying a combustion frequency in the at least one helical detonation tubes.   
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 15 , the method further comprising:
 a method of operating the pulsed detonation engine comprising:
 filling a hybrid helical detonation tube with fuel and air during a filling phase; 
 detonation during a detonating phase, wherein a detonation wave traverses the length of a hybrid helical detonation tube; 
 exhausting high pressure gas during a blow down phase, wherein the high pressure gas is exhausted creating thrust; and 
 purging the hybrid helical detonation tube with air before a next filling phase. 
   
   
   
       21 . The system according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 transducers in the pulse detonation engine, the plenum, and the turbine stages providing active measurement of system parameters and enabling control of the system in consideration of the active measurement.   
   
   
       21 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a fuel injection system comprising electric solenoid injectors, which are compatible with digital computerized control, enabling frequency and volume of fuel injected adjustment.   
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 utilizing computerized valve controls to determine a number of the at least one hybrid helical detonation tubes that are active;   adjusting the number of the at least one hybrid helical detonation tubes that are active in response to power demands; and   taking any of the at least at least one hybrid helical detonation tubes offline as needed for maintenance, all while maintaining operation of the pulse detonation engine.