Abstract:
The condensate of a closed cycle power plant that uses an organic working fluid for lubricating the bearings of the turbine is cooled to a temperature below the condenser temperature by an auxiliary cooler before being supplied to the bearings. This subcooling of the lubricating liquid increases its viscosity to a value which causes the minimum thickness of the lubricating film in the bearings to be increased significantly. By increasing the minimum film thickness, the filtering demands on the lubricating condensate are reduced and the surface finish of the journals and bearings is less critical permitting the journals and bearing to be finished by standard precision grinding techniques. In a specific embodiment of the invention, a cannister housing the turbine/generator is provided with a sump for collecting liquid working fluid which is delivered to the bearings through a cooler. Where the prime mover is coupled to a generator through a gear box, all of which are contained in the sealed cannister, the viscosity of the condensate may be increased to such a level that the cooled working fluid is adequate to lubricate the gear box itself.
Abstract:
A rotary system including a rotor, a rotating shaft, and a housing surrounding the shaft and the rotor, sealing between a process zone containing the rotor and a lubricant zone being provided by a seal fluid injected into the housing between the two zones at a relatively high pressure, the seal fluid having been separated from the working fluid used in the process zone.
Abstract:
A dual fluid Rankine cycle powerplant utilizes one fluid, such as water, as the working medium and another fluid, such as a glycol, ether, polyglycol ether (both alkyl and aryl) or polyphenyl as the lubricant. The lubricant is fully soluble in the working medium and has a substantially higher boiling point than the working medium. The two fluids are separated from one another prior to entering the engine by heating the mixture of the two liquids to the evaporation temperature of the working medium and then separating the vapor from the liquid lubricant. Thereafter, the vapor can be superheated to increase the thermal efficiency.
Abstract:
An apparatus for controlling the rotation of a high-speed rotating spindle supported by gas bearings, the spindle being maintained in a floating state by a gas film interposed between the periphery thereof and the peripheries of the bearings and rotated by a gas turbine coaxially mounted therewith, the bearings and the turbine being driven by a gas which is supplied from one common supply source, including means for preventing the spindle from whirling.