Rotary combustor, and electricity generator comprising such a combustor

• Main Authors: PADERI, MARZIA, ZVEZDIN, ANATOLII, INNOCENTI, GIANFRANCO, REPETTO, PIERMARIO, PERLO, PIETRO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 29.06.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; BEARINGS; BLASTING; COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION ENGINES; COMBUSTION PROCESSES; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES; ELECTRICITY; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; GENERATING COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF HIGH PRESSURE OR HIGHVELOCITY, e.g. GAS-TURBINE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS; GENERATION; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAMTURBINES; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; SHAFTS; STEAM ENGINES; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

The combustor (1) comprises a stationary structure (2) and at least one tubular annular rotor (3) able to rotate about a shaft (4) by means of contactless suspension devices (5-8), and in which is defined an annular combustion chamber (20) having a directed lateral efflux opening (21, 23) for the ejection of gases produced in the combustion. The rotor (3) has a narrow circular slit (30) through which there extend, at predetermined angular intervals, into the combustion chamber (20), stationary injectors (31) of fuel and oxidizer, and associated igniters (32), also stationary. A control unit (ECU, 35) controls the injectors (31) and the associated igniters (32) in a sequential cyclical manner, with predetermined time lags, in such a way as to generate and then sustain a detonation wave which propagates essentially continuously through the chamber (20), and bring about a rotation at controlled velocity of the rotor (3) due to the action of the gases emitted through the lateral effusion opening (21, 23).