US4301375A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Turbo-generator unit and system
Assignee: Sea Solar Power Inc
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Filing: 1980-01-02
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Granted: 1981-11-17
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Expires: 2000-01-02
Abstract
Abstract An improved turbo-generator unit for a sea power plant having a wall separating the sea from a space at atmospheric pressure has the turbine submerged in the sea on one side of the wall, the generator in the atmospheric space and a common shaft sealingly extending through the wall. The turbine motive fluid is a halocarbon vapor while the generator is cooled with a halocarbon refrigerant having a closed circuit which includes a fluid-tight generator housing.
Inventors
- 👤 J. H. Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:31
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03G; F03G7/00; F03G7/04; F03G7/05; H; H02; H02K; H02K7/00; H02K7/18; H02K7/1807; H02K7/1823; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A turbo-generator unit for use in a sea thermal power plant having a wall separating the sea from an atmospheric space at a pressure lower than that of the sea at the depth at which said unit is located, comprising: electrical generator means including housing means adapted to be located in the atmospheric space; turbine means including a scroll and a wheel adapted to be located in the sea water; a shaft common to said generator means and said turbine means; two radial bearing means for said shaft, one between said generator means and said turbine means; and supporting means for said one bearing means comprising a part of said housing means and adapted to be detachably mounted to the wall and to close and seal an opening therein larger than said wheel, whereby said generator means and said wheel can be installed in and removed from the atmospheric space as a unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A turbo-generator unit for use in a sea thermal power plant having a wall separating the sea from an atmospheric space at a pressure lower than that of the sea at the depth at which said unit is located, comprising: electrical generator means including housing means adapted to be located in the atmospheric space; turbine means including a scroll and a wheel adapted to be located in the sea water; a shaft common to said generator means and said turbine means; two radial bearing means for said shaft, one between said generator means and said turbine means; and supporting means for said one bearing means comprising a part of said housing means and adapted to be detachably mounted to the wall and to close and seal an opening therein larger than said wheel, whereby said generator means and said wheel can be installed in and removed from the atmospheric space as a unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The unit defined in claim 1 including thrust bearing means adjacent the other radial bearing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The unit defined in claim 1 wherein the housing means is fluid-tight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The unit defined in claim 3 including refrigerant means for cooling the generator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The unit defined in claim 4 including a refrigerant circuit comprising in series a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and the housing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The unit defined in claim 4 in which the refrigerant is a halocarbon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The unit defined in claim 6 in which the refrigerant is R-11.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
In a sea thermal power plant the combination comprising: a turbo-generator unit located beneath the surface of the sea; and a motive fluid circuit for the turbine means of said unit including: boiler means located in the sea below said unit; and condenser means located in the sea above said unit for gravity flow of condensed liquified vapor to the boiler means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
In a sea thermal power plant the combination comprising: a turbo-generator unit located beneath the surface of the sea; and a motive fluid circuit for the turbine means of said unit including: boiler means located in the sea below said unit; and condenser means located in the sea above said unit for gravity flow of condensed liquified vapor to the boiler means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination defined in claim 8 in which the motive fluid is a halocarbon vapor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination defined in claim 9 in which the motive fluid is R-22.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination defined in claim 8 including: a wall separating the sea from a space at atmospheric pressure; and wherein the turbine means of the unit is submerged in the sea on one side of said wall, and the generator means of the unit is located in the space on the other side of said wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination defined in claim 11 including refrigerant means for cooling the generator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a turbo-generator unit, the combination comprising: turbine means; a motive fluid circuit for said turbine means; an electrical generator of one of the synchronous and induction types having a rotor driven by said turbine means and a stator enclosed in a fluid-tight housing; and means for cooling said generator including a refrigerant circuit separate from and independent of said motive fluid circuit comprising in series a compressor, a condensor, an expansion valve and said housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a turbo-generator unit, the combination comprising: turbine means; a motive fluid circuit for said turbine means; an electrical generator of one of the synchronous and induction types having a rotor driven by said turbine means and a stator enclosed in a fluid-tight housing; and means for cooling said generator including a refrigerant circuit separate from and independent of said motive fluid circuit comprising in series a compressor, a condensor, an expansion valve and said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination defined in claim 13 in which the refrigerant is a halocarbon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination defined in claim 14 in which the refrigerant is a low pressure, low density halocarbon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination defined in claim 15 in which the refrigerant is R-11.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a sea thermal power plant, the combination comprising: a wall separating the sea from a space at atmospheric pressure; a turbo-generator unit having turbine means submerged in the sea on one side of said wall, electrical generator means located in the space on the other side of said wall, and a common shaft sealingly extending through said wall.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a sea thermal power plant, the combination comprising: a wall separating the sea from a space at atmospheric pressure; a turbo-generator unit having turbine means submerged in the sea on one side of said wall, electrical generator means located in the space on the other side of said wall, and a common shaft sealingly extending through said wall.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination defined in claim 17 including: two radial bearing means for the shaft, one between the generator means and the turbine means; and a support for said one bearing means mounted in the wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-11-16 | 1985-05-18 | 1985-11-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-11-16 | 1989-05-18 | 1989-11-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-11-16 | 1993-05-18 | 1993-11-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |