A tapering exponential spiral for a gas expander for work extraction or air cooling. A gas compressor to increase the pressure and temperature of air. The compressor-expander forms a single and simple structure. A generator with a disk format using a circle of alternating polarity magnets to induce current in polygon solenoids. A heat turbine, Firefly Electric, is small, simple, and efficient heat engine. A heat pump, Firefly Air, for cooling, refrigeration, water capture, and heating. Solar power can be generated and stored as compress air. A water purifier, Firefly Aqua, to desalinate water by solar power. Sunlight is concentrated by a sun tracking conic reflective surface onto a column of salty water. Solar photovoltaic power can be used to power a spiral compressor to condense low pressure steam. Also, we reuse solar heat by extracting the heat of compressing and condensing steam for evaporating more salty water under reduced pressure.

An electricity generating system is disclosed. The system includes one or more rotary arms extending from a central hub, a tube or blade with an air passage therein extending from each of the one or more rotary arms, a set of rotary blades operably connected to the tube or blade, an axle or shaft joined or fixed to the central hub, and a generator operably connected to the axle or shaft. The air passage has one or more air inlets at or near an end of the tube or blade connected or joined to a corresponding rotary arm. The set of rotary blades is configured to provide a force that rotates the tube or blade. The axle or shaft is configured to rotate with the central hub. The generator is configured to convert a torque from the axle or shaft to electricity.

A rotary detonation rocket engine generator system can include an axial drive shaft operably coupleable to an electrical generator. At least one support arm is radially coupled to the axial drive shaft and has corresponding rotary detonation rocket engines. An air-fuel mixing chamber receives ambient air and fuel to form an air-fuel mixture and deliver the air-fuel mixture to an annular combustion chamber. At least one pulse detonation combustion chamber is in fluid communication with the annular combustion chamber to receive an oxidizer and fuel to form an oxidizer-fuel mixture. The at least one pulse detonation combustion chamber creates a detonation wave that travels along the at least one pulse detonation chamber to the annular combustion chamber and ignites the air-fuel mixture as the detonation wave travels around the annular combustion chamber to generate thrust force that causes rotation of the axial drive shaft to drive the electrical generator.

A first turboexpander generator is configured to decrease a temperature or pressure of a process stream flowing through the first turboexpander generator by generating electrical power from the process stream. A second turboexpander generator is configured to decrease a temperature or pressure of a process stream flowing through the second turboexpander generator by generating electrical power from the process stream. The second turboexpander generator is downstream of and receives a flow output from the first turboexpander generator. The first turboexpander generator and the second turboexpander generator each include the following features. An electric stator surrounds an electric rotor. An annulus defined by the electric rotor and the electric stator is configured to receive a process fluid flow. Magnetic bearings carry the rotor within the stator. A housing encloses the rotor and stator. The housing is hermetically sealed between an inlet and an outlet of each turboexpander generator.

A first turboexpander generator is configured to decrease a temperature or pressure of a process stream flowing through the first turboexpander generator by generating electrical power from the process stream. A second turboexpander generator is configured to decrease a temperature or pressure of a process stream flowing through the second turboexpander generator by generating electrical power from the process stream. The second turboexpander generator is downstream of and receives a flow output from the first turboexpander generator. The first turboexpander generator and the second turboexpander generator each include the following features. An electric stator surrounds an electric rotor. An annulus defined by the electric rotor and the electric stator is configured to receive a process fluid flow. Magnetic bearings carry the rotor within the stator. A housing encloses the rotor and stator. The housing is hermetically sealed between an inlet and an outlet of each turboexpander generator.

A pneumatic device includes an outer ring (1) and a core body (3), at least one stage of secondary stroke flow channel (300) being provided between a nozzle (301) and an exhaust port (302) which are located at an outer ring surface of the core body (3); gas enters from an intake passage (31), is ejected in stages through the nozzle (301) and the secondary stroke flow channel (300) of the core body (3), acts on at least two driving recesses (11) in a circumferential direction of the outer ring (1), and generates a pushing force for the driving recesses (11) to push the outer ring (1) to rotate and do work, so as to achieve a power output, and finally, the gas is discharged from an exhaust passage (310) through the exhaust port (302) of the core body (3).

A fluidic actuator is configured to be mounted to an airfoil surface. The actuator includes a rotor supported within a housing. The rotor contains at least one generally radially extending nozzle that converges from an entry at an interior circumference of the rotor to an exit at an exterior circumference thereof, the converging shape of the nozzle assuring high velocity airflow at the nozzle exit. In one form, each nozzle also includes a curved path by which high-pressure air is enabled to induce spinning of the rotor. The fluidic actuator further includes a diffuser through which high-pressure air from the nozzles is cyclically ejected from those of the nozzles instantaneously exposed to the diffuser. In one form, the rotor spins at 300 revolutions per second and provides nozzle ejections effective to avoid boundary layer separation; i.e. to maintain an attached boundary layer flow over the airfoil.

A fluidic actuator is configured to be mounted to an airfoil surface. The actuator includes a rotor supported within a housing. The rotor contains at least one generally radially extending nozzle that converges from an entry at an interior circumference of the rotor to an exit at an exterior circumference thereof, the converging shape of the nozzle assuring high velocity airflow at the nozzle exit. In one form, each nozzle also includes a curved path by which high-pressure air is enabled to induce spinning of the rotor. The fluidic actuator further includes a diffuser through which high-pressure air from the nozzles is cyclically ejected from those of the nozzles instantaneously exposed to the diffuser. In one form, the rotor spins at 300 revolutions per second and provides nozzle ejections effective to avoid boundary layer separation; i.e. to maintain an attached boundary layer flow over the airfoil.

A turbine bucket according to embodiments includes: a base; a blade coupled to base and extending radially outward from base, blade including: a body having: a pressure side; a suction side opposing pressure side; a leading edge between pressure side and suction side; and a trailing edge between pressure side and suction side on a side opposing leading edge; and a plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within body; and a shroud coupled to blade radially outboard of blade, shroud including: a plurality of radially extending outlet passageways fluidly connected with a first set of the plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within body; and an outlet path extending at least partially circumferentially through shroud and fluidly connected with all of a second, distinct set of the plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within body.

A turbine bucket according to embodiments includes: a base; a blade coupled to base and extending radially outward from base, blade including: a body having: a pressure side; a suction side opposing pressure side; a leading edge between pressure side and suction side; and a trailing edge between pressure side and suction side on a side opposing leading edge; and a plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within body; and a shroud coupled to blade radially outboard of blade, shroud including: a plurality of radially extending outlet passageways fluidly connected with a first set of the plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within body; and an outlet path extending at least partially circumferentially through shroud and fluidly connected with all of a second, distinct set of the plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within body.