An aircraft power plant comprising novel air management features for high-power fuel cell applications, the features combine supercharging and turbocharging elements with air and hydrogen gas pathways, utilize novel airflow concepts and provide for much stronger integration of various fuel cell drive components.

A gas turbine engine with a rotor comprising a turbine and compressor, mounted in a housing surrounding the rotor. The rotor rotates on one or more hydro bearings, the profiles of the outer surface of the rotor and the inner surface of the housing generating the hydro bearing(s). A combustion chamber is formed within the housing, and the combustion products of the fuel/air mixture are directed from the combustion chamber to the turbine. The housing and rotor are formed by an additive manufacturing process in a single procedure, with the rotor enclosed within the housing, and unsupported by any mechanical connections. A gas turbine respiratory ventilator system is described using a compressed oxygen flow to power the turbine which rotates the centrifugal blower for generating the air flow for respiration of the patient. The oxygen exhausted from the turbine can then be used to supplement the air flow.

A gas turbine engine with a rotor comprising a turbine and compressor, mounted in a housing surrounding the rotor. The rotor rotates on one or more hydro bearings, the profiles of the outer surface of the rotor and the inner surface of the housing generating the hydro bearing(s). A combustion chamber is formed within the housing, and the combustion products of the fuel/air mixture are directed from the combustion chamber to the turbine. The housing and rotor are formed by an additive manufacturing process in a single procedure, with the rotor enclosed within the housing, and unsupported by any mechanical connections. A gas turbine respiratory ventilator system is described using a compressed oxygen flow to power the turbine which rotates the centrifugal blower for generating the air flow for respiration of the patient. The oxygen exhausted from the turbine can then be used to supplement the air flow.

An energy generation system for converting combustible fluid from a nontraditional combustible fluid source to useable energy. The energy generation system including a fluid storage system including a compressor and at least one storage tank, the compressor configured to pressurize a combustible fluid from a combustible fluid source for storage in the one or more storage tanks; and an energy recovery system configured to receive the combustible fluid from the at least one storage tank, the energy recovery system including: a turboexpander configured to depressurize the combustible fluid received from the at least one storage tank; a motor-generator configured to input the combustible fluid as depressurized by the turboexpander, and generate electrical energy from the combustible fluid; and an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system configured to generate electrical energy based on a temperature differential between the combustible fluid input to the motor-generator and a waste heat produced by the motor-generator.

An energy generation system for converting combustible fluid from a nontraditional combustible fluid source to useable energy. The energy generation system including a fluid storage system including a compressor and at least one storage tank, the compressor configured to pressurize a combustible fluid from a combustible fluid source for storage in the one or more storage tanks; and an energy recovery system configured to receive the combustible fluid from the at least one storage tank, the energy recovery system including: a turboexpander configured to depressurize the combustible fluid received from the at least one storage tank; a motor-generator configured to input the combustible fluid as depressurized by the turboexpander, and generate electrical energy from the combustible fluid; and an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system configured to generate electrical energy based on a temperature differential between the combustible fluid input to the motor-generator and a waste heat produced by the motor-generator.

A supercritical CO2 turbo-generator system includes multiple turbine generator units, a direct current bus, a plurality of active rectifiers, and a voltage controller. Each turbine generator unit includes a turbine with a supercritical CO2 input and a supercritical CO2 output, a generator with an electrical input and power output, a shaft connecting the turbine and generator, and a speed sensor for sensing shaft speed. The turbine generator units are connected in a cascading series with the input of a first turbine generator unit connected to a heated supercritical CO2 source and the input of each subsequent turbine generator unit is connected to the output of a prior turbine generator unit. The voltage controller monitors the speed sensor of the turbine generator units and varies the load on each generator to control shaft speed. Each active rectifier converts the power output of a generator to direct current, and the power from multiple active rectifiers is combined by the direct current bus.

A supercritical CO2 turbo-generator system includes multiple turbine generator units, a direct current bus, a plurality of active rectifiers, and a voltage controller. Each turbine generator unit includes a turbine with a supercritical CO2 input and a supercritical CO2 output, a generator with an electrical input and power output, a shaft connecting the turbine and generator, and a speed sensor for sensing shaft speed. The turbine generator units are connected in a cascading series with the input of a first turbine generator unit connected to a heated supercritical CO2 source and the input of each subsequent turbine generator unit is connected to the output of a prior turbine generator unit. The voltage controller monitors the speed sensor of the turbine generator units and varies the load on each generator to control shaft speed. Each active rectifier converts the power output of a generator to direct current, and the power from multiple active rectifiers is combined by the direct current bus.

The pneumatic roadway energy recovery system generates power from the weight of vehicles, pedestrians and the like traveling on a roadway surface. The pneumatic roadway energy recovery system includes a plurality of pneumatic pumps in fluid communication with one another and that are arrayed beneath a roadway surface. The pneumatic pumps are in fluid communication with a storage tank. The vehicles, pedestrians and the like traveling on the roadway surface compress the plurality of pneumatic pumps as they pass over the pumps, generating pressurized air, which is received by and stored in the storage tank. Preferably, a turbine, such as a Pelton wheel or the like, is in fluid communication with the storage tank. Selective release of the pressurized air in the storage tank drives the turbine, which, in turn, is connected to an electrical generator for generating usable electrical power.

The pneumatic roadway energy recovery system generates power from the weight of vehicles, pedestrians and the like traveling on a roadway surface. The pneumatic roadway energy recovery system includes a plurality of pneumatic pumps in fluid communication with one another and that are arrayed beneath a roadway surface. The pneumatic pumps are in fluid communication with a storage tank. The vehicles, pedestrians and the like traveling on the roadway surface compress the plurality of pneumatic pumps as they pass over the pumps, generating pressurized air, which is received by and stored in the storage tank. Preferably, a turbine, such as a Pelton wheel or the like, is in fluid communication with the storage tank. Selective release of the pressurized air in the storage tank drives the turbine, which, in turn, is connected to an electrical generator for generating usable electrical power.

An airplane is provided. The airplane includes a compressing device. The compressing device includes a turbine with a first inlet and a second inlet. The turbine provides energy by expanding mediums. The first inlet is configured to receive a first medium of the mediums. The second inlet is configured to receive a second medium of the mediums. The compressing device includes a compressor and a motor. The compressor receives a first energy derived from the first and second mediums being expanded across the turbine during a first mode of the compressing device, receives a second energy derived from the first medium being expanded across the turbine during a second mode of the compressing device, and compresses the second medium in accordance with the first mode or the second mode. The motor provides a supplementary energy to the compressor