TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to electric heating systems and methods for gas turbine engines or jet engines. The systems and methods particularly relate to one or more electric heating elements within a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine or within a combustion chamber and/or within an afterburner of a jet engine. The combustion chamber and/or the afterburner may be configured to use one or more electric heating elements to produce heated gas. The gas turbine engine or the jet engine may be further configured to use heated gas to generate electrical or mechanical power.

BACKGROUND

The generation of power is fundamental to modern society. Currently, electrical power is primarily generated by electromechanical generators driven by heat engines fueled by nuclear fission or fuel combustion. Most modes of transportation are powered by engines fueled by electricity or fuel combustion. However, a major source of global warming is the use of fossil fuels in the production of electricity and in powering modes of transportation.

The majority of power plants around the world utilize fossil fuel, nuclear fission and biomass to boil water thereby creating extreme heat, steam and pressure. Fossil fuel is expensive, unsustainable and contributes to global warming. Examples of the effects of global warming can be found in Australia with the bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef, the rising of sea water and the warming of the planet. Also, the warming of the earth has led to larger and stronger hurricanes in recent years.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is methane gas that can leak into the atmosphere prior to combustion with an effect worse than carbon dioxide. Methane is a particularly potent greenhouse gas and the fracking operations utilized to extract the natural gas with hydraulic fracturing can contaminate groundwater supplies. The use of heavy fuel oil to power cruise ships and cargo vessels is both less expensive and more damaging to the environment. This type of fuel for maritime shipping adds sulfur emissions in the atmosphere, resulting in acid rain. Automobiles, trucks, buses, trains, helicopters, propeller driven airplanes and jets all contribute to global warming.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Some aspects of the present disclosure provide an improved solution to the aforementioned problems. Particularly, one or more aspects of the present disclosure include less environmentally damaging gas turbine engine or jet engine systems and methods for producing electricity and/or powering modes of transportation. In certain embodiments, the presently disclosed gas turbine engine or jet engine systems and methods utilize electric heating elements within a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine or within a combustion chamber and/or the afterburner of a jet engine to supplement or replace the heat traditionally generated by combustion of fuel. Accordingly, the presently disclosed systems and methods may operate more efficiently by producing greater amounts of electricity and power using standard levels of fuel. Alternatively, the presently disclosed systems and methods may generate standard amounts of electricity and power using lower levels of fuel or without fuel.

I. Systems of the Disclosure

Some aspects of the present disclosure are directed to electric systems for gas turbine engines or jet engines useful for generating electrical and/or mechanical power. Also disclosed are the following Embodiments 1 to 24 of the present disclosure.

Embodiment 1—A gas turbine engine, including: a combustion chamber housing including a housing wall defining a combustion chamber within the combustion chamber housing; one or more electric heating elements within the combustion chamber, wherein the one or more electric heating elements are configured to heat compressed air, a mixture of compressed air and fuel, combustion products of a mixture of compressed air and fuel, or a combination thereof, within the combustion chamber, to generate heated compressed air or heated combustion products, and wherein the combustion chamber housing is configured to generate an exhaust output based on the heated compressed air or the heated combustion products; one or more gas turbine blades in a flow path of the exhaust output generated by the combustion chamber housing, wherein the gas turbine blades are configured to spin based on the exhaust output generated by the combustion chamber housing; and a gas turbine shaft connected to the one or more gas turbine blades, wherein the gas turbine shaft is configured to rotate based on the spinning of the one or more gas turbine blades, and wherein the gas turbine shaft is configured to generate mechanical power through rotation.

Embodiment 2—The gas turbine engine system of Embodiment 1, wherein the one or more electric heating elements comprise molybdenum disilicide, silicon carbide, or a combination thereof.

Embodiment 3—The gas turbine engine system of Embodiment 1, further including an electric heating element controller coupled to the one or more heating elements, wherein the electric heating element controller is configured to adjust an amount of heat generated by the one or more electric heating elements.

Embodiment 4—The gas turbine engine system of Embodiment 1, further including: one or more power turbine blades in a flow path of the exhaust output generated by the combustion chamber housing, wherein the one or more power turbine blades are configured to spin based on the exhaust output generated by the combustion chamber housing; and a power turbine shaft connected to the one or more power turbine blades, wherein the power turbine shaft is configured to rotate based on the spinning of the one or more power turbine blades, and wherein the power turbine shaft is configured to generate mechanical power through rotation.

Embodiment 5—The gas turbine engine system of Embodiment 1, further including: a gearbox connected to the gas turbine shaft; a gearbox shaft connected to the gearbox, wherein the gearbox is configured to transfer the mechanical energy of rotation of the gas turbine shaft to the gearbox shaft, and wherein the gearbox is configured to control the rotation of the gearbox shaft; and one or more propeller blades connected to the gearbox shaft, wherein the one or more propeller blades are configured to spin based on the rotation of the gearbox shaft, and wherein the one or more propeller blades are configured to generate propulsion through spinning.

Embodiment 6—The gas turbine engine system of Embodiment 1, further including: an electric generator connected to the gas turbine shaft, wherein the electric generator is configured to convert the mechanical power of rotation of the gas turbine shaft into electricity; and an electric generator controller coupled to the electric generator, wherein the electric generator is configured to direct the electricity generated by the electric generator to the electric generator controller through one or more connectors.

Embodiment 7—The gas turbine engine system of Embodiment 6, further including: an electric motor coupled to the electric generator controller, wherein the electric generator controller is configured to direct the electricity received from the electric generator to the electric motor through one or more connectors, and wherein the electric motor is configured to convert the electricity received from the electric generator controller into torque; a motor shaft connected to the electric motor, wherein the electric motor is configured to apply the torque generated by the electric motor to the motor shaft; and wherein the motor shaft is configured to rotate based on the torque applied to the motor shaft; and one or more propeller blades connected to the motor shaft, wherein the one or more propeller blades are configured to spin based on the rotation of the motor shaft, and wherein the one or more propeller blades are configured to generate propulsion through rotation.

Embodiment 8—The gas turbine engine system of Embodiment 6, further including: a pod coupled to the electric generator controller, wherein the electric generator controller is configured to direct the electricity received from the electric generator to the pod through one or more connectors; an electric motor within the pod, wherein the pod is configured to direct the electricity received from the electric generator controller to the electric motor, and wherein the electric motor is configured to convert the electricity received from the pod into torque; a propeller shaft within the pod and connected to the electric motor, wherein the electric motor is configured to apply the torque generated by the electric motor to the propeller shaft, and wherein the propeller shaft is configured to rotate based on the torque applied to the propeller shaft; and one or more propeller blades within the pod and connected to the propeller shaft, wherein the one or more propeller blades are configured to spin based on the rotation of the propeller shaft, and wherein the one or more propeller blades are configured to generate propulsion through spinning.

Embodiment 9—The gas turbine engine system of Embodiment 6, further including: a heat recovery system coupled to the gas turbine engine, wherein the gas turbine engine is configured to direct the exhaust output generated by the combustion chamber housing to the heat recovery system through one or more connectors; and wherein the heat recovery system is configured to convert the heat of the exhaust output received from the gas turbine engine into steam; and a steam turbine engine coupled to the heat recovery system, wherein the heat recovery system is configured to direct the steam generated by the heat recovery system to the steam turbine engine through one or more connectors; and wherein the steam turbine engine includes: one or more steam turbine blades in a flow path of the steam generated by the heat recovery system, wherein the one or more steam turbine blades are configured to spin based on the steam generated by the heat recovery system; and a steam turbine shaft connected to the one or more steam turbine blades and to the electric generator, wherein the steam turbine shaft is configured to rotate based on the spinning of the one or more steam turbine blades, and wherein the steam turbine shaft is configured to generate mechanical power through rotation; wherein the electric generator is configured to convert the mechanical power of rotation of the steam turbine shaft into electricity.

Embodiment 10—The gas turbine engine system of Embodiment 9, further including: an electric motor coupled to the electric generator controller, wherein the electric generator controller is configured to direct the electricity received from the electric generator to the electric motor through one or more connectors, and wherein the electric motor is configured to convert the electricity received from the electric generator controller into torque; a motor shaft connected to the electric motor, wherein the electric motor is configured to apply the torque generated by the electric motor to the motor shaft, and wherein the motor shaft is configured to rotate based on the torque applied to the motor shaft; and one or more propeller blades connected to the motor shaft, wherein the one or more propeller blades are configured to spin based on the rotation of the motor shaft, and wherein the one or more propeller blades are configured to generate propulsion through spinning.

Embodiment 11—The gas turbine engine system of Embodiment 9, further including: a pod coupled to the electric generator controller, wherein the electric generator controller is configured to direct the electricity received from the electric generator to the pod through one or more connectors; an electric motor within the pod, wherein the pod is configured to direct the electricity received from the electric generator controller to the electric motor, and wherein the electric motor is configured to convert the electricity received from the pod into torque; a propeller shaft within the pod and connected to the electric motor, wherein the electric motor is configured to apply the torque generated by the electric motor to the propeller shaft, and wherein the propeller shaft is configured to rotate based on the torque applied to the propeller shaft; and one or more propeller blades within the pod and connected to the propeller shaft, wherein the one or more propeller blades are configured to spin based on the rotation of the propeller shaft, and wherein the one or more propeller blades are configured to generate propulsion through spinning.

Embodiment 12—The gas turbine engine system of Embodiment 6, further including: a heat recovery system coupled to the gas turbine engine, wherein the gas turbine engine is configured to direct the exhaust output generated by the combustion chamber housing to the heat recovery system through one or more connectors; and wherein the heat recovery system is configured to convert the heat of the exhaust output generated by the combustion chamber housing into steam; a steam turbine engine coupled to the heat recovery system, wherein the heat recovery system is configured to direct the steam generated by the heat recovery system to the steam turbine engine through one or more connectors, and wherein the steam turbine engine comprises: one or more steam turbine blades in a flow path of the steam generated by the heat recovery system, wherein the one or more steam turbine blades are configured to spin based on the steam generated by the heat recovery system; and; a steam turbine shaft connected to the one or more steam turbine blades, wherein the steam turbine shaft is configured to rotate based on the spinning of the one or more steam turbine blades; and wherein the steam turbine shaft is configured to generate mechanical power through rotation; a second electric generator connected to the steam turbine shaft, wherein the second electric generator is configured to convert the mechanical power of rotation of the steam turbine shaft into electricity; and a second electric generator controller coupled to the second electric generator, wherein the second electric generator is configured to direct the electricity generated by the second electric generator to the second electric generator controller through one or more connectors.

Embodiment 13—The gas turbine engine system of Embodiment 12, further comprising: a first electric motor coupled to the electric generator controller, wherein the electric generator controller is configured to direct the electricity received from the electric generator to the first electric motor through one or more connectors, wherein the first electric motor is configured to convert the electricity received from the electric generator controller into torque; a first motor shaft connected to the first electric motor, wherein the first electric motor is configured to apply the torque generated by the first electric motor to the first motor shaft, wherein the first motor shaft is configured to rotate based on the application of the torque applied to the first motor shaft; one or more first propeller blades connected to the first motor shaft, wherein the one or more first propeller blades are configured to rotate with the first motor shaft, and wherein the one or more first propeller blades are configured to generate propulsion through rotation; a second electric motor coupled to the second electric generator controller, wherein the second electric generator controller is configured to direct electricity received from the second electric generator to the second electric motor through one or more connectors, wherein the second electric motor is configured to convert the electricity received from the second electric generator controller into torque; a second motor shaft connected to the second electric motor, wherein the second electric motor is configured to apply the torque generated by the second electric motor to the second motor shaft, and wherein the second motor shaft is configured to rotate based on the torque applied to the second motor shaft; and one or more second propeller blades connected to the second motor shaft, wherein the one or more second propeller blades are configured to rotate with the second motor shaft, and wherein the one or more second propeller blades are configured to generate propulsion through rotation.

Embodiment 14—The gas turbine engine system of Embodiment 12, further including: a first pod coupled to the electric generator controller, wherein the electric generator controller is configured to direct the electricity received from the electric generator to the first pod through one or more connectors; a first electric motor within the first pod, wherein the first pod is configured to direct the electricity received from the electric generator controller to the first electric motor, and wherein the first electric motor is configured to convert the electricity received from the first pod into torque; a first propeller shaft within the first pod and connected to the first electric motor, wherein the first electric motor is configured to apply the torque generated by the first electric motor to the first propeller shaft, and wherein the first propeller shaft is configured to rotate based on the torque applied to the first propeller shaft; one or more first propeller blades within the first pod and connected to the first propeller shaft, wherein the one or more first propeller blades are configured to spin based on the rotation of the first propeller shaft, and wherein the one or more first propeller blades are configured to generate propulsion through spinning; a second pod coupled to the second electric generator controller, wherein the second electric generator controller is configured to direct the electricity received from the second electric generator to the second pod through one or more connectors; a second electric motor within the second pod, wherein the second pod is configured to direct the electricity received from the second electric generator controller to the second electric motor, and wherein the second electric motor is configured to convert the electricity received from the second pod into torque; a second propeller shaft within the second pod and connected to the second electric motor, wherein the second electric motor is configured to apply the torque generated by the second electric motor to the second propeller shaft, and wherein the second propeller shaft is configured to rotate based on the application of the torque applied to the second propeller shaft; and one or more second propeller blades within the second pod and connected to the second propeller shaft, wherein the one or more second propeller blades are configured to spin based on the rotation of second propeller shaft, and wherein the one or more second propeller blades are configured to generate propulsion through spinning.

Embodiment 15—A jet engine including: a combustion chamber housing including a housing wall, wherein the housing wall defines a combustion chamber within the combustion chamber housing; one or more electric heating elements within the combustion chamber, wherein the one or more electric heating elements are configured to heat compressed air, a mixture of compressed air and fuel, combustion products of a mixture of compressed air and fuel, or a combination thereof, within the combustion chamber, to generate heated combustion products, and wherein the combustion chamber housing is configured to generate an exhaust output based on the heated combustion products.

Embodiment 16—The jet engine system of Embodiment 15, wherein the one or more electric heating elements comprise molybdenum disilicide, silicon carbide, or a combination thereof.

Embodiment 17—The jet engine system of Embodiment 15, further including one or more auxiliary power units coupled to the one or more electric heating elements, wherein the one or more auxiliary power units are configured to supply electricity to the one or more electric heating elements.

Embodiment 18—The jet engine system of Embodiment 15, further including an electric heating element controller coupled to the one or more electric heating elements, wherein the electric heating element controller is configured to adjust an amount of heat generated by the one or more electric heating elements.

Embodiment 19—the jet engine system of Embodiment 15, further including: an afterburner coupled to the jet engine, wherein the jet engine is configured to direct the exhaust output generated by the jet engine to the afterburner; and one or more second electric heating elements within the afterburner, wherein the one or more second electric heating elements are configured to heat the exhaust output received from the jet engine, a mixture of the exhaust output received from the jet engine and fuel, afterburner combustion products of a mixture of the exhaust output received from the jet engine and fuel, or a combination thereof, within the afterburner, to generate heated exhaust output or heated afterburner combustion products, and wherein the afterburner is configured to generate an afterburner exhaust output based on the heated exhaust output or the heated afterburner combustion products.

Embodiment 20—The jet engine system of Embodiment 19, wherein the one or more electric heating elements, the one or more second electric heating elements, or a combination thereof, comprise molybdenum disilicide, silicon carbide, or a combination thereof.

Embodiment 21—The jet engine system of Embodiment 19, further including one or more auxiliary power units coupled to the one or more electric heating elements, the one or more second electric heating elements, or both, wherein the one or more auxiliary power units are configured to supply electricity to the one or more electric heating elements, the one or more second electric heating elements, or both.

Embodiment 22—The jet engine system of Embodiment 19, further including an electric heating element controller coupled to the one or more electric heating elements, the one or more second electric heating elements, or both, wherein the controller is configured to adjust an amount of heat generated by the one or more electric heating elements, the one or more second electric heating elements or both.

Embodiment 23—a jet engine system including: a jet engine; an afterburner coupled to the jet engine, wherein the jet engine is configured to direct an exhaust output generated by the jet engine to the afterburner; and one or more electric heating elements within the afterburner, wherein the one or more electric heating elements are configured to heat the exhaust output received from the jet engine, a mixture of the exhaust output received from the jet engine and fuel, afterburner combustion products of a mixture of the exhaust output received from the jet engine and fuel, or a combination thereof, within the afterburner, to generate heated exhaust output or heated afterburner combustion products, and wherein the afterburner is configured to generate an afterburner exhaust output based on the heated exhaust output or the heated afterburner combustion products.

Embodiment 24—The jet engine system of Embodiment 23, wherein the one or more electric heating elements comprise molybdenum disilicide, silicon carbide, or a combination thereof.

II. Methods of the Disclosure

It is contemplated that any Embodiment discussed in this specification can be implemented with respect to any system or method of the disclosure, and vice versa. Further, the systems of the disclosure can be used to achieve methods of the disclosure.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims herein. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present designs. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the designs disclosed herein, both as to the organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

