Parallel combustor configuration for unmanned underwater vehicle propulsion turbine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10738697-B2
Application number	US-201715631128-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2017
Priority date	Jun 23, 2017
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

A propulsion system for an unmanned underwater vehicle includes at least one fuel storage tank. A plurality of combustors is connected to the at least one fuel storage tank. Each of the combustors is connected to a turbine via a corresponding nozzle. An output shaft is connected to the turbine and configured to output rotational energy from the turbine.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A propulsion system for an unmanned underwater vehicle comprising:
at least one fuel storage tank;
a plurality of combustors connected to the at least one fuel storage tank;
each of the combustors being connected to a turbine via a corresponding nozzle; and
an output shaft connected to the turbine and configured to output rotational energy.

2. The propulsion system of claim 1 , further comprising a propulsor connected to the output shaft via a geared connection.

3. The propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein each combustor in the plurality of combustors is the same size as each other combustor in the plurality of combustors.

4. The propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein at least one combustor in the plurality of combustors is larger than each other combustor in the plurality of combustors.

5. The propulsion system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller controllably coupled to each combustor in said plurality of combustors and configured to control a flow of fuel from the at least one fuel storage tank to each combustor.

6. The propulsion system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is a dedicated propulsion system controller.

7. The propulsion system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is a general systems controller.

8. A propulsion system for an unmanned underwater vehicle comprising:
at least one fuel storage tank;
a plurality of combustors connected to the at least one fuel storage tank;
each of the combustors being connected to a partial admission axial flow turbine via a corresponding nozzle; and
an output shaft connected to the turbine and configured to output rotational energy.

9. The propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein the nozzles are distributed evenly about a circumference of a turbine inlet.

10. The propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein each of said combustors is individually sized to a corresponding propulsion system operational mode.

11. The propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein each of said combustors is sequentially sized to at least one corresponding propulsion system operational mode.

12. The propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system is disposed in a torpedo.

13. An unmanned underwater vehicle comprising:
a body housing at least a first fuel storage tank, a general controller, and a propulsion system; and
the propulsion system including a gas powered turbine engine mechanically connected to a propulsor, wherein the gas powered turbine engine includes a plurality of parallel combustors.

14. The unmanned underwater vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a second fuel storage tank.

15. The unmanned underwater vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of parallel combustors are sequentially sized.

16. The unmanned underwater vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of parallel combustors are individually sized.

17. An unmanned underwater vehicle comprising:
a body housing at least a first fuel storage tank, a general controller, and a propulsion system; and
the propulsion system including a gas powered turbine engine mechanically connected to a propulsor, wherein the gas powered turbine engine includes a plurality of parallel combustors, and each combustor in the plurality of parallel combustors is connected to a single turbine via one of a plurality of supersonic nozzles.

18. The unmanned underwater vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the supersonic nozzles are distributed evenly about a first end of the turbine.

19. The unmanned underwater vehicle of claim 13 , wherein a mechanical connection between the gas powered turbine engine and the propulsor includes an output stage and a geared connection.

20. A method of driving a propulsion system for an unmanned underwater vehicle, comprising:
generating combustion products in a single combustor and expanding the combustion products across a turbine in a first propulsion mode; and
generating combustion products in at least two combustors and simultaneously expanding the combustion products across the turbine in a second propulsion mode.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Himmelmann Richard A

Classifications

• F42B19/22

  by internal-combustion engines · CPC title

• F02C6/203 Primary

  the vehicles being waterborne vessels · CPC title

• F02C3/14

  characterised by the arrangement of the combustion chamber in the plant (combustion chambers per se F23R; F02C3/205 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F05D2220/32

  in gas turbines · CPC title

• F02C7/228

  Dividing fuel between various burners · CPC title