Lockheed Martin Corporation
HOMOPOLAR TURBINE

Abstract:

In one embodiment, a turbine includes a shaft and a turbine stage coupled to the shaft. The turbine stage includes a turbine blade. The turbine further includes a housing surrounding the turbine stage and a magnet located within the housing. The turbine is operable to receive an exhaust gas, generate a magnetic field using the magnet, and generate, by rotating the turbine blade, a current along the turbine blade in a radial direction toward the shaft. The turbine is further operable to ionize the exhaust gas between a tip of the turbine blade and the housing to form a plasma and electrically connect, using the plasma, the tip of the turbine blade to the housing.