Lockheed Martin Corporation
Homopolar turbine
Last updated:
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.
Status:
Grant
Type:
Utility
Filling date:
7 Oct 2019
Issue date:
24 May 2022