Miniature/micro-scale power generation system

Abstract

A miniature/micro scale Tesla-type turbine (MG) with a stalk (ST), a top (T), a bottom (B), five central disks (D) having a aproximate thickness of seven microms. The turbine (MG) also includes inter disk spacing of approximately seven microms and a disk spacing of 25 microms between the upper and the lower of the five disks (D) and the top disk (DT) and the bottom disk (DB). The top (T) and bottom (B) each have conducting elements (C) opposing the magnetic elements (MN and MS) located along the rotating turbine disks (DT and DB).

1 . A less than 1 horsepower Tesla-type turbine/generator, comprising: 
 at least two disks having a diameter of less than 10 cm, journaled for rotation in a chamber and defining a stator/rotor system of the turbine/generator;    the disks defining at least one inter disk space measuring less than one tenth of a diameter;    the chamber having a fluid inlet and outlet structured in combination with the disks such that fluid radially and inwardly traverses an inter disk path between inlet and outlet; and    a source of pressurized fluid in fluid communication with an inlet.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including an outlet located centrally with respect to a disk.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the disks have a diameter of less than or equal to 1 cm.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of claims  1  or  3  wherein the inter disk spacing is less than 120 th  of a disk diameter.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of claims  1  or  3  wherein the disks define a centrally located, unobstructed fluid path for nonturbulent exhaust.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of claims I or  3  wherein an inter disk space is less than or equal to 0.1 mm.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a disk side contains a protrusion.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a chamber fluid inlet located peripherally with respect to a disk outer edge and a chamber fluid outlet located peripherally above or below a plurality of disks.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including at least five disks.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the disks are attached in parallel.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including at least three disks.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the pressurized fluid includes combustion gas.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of claims  1 ,  9  or  11  that includes at least a top or bottom disk defining a second inter disk spacing of at least three times a first inter disk spacing.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a set of magnetic regions are located on a disk and a set of conducting regions are located on a chamber wall.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a disk edge contains a protrusion.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein a set of magnetic regions are located on a disk and a set of conducting regions are located on a chamber wall.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the stator/rotor system comprises a shaftless generator, the generator including a set of conducting regions and a set of opposing magnetic regions, each located upon one of a disk or a chamber wall.  
     
     
         18 . A method of generating less than 1 horsepower, comprising: 
 spiraling pressurized fluid generally inwardly through at least one inter disk space defined between a plurality of disks journaled for rotation in a chamber;    defining an inter disk space of less than 0.5 mm;    rotating the disks with the fluid; and    generating the power electrically by the movement of conducting regions through magnetic fields, the movement occasioned by the rotation.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  including nonturbulently, substantially unobstructedly exhausting fluid centrally from an inter disk space.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  including rotating Tesla-type turbine disks by spiraling fluid through an inter disk space of less than or equal to 0.1 mm.  
     
     
         21 . A less than 1 horsepower Tesla type turbine/generator, comprising: 
 means for rotating a plurality of disks in a chamber by circulating pressurized fluid radially inwardly through an inter disk space of less than or equal to 1 cm, the inter disk space defined by a plurality of disks of diameter of less than or equal to 10 cm; and    means for generating the power, associated with the chamber and rotating disks.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  including means for nonturbulently exhausting fluid centrally from an inter disk space.  
     
     
         23 . A less than 1 horsepower Tesla type turbine/generating method, comprising: 
 a step for rotating a plurality of disks in a chamber by circulating pressurized fluid radially inwardly through an inter disk space of less than or equal to 1 cm, the inter disk space defined by a plurality of disks of diameter of less than or equal to 10 cm; and    a step for generating less than 1 horsepower associated with the chamber and rotating disks.    
     
     
         24 . The turbine/generator of  claim 21  wherein the disks are of a diameter of less than or equal to 1 cm and the inter disk space is less than or equal to 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         25 . The generating method of  claim 23  wherein the disks are of a diameter of less than or equal to 1 cm and the inter disk space is less than or equal to 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         26 . A matrixed array of miniature/micro-scale less than 1 horsepower Tesla type turbines structured in combination as a generator.  
     
     
         27 . The method of claims  18  or  23  including constructing the turbine/generator using MEMS.  
     
     
         28 . The turbine of  claim 1  constructed essentially of a silicon.  
     
     
         29 . The method of claims  18  or  23  including constructing the turbine/generator using web processing.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of claims I or  21  wherein a disk side contains surface protrusions which catch fluid.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of claims I or  21  wherein a disk side contains a Tessla “air bucket” protrusion.  
     
     
         32 . The method of claims  18  or  23  that includes catching and diverting fluid with a protrusion extending from a disk into an inter disk space.  
     
     
         33 . The method of claims  18  or  23  that includes catching inter disk fluid with a Tessla air bucket.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of claims I or  21  wherein the disks are not parallel.