Sodium injection for advanced steam turbines

Abstract

A novel, more sophisticated steam turbine design is proposed with reaction stages that have full admission, compounded by counter rotating axial blades, with impulse ignition utilizing sodium injection.

1 .) A conical plunger valve located at the orifice of the turbine where the steam enters the turbine. This valve is spring loaded to open in the repetitive combustion cycles within the turbine combustion chamber. The valve is made from Austenitic Stainless Steel type 316 L to be resistive to hydrogen embrittlement, and has a ceramic seat to withstand the higher combustive temperatures. 
   
   
       2 .) A sodium injection nozzle that is configured to inject elemental sodium into a steam turbine in such a way that the ignition of the hydrogen combustion cycle is prevented from returning through the nozzle. Thus the force of the combustion of the sodium with the steam entering the turbine is directed toward the turbine blades. Thereby increasing the pressure to force the turbine blades to turn with a greater RPM. 
   
   
       3 .) Reaction stages with full admission, compounded by counter rotating axial blades. Each propeller blade that is connected to the turbine axis is preceded by an impeller blade that is connecter to the propeller blade with reverse gearing for counter rotation.