Steam Micro Turbine Engine

Abstract

A steam micro turbine engine is improved from a conventional micro turbine engine by injecting small amount of near boiling temperature water into combustion chamber after the fuel is partially burned and gas mixture temperature raises well above boiling point. A steam micro turbine engine controller monitors the temperature of the engine, adjusts fuel and water injection amount. The apparatus can reduce fuel consumption and emission by taking advantage of the waste heat and turning water into steam to generate extra useful work. This steam micro turbine engine could reach 60% efficiency instead of 30% in existing micro turbine engine. This engine can be used in household furnace electric co-generation systems, series hybrid electric vehicles and portable electric generators since its size is small with simplified components, relatively low operating temperature and much lower cost than traditional micro turbine engine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An engine, comprising:
 compression means, combustion means, turbine means, means to inject heated water into combustion means to generate super-heated steam as primary working fluid;   means to inject heated compressed air into combustion means; means for delivering the fuel into combustion means; means to ignite air fuel mixture; a control unit to control compression means speed to maintain a constant rich air to fuel ratio, control fuel injection amount and control water injection amount to maintain turbine exit temperature at less than 500 degree Fahrenheit.   
     
     
         2 . A steam micro turbine engine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pump and a tank to supply water. 
     
     
         3 . A steam micro turbine engine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchange around the combustion chamber outer wall to preheat the water for injection. 
     
     
         4 . A steam micro turbine engine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchange condenser between intake air and exhaust steam mixture mass. 
     
     
         5 . A steam micro turbine engine according to  claim 1 , further comprising anti-freeze additives in the injection water when operating in colder weather.