Alternator Connecting Element Radial Sealing for Hydrogen Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Alternators with gas cooling systems, particularly those using hydrogen mixtures, face challenges in preventing cooling gas leaks into areas where sparks can occur, posing safety risks and requiring effective sealing across all operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
A connecting element with a C-shaped sealing element and annular seats is used to create a radial seal around the cooling gas mixture channels, ensuring the gas does not leak into dangerous areas, and the sealing element is designed to withstand pressures greater than atmospheric pressure, with optional spring enhancement for increased contact pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a gas cooling system using hydrogen mixture is used to improve cooling efficiency, then cooling performance is improved, but the risk of gas leakage into spark-prone areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing sealing elements at specific locations where gas leakage could occur (connecting elements between rotor and stator). The sealing elements are placed locally at the interface between different components to prevent hydrogen mixture leakage into spark-prone areas, while maintaining the overall gas cooling system's efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements act as intermediaries between the gas cooling system and the external environment or spark-prone areas. These sealing elements (made of elastomeric material) are inserted into grooves of connecting elements to mediate and prevent the harmful interaction between the hydrogen mixture and potential ignition sources.
2Reliability
If sealing elements are added to prevent gas leakage, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sealing function with the existing connecting elements. The sealing elements are integrated into the grooves of the connecting elements that already exist in the alternator structure. This combining approach allows the sealing function to be added without creating entirely new separate components, thereby improving safety while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements are made of elastomeric material, which is a flexible material that can deform to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion. This flexibility allows the sealing elements to maintain effective sealing without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or precision machining, thus improving safety while keeping the structure relatively simple.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents cooling gas leaks into ignition-prone areas, enhancing the safety and reliability of the alternator by maintaining optimal sealing under operating conditions, especially when using hydrogen-based cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
A connecting element with a C-shaped sealing element and annular seats is used to create a radial seal around the cooling gas mixture channels, ensuring the gas does not leak into dangerous areas
Implementation Method 2
with optional spring enhancement for increased contact pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
A connecting element (21a; 21b) for an alternator (3) of an electric energy production plant (1) is provided with a first end portion (29) couplable to a main conductor (20) arranged inside an axial seat (23) of a rotor (6) of the alternator (3) and with a second end portion (30) couplable to a respective conducting element (8; 15); the second end portion (30) being provided with at least one sealing element (50) having a substantially C-shaped cross section.