Generator Rotor Cooling via Segmented Stator Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Generators attached to accessory gearboxes face inadequate cooling, leading to high temperatures and reduced efficiency, as existing cooling methods, such as heat exchange with the environment or hollow shaft cooling, are insufficient, especially for large generators used in aircraft power supply, where complex and costly cooling circuits are required to manage heat effectively.
Innovation Solution
A generator design with a separable stator and rotor area, where the rotor is supplied with a cooling medium, allowing for effective temperature control and cooling closer to the stator, eliminating the need for complex cooling circuits and reducing manufacturing costs, while maintaining a low distance between the rotor and stator for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If cooling is provided via hollow shaft at a distance from the stator, then the generator structure is simpler, but the cooling effectiveness is insufficient and the generator cannot be operated in its optimum temperature range
Solution Approach 1:
The generator is divided into two separate areas: a stator area and a rotor area. The stator area is encapsulated and separated from the rotor area, allowing independent cooling of the rotor area while the stator area remains dry. This segmentation enables effective cooling near the stator without compromising structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
A separator element is introduced as an intermediary component between the stator and rotor areas. This separator element provides sealing and structural separation, enabling the cooling medium to be supplied to the rotor area while preventing contact with the stator area, thus achieving effective cooling without complex cooling circuits.
2Temperature
If a complex cooling circuit with lines running through the stator is implemented, then cooling effectiveness near the stator is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The generator is divided into two separate areas: a stator area and a rotor area. The stator area is encapsulated and separated from the rotor area, allowing independent cooling of the rotor area while the stator area remains dry. This segmentation enables effective cooling near the stator without compromising structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling circuit is extracted from the stator area and relocated to the rotor area. By supplying cooling medium to the rotor area and using the separator element for sealing, the complex cooling lines running through the stator are eliminated, reducing device complexity while maintaining cooling effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If the stator area is not sealed from the rotor area, then the structure is simpler, but cooling medium contacts electric components causing corrosion and reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The generator is divided into two separate areas: a stator area and a rotor area. The stator area is encapsulated and separated from the rotor area, allowing independent cooling of the rotor area while the stator area remains dry. This segmentation enables effective cooling near the stator without compromising structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
A separator element is introduced as an intermediary component between the stator and rotor areas. This separator element provides sealing and structural separation, enabling the cooling medium to be supplied to the rotor area while preventing contact with the stator area, thus achieving effective cooling without complex cooling circuits.
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
This design enables the generator to operate within its optimal temperature range, ensuring consistent power output and extending its service life by effectively managing temperature loads, while simplifying the cooling system and reducing corrosion risks.
Implementation Method 1
the thermal energy must be removed from the generator. This is achieved on the one hand in the area of a stator casing by heat exchange with the environment
Implementation Method 2
The shaft is to that end designed as a hollow shaft and has for example a cooling fluid flowing through it on the inside via an oil nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention proposes a generator for arrangement on a shaft of an accessory gearbox of an engine with a stator and with a rotor which can be coupled to a shaft of the accessory gearbox of the engine and which is rotatably mounted relative to the stator, where a stator area receiving the stator can be separated from a rotor area receiving the rotor. The rotor can be supplied with cooling medium in the rotor area. It furthermore proposes an accessory gearbox of an engine with a drive shaft operatively connectable to a main shaft of the engine and with at least one generator arranged on a shaft of the accessory gearbox.