Rotating Generator Cooling with Sealless Closed-Loop Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing superconducting generators face challenges in reliably cooling large rotating components like the armature assembly due to the complexity and unreliability of seals between rotating and stationary components, leading to increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop liquid cooling system is implemented for the rotating armature assembly, utilizing heat exchangers and pumps mounted on the armature, which are designed to rotate with it, and coolant channels within the teeth of the armature to efficiently cool the windings without relying on seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If seals are used between stationary cooling equipment and rotating armature assembly, then liquid cooling can be implemented, but reliability decreases and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the seal component from the cooling system by implementing a sealless liquid cooling approach. The rotating armature assembly carries its own cooling equipment (pumps, heat exchangers, coolant channels) internally, eliminating the need for seals between rotating and stationary components. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining liquid cooling effectiveness while removing the reliability issue associated with seals.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is segmented into rotating and stationary portions. The pumps, heat exchangers, and coolant channels are integrated onto the rotating armature assembly itself, while the stationary cooling equipment remains fixed. This segmentation allows liquid cooling to be implemented without requiring seals across the rotation interface, thus maintaining both cooling effectiveness and reliability.
2Temperature
If seals are used between stationary cooling equipment and rotating armature assembly, then liquid cooling can be implemented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal component is extracted and removed from the system entirely. By implementing sealless liquid cooling with rotating pumps and heat exchangers integrated on the armature assembly, the complex seal mechanism is eliminated, reducing device complexity while maintaining cooling effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating armature assembly serves its own cooling needs by carrying integrated pumps, heat exchangers, and coolant channels. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex external sealing mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving effective cooling.
3Temperature
If seals are used between stationary cooling equipment and rotating armature assembly, then liquid cooling can be implemented, but maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal component is extracted from the cooling system, eliminating the primary source of leakage and failure. This reduces maintenance requirements and costs while preserving the effectiveness of liquid cooling for the rotating armature assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating armature assembly with integrated cooling equipment is self-contained and does not require external sealing connections. This self-service design eliminates seal-related maintenance issues, reducing maintenance costs while maintaining effective cooling.
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 system provides reliable and cost-effective cooling for the rotating armature assembly, reducing maintenance costs and enhancing the reliability of superconducting generators.
Implementation Method 1
coolant channels... to cool the windings
Implementation Method 2
heat exchanger... rotation of the housing forces air flow through the heat exchanger
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A generator, which may be used in a wind turbine, has a first stationary component carrying a first winding configuration and a second rotating component carrying a second winding configuration. The second rotating component includes a body portion and a plurality of teeth spaced around and extending radially from the body portion. The second winding configuration is arranged in slots defined between adjacent teeth. A housing is arranged around and rotates with the body portion. A heat exchange circuit is arranged on the second rotating component and includes a coolant channel defined in the teeth; a pump; and a heat exchanger arranged on the housing so as to rotate with the housing, the heat exchanger transverse to a rotational direction of the housing.