Slip Ring Assembly Axial Brush Contact for Turbomachinery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In centrifugal turbomachinery, transferring power directly to aerodynamic surfaces is challenging due to their distance from the turbomachine shaft, leading to performance degradation and fluid dynamics changes when wires are used in the flow path.
Innovation Solution
A novel slip ring assembly with non-conductive and conductive components, including busbar rings and brush assemblies, that transfers power directly to rotating aerodynamic surfaces without wires in the flow path, using separate power and ground wires and spring-backed brushes for constant contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If wires are used to transfer power to aerodynamic surfaces, then power transfer is achieved, but fluid dynamics are disrupted and performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power transfer function from the traditional wire-based system and relocates it to a slip ring assembly with brush contacts. The wires are removed from the flow path entirely, with power being transferred through contact brushes that slide on conductive rings mounted on the rotating assembly, eliminating the harmful fluid dynamics disruption caused by wires in the flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The slip ring assembly acts as an intermediary device between the stationary power source and the rotating aerodynamic surfaces. Instead of wires penetrating the flow path, the intermediary slip ring mechanism transfers power through mechanical contact (brushes on rings), allowing power delivery without direct wire intrusion into the fluid flow.
2Power
If wires are placed along the centerplate to power aerodynamic surfaces, then power delivery is enabled, but the turbomachine performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The power delivery function is extracted from the centerplate wire system and relocated to a slip ring assembly mounted on the rotating structure. This extraction removes the wires from the flow path and centerplate area, eliminating the performance drag they caused while maintaining the ability to deliver power to aerodynamic surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The power transfer mechanism is moved from a linear wire arrangement along the centerplate to a rotational contact system at the periphery. By changing the dimensional arrangement from axial (along the centerplate) to radial (at the slip ring location), the system achieves power delivery without interfering with the axial flow path through the turbomachine.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a non-conductive slip ring with conductive busbar rings is used, then power transfer without flow path wires is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slip ring assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a non-conductive slip ring body, separate conductive busbar rings for power and ground, and brush assemblies with multiple brushes. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall structure by distributing functions across separate elements rather than requiring a complex integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly uses composite construction combining non-conductive materials for the slip ring body with conductive materials for the busbar rings and brushes. This composite approach allows the non-conductive body to eliminate flow path interference while the conductive elements provide the necessary electrical pathways, achieving both goals without requiring a single complex material.
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
Enables efficient power transfer to turbomachine blades without performance degradation, allowing for alternative designs and the supply of discontinuous pulsed power, enhancing turbomachine performance.
Implementation Method 1
The conductive brush is backed by a spring to keep the conductive brush in contact with the conductive busbar ring
Implementation Method 2
The first conductive brush maintains radial contact with the first conductive busbar ring to provide power to the slip ring assembly
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed invention is a slip ring assembly that provides electrical power transfer to centrifugal turbomachinery while minimizing or eliminating the presence of wires in the flow path. The device transfers electrical power through a set of wires connected to a plurality of brushes that are held rotationally stationary, but allowed to displace axially or radially through a set of springs. The brushes make contact with conductive busbar rings, transferring electricity to the busbar rings. The busbar rings rotate with the centrifugal turbomachine with a set of wires that connect the busbar rings to the blades or other aerodynamic surfaces of the centrifugal turbomachine.