Electroplating method for sealing liquid-cooled generator stator bar structures

• US 20060103261A1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wang, Yu
• Application Number:
  US11/159,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20060103261A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/254.100
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 21/10 Agitating of electrolytes; Moving of racks
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 7/04 Tubes; Rings; Hollow bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/0093 Manufacturing or repairing cooling fluid boxes, i.e. terminals of fluid cooled windings ensuring both electrical and fluid connection
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/12 Impregnating, heating or drying of windings, stators, rotors or machines

Abstract

The interior of a stator bar clip that is joined to the end of a stator bar is electroplated so that a metallic barrier coating overlies the braze joint between the stator bar and the clip to define a seal at and around the joint that is substantially impermeable to liquid.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A method of sealing interior surfaces of a fitting receiving a stator bar end, to define a seal substantially impermeable to liquid, the fitting having a chamber for receiving a liquid through an opening in the fitting and said chamber being in communication with hollow strands forming at least a portion of said stator bar, said method comprising the steps of:

disposing an electroplating solution in said chamber;

disposing an anode of the metal or metal alloy to be deposited in said electroplating solution;

connecting said anode to the positive terminal of a current source as a cathode;

electrically connecting said stator bar to the negative terminal of said current source; and

establishing an electrical potential between said anode and said cathode to initiate migration of metal ions from the anode to the electrically conductive inner surface of the component.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein said anode is formed from at least one of nickel, chromium, zinc and copper.

14. A method as in claim 12, wherein said anode comprises a consumable metal source.

15. A method as in claim 12, further comprising pumping electroplating solution into said chamber and drawing electroplating solution out of said chamber, to thereby circulate electroplating solution through said chamber.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein said electroplating solution is pumped into said chamber from a reservoir of electroplating solution.

17. A method as in claim 12, wherein said disposing an anode comprises disposing an anode in said chamber.

18. A method as in claim 12, further comprising coupling an access tubing to an inlet end of said component for defining an electroplating bath with said interior of said component.

19. A method as in claim 18, wherein said disposing an anode comprises disposing a wire formed from the metal or metal alloy to be deposited through the access tubing into the electroplating bath.

20. A method of sealing a stator bar with an interior liquid pass for flow of coolant forming at least a portion of said stator bar, comprising electroplating at least a portion of an interior wetted surface of said stator bar.