Differential pressure generator

• US 20100133834A1
• Filed: 12/01/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: PGI International LTD (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: Nimberger, Spencer M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,067,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/52
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 1/026 Impact turbines with buckets, i.e. impulse turbines, e.g. Pelton turbines F01D1/16, F01D1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/62 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/0094 Structural association with other electrical or electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 16/00 Machines with more than one rotor or stator machines for transmitting mechanical power from a driving shaft to a driven shaft and comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; permanent magnet machines with multiple rotors or stators relatively rotated for vectorially combining the excitation fields or the armature voltages H02K21/029
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/20 Structural association with auxiliary dynamo-electric machines, e.g. with electric starter motors or exciters
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/02 Details

Abstract

An electrical generator (10) powered by fluid pressure in a flow line includes a turbine housing (23) and control valve (11). The turbine housing houses a rotor (29) and a plurality of turbine blades (33) which are rotated by fluid passing from the flow line through the turbine housing. A bearing (22) within the turbine housing guides rotation of the rotor, and supports a plurality of magnets (28). Cap member (23) is sealed to the turbine housing, and a stator (40) external of the cap member generates electricity in response to a plurality of rotating magnets.

Claims

1. An electrical generator powered by fluid pressure in the flow line, comprising:

a turbine housing containing a rotor having a central axis and turbine blades rotatably secured to the rotor and rotated by fluid from the flow line passing through the turbine housing;

a control valve for selectively controlling fluid pressure from the flow line to the turbine housing;

a bearing within the turbine housing for guiding rotation of the rotor;

a plurality of magnets each mounted on the rotor;

a cap member having a closure end axially opposite the turbine blades with respect to the bearing and radially outward of the plurality of magnets, the cap member being sealed to the turbine housing and sealing fluid within the cap member, at least a portion of the cap member being substantially transparent to a magnetic field;

a stator external of the cap member, such that the plurality of moving magnets create a magnetic field to generate electrical current in the stator; and

a fluid outlet in the turbine housing for returning fluid to the flow line.

2. An electrical generator as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a control motor for powering a control valve.

3. An electrical generator as defined in claim 2, wherein the control motor is powered by electrical current from a battery.

4. An electrical generator as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

the cap member is sealed to the turbine housing by one or more static seals.

5. An electrical generator as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid outlet is opposite to the cap member with respect to the plurality of turbine blades.

6. An electrical generator as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

fluid pressure in the turbine housing acts both above and below the bearing without flowing fluid through the bearing.

7. An electrical generator as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

one or more batteries charged by electrical current from the stator; and

an electrical control for controlling the control valve as a function of battery charge.

8. An electrical generator as defined in claim 1, wherein the bearing is axially secured with respect to the rotor by engagement of an upper surface on the bearing with the rotor, and by engagement of a lower surface on the bearing with a stop axially fixed to the rotor.

9. An electrical generator as defined in claim 1, wherein the bearing has an outer race axially secured with respect to the rotor by the turbine housing.

10. An electrical generator as defined in claim 1, wherein the rotor includes a circumferentially positioned passageway for passing fluid from below to above the bearing.

12. An electrical generator as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a control valve for selectively controlling fluid pressure from the flow line to the turbine housing;

one or more batteries charged by electrical current from the stator; and

an electrical control for controlling the control valve as a function of battery charge.

11. An electrical generator powered by fluid pressure in the flow line, comprising:

a turbine housing containing a rotor having a central axis and turbine blades rotatably secured to the rotor and rotated by fluid from the flow line passing through the turbine housing;

a bearing within the turbine housing for guiding rotation of the rotor;

a plurality of magnets each mounted on the rotor;

a cap member having a closure end axially opposite the turbine blades with respect to the bearing and radially outward of the plurality of magnets, the cap member being sealed to the turbine housing by one or more static seals and sealing fluid within the cap member, at least a portion of the cap member being substantially transparent to a magnetic field;

fluid pressure in the turbine housing acts both above and below the bearing without flowing fluid through the bearing; and

a stator external of the cap member, such that the plurality of moving magnets excite stator windings to generate electrical current in the stator.

13. An electrical generator as defined in claim 11, wherein the bearing is axially secured with respect to the rotor by engagement of an upper surface on the bearing with the rotor, and by engagement of a lower surface on the bearing with a stop axially fixed to the rotor;

and

the bearing has an outer race axially secured with respect to the rotor by the turbine housing.

14. A method of generating electrical power using fluid pressure in the flow line, comprising:

housing a rotor having a central axis and turbine blades rotatably secured to the rotor within a turbine housing rotated by fluid from the flow line passing through the turbine housing;

guiding rotation of the rotor with a bearing within the turbine housing;

positioning a plurality of magnets each on the rotor;

providing a cap member having a closure plate axially opposite the turbine blades with respect to the bearing and radially outward of the plurality of magnets, the cap member being sealed to the turbine housing and sealing fluid within the cap member, at least a portion of the cap member being substantially transparent to a magnetic field;

providing a stator external of the cap member, such that the plurality of magnets create a magnetic field to generate electrical current in the stator; and

providing fluid from the flow line into the turbine housing to move the turbine blades and generate electrical energy in stator windings.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising:

selectively controlling fluid pressure from the flow line to the turbine housing with a control valve; and

powering the control valve with a control motor.

16. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising:

sealing the cap member to the turbine housing by one or more static seals.

17. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising:

providing fluid pressure in the turbine housing to act both above and below the bearing without flowing fluid through the bearing.

18. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising:

charging one or more batteries by electrical current from the stator; and

controlling the fluid flow to the turbine housing as a function of battery charge.

19. A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising:

axially securing a bearing inner race with respect to the rotor by engagement of an upper surface on the bearing with the rotor; and

by engagement of a lower surface in the bearing with a stop axially fixed to the rotor; and

axially securing a bearing outer race with respect to the rotor by the turbine housing.

20. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising:

providing a circumferentially positioned passageway in a rotor for passing fluid from below to above the bearing.