ROTOR BASED AIR GAP HEATING FOR AIR DRIVEN TURBINE
First Claim
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1. A self-deicing generator apparatus comprising:
- a stationary assembly including a main generator stator having a plurality of main generator stator windings, and an exciter stator having a plurality of exciter field windings;
a rotating assembly including a main generator rotor and an exciter rotor mounted to a shaft, with the exciter rotor having a plurality of exciter armature windings disposed coaxially adjacent to the plurality of exciter field windings, and the main rotor having a plurality of main rotor windings disposed coaxially adjacent to the plurality of main stator windings, the main rotor and the main stator separated by an air gap; and
a deicing circuit operable during a time when the main generator rotor is not being rotated by the shaft, the deicing circuit including a first power source for energizing the plurality of exciter field windings with an alternating input current, to induce an exciter output current in the exciter armature windings that is provided to the main generator windings for producing resistance heating around the main generator rotor windings to melt or sublimate a quantity of ice accumulated in the air gap.
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Abstract
A generator apparatus comprises a deicing circuit. The deicing circuit is operable during a time when a main generator rotor is not being rotated by a generator shaft. The deicing circuit includes a first power source for energizing a plurality of exciter field windings with alternating input current to induce an exciter output current in a plurality of exciter armature windings. The exciter output current is provided to main generator rotor windings for producing resistance heating around an air gap separating the main generator rotor from a main generator stator.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A self-deicing generator apparatus comprising:
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a stationary assembly including a main generator stator having a plurality of main generator stator windings, and an exciter stator having a plurality of exciter field windings; a rotating assembly including a main generator rotor and an exciter rotor mounted to a shaft, with the exciter rotor having a plurality of exciter armature windings disposed coaxially adjacent to the plurality of exciter field windings, and the main rotor having a plurality of main rotor windings disposed coaxially adjacent to the plurality of main stator windings, the main rotor and the main stator separated by an air gap; and a deicing circuit operable during a time when the main generator rotor is not being rotated by the shaft, the deicing circuit including a first power source for energizing the plurality of exciter field windings with an alternating input current, to induce an exciter output current in the exciter armature windings that is provided to the main generator windings for producing resistance heating around the main generator rotor windings to melt or sublimate a quantity of ice accumulated in the air gap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A turbine module comprising:
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a turbine assembly including a turbine and a hub rotatably connected to a turbine shaft; a self-deicing generator assembly including a deicing circuit operable during a time when a generator shaft is not rotating, the deicing circuit including a first power source for energizing a plurality of exciter field windings with an alternating input current to induce an exciter output current in a plurality of exciter armature windings that is provided to a plurality of main generator rotor windings disposed proximate an air gap between a main generator rotor and a main generator stator, the current provided to cause resistance heating around the main generator rotor windings to melt or sublimate a quantity of ice accumulated in the air gap. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for removing ice from an air gap of a generator assembly, the method comprising:
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supplying an alternating current to a plurality of exciter field windings to induce an exciter output current in a plurality of substantially stationary exciter armature windings coaxially adjacent to the plurality of exciter field windings; and directing the exciter output current to a plurality of substantially stationary main rotor windings disposed proximate the air gap, to cause resistance heating that heats the air gap to a temperature sufficient to melt or sublimate a quantity of ice. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification