Integrated fluid power conversion system

• US 7,385,303 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Hydro Jet Corporation
• Original Assignee: American Hydro Jet Corporation
• Inventors: Roos, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/680,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20070145751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 290/54
• US Class Current: 290/54
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 23/24 electric dynamo-electric machines H02K
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 2003/002 by using electric power
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 2003/046 using wind or water driven turbines or impellers for power generation
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/105 Bulb groups
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 3/04 with substantially axial flow throughout rotors, e.g. propeller turbines rotors per se F03B3/126
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/20 within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7066 via a direct connection, i.e. a gearless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7068 equipped with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2280/5008 Magnetic properties
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/20 within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/62 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/766 via a direct connection, i.e. a gearless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/768 equipped with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/50 Hydropower in dwellings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/00 Maritime or waterways transport

Abstract

A fluid power conversion apparatus (1) serving fluid pumping and/or power-generation functions, including: (a) an impeller (5) having a hub (8) and a periphery; (b) a housing (13) around the impeller; (e) a diffuser (12) having an outer wall attached to the housing, a diffuser hub (7) axially-aligned with the impeller hub, rotatable support of the impeller being provided only by a bearing assembly (6) internal to the hubs, and at least one stator vane (11) securing the diffuser hub to the outer wall; and (d) a rotating electrical machine with an armature (16) attached to the housing and a rotor (20) attached to the impeller periphery and positioned to form a gap (18) between rotor and armature, the impeller and the rotor form an integrated unit, the armature has radially-inward protrusions having laminations (73) and windings (74), and the rotor has parallel magnetic tings (71) configured to sandwich the protrusions, the rings each having a plurality of magnetic poles configured so each north pole is aligned with a south pole on its neighboring ring(s).

Claims

1. A fluid power conversion apparatus serving fluid pumping and/or power-generation functions, comprising:

an impeller having an impeller hub and a periphery;

a housing around the impeller;

a diffuser having (a) an outer wall attached to the housing, (b) a diffuser hub axially-aligned with the impeller hub, rotatable support of the impeller being provided only by a bearing assembly internal to the hubs, and (c) at least one stator vane securing the diffuser hub to the outer wall; and

a rotating electrical machine having (a) an armature which is attached to the housing and has radially-inward protrusions with laminations and windings and (b) a rotor attached to the impeller periphery and positioned to form a gap between rotor and armature, the rotor having at least one magnetic ring sandwiched between radially-inward protrusions adjacent thereto and having a plurality of magnetic poles.

2. The fluid power conversion apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

there are at least two of the rings, the rings being parallel to one another; and

the magnetic poles are aligned such that each magnetic north pole is aligned with a magnetic south pole on its neighboring ring(s).

3. The fluid power conversion apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotating electrical machine is substantially centered over the bearing assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotating electrical machine is an electric motor and the apparatus is used as a fluid pump.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a portion of the fluid flows through the gap to cool the motor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including an intake duct and a exit nozzle, whereby the apparatus is used for marine propulsion.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the exit nozzle is under the water surface and the apparatus is used as an underwater thruster.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the exit nozzle is above the water surface and the apparatus is used as a waterjet.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotating electrical machine is a generator and the apparatus is used as a fluid-driven electrical power generator.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing includes at least two housing portions assembled to form the housing.