Generator for fluid-driven production of electric energy and a method of making the generator

• US 8,466,576 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reslink AS (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Reslink AS (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Onsrud, Gisle
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US12/279,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20110012354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,314 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/44, 290/54, 290/55, 310/12
• US Class Current: 290/54
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/00 Other machines or engines
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 3/00 Machines or engines of reaction type; Parts or details peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 5/00 Other wind motors controlling thereof F03D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/12 Stationary parts of the magnetic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 21/14 with magnets rotating within the armatures
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/70 Wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49012 Rotor

Abstract

A generator (20) for in situ fluid-driven production of electric energy and also a method of making the generator (20), which comprises a stator and a rotor. The stator is formed as a turbine housing (1) having at least one internal cavity (2) within which at least one independent rotor body (3) is arranged without a fixed mechanical support in the turbine housing (1). The turbine housing (1) comprises at least one supply channel (8) and at least one discharge channel (9) connected to the cavity (2) for throughput of a generator-driving fluid (13). The cavity (2) is of a circular shape along at least one path of rotation therein, whereas the rotor body (3) is of a rotary-symmetrical shape for allowing rotation thereof along said path of rotation. The turbine housing (1) is provided with at least one coil (5) at the periphery of the cavity (2), whereas the rotor body (3) is provided with at least one permanent magnet (4) at the periphery of the rotor body (3).

Claims

1. A generator comprising a stator provided with at least one coil connected to at least one electric circuit, and also a rotor provided with at least one permanent magnet, wherein said stator is formed as a turbine housing having at least one internal cavity;

wherein at least one independent rotor body is arranged in said cavity, and the rotor body is without a fixed mechanical support in the turbine housing;

wherein the turbine housing comprises at least one supply channel and at least one discharge channel connected to said cavity for throughput of a generator-driving fluid;

wherein the cavity is of a circular shape along at least one path of rotation therein;

wherein the rotor body is of a rotary-symmetrical shape for allowing rotation of the rotor body along the at least one path of rotation in the cavity; and

wherein the turbine housing is provided with at least one coil at the periphery of the cavity, wherein the rotor body is provided with at least one permanent magnet at the periphery of the rotor body;

wherein said fluid may be conducted onwards to the cavity in order to rotate the rotor body in the cavity for production of electric energy from the coil.

2. The generator of claim 1, wherein the coil and the permanent magnet are arranged in the same plane along a path of rotation for the rotor body.

3. The generator of claim 2 wherein the generator comprises at least two coils and at least two permanent magnets and the coils and the permanent magnets are distributed in an equidistant manner along said path of rotation.

4. The generator of claim 1 wherein the axis of said coil is directed radially towards the center of the cavity.

5. The generator of claim 1 wherein the cavity is cylindrical.

6. The generator of claim 1 wherein the cavity is spherical.

7. The generator of claim 1 wherein the rotor body is cylindrical.

8. The generator of claim 1 wherein the rotor body is spherical.

9. The generator of claim 1 wherein the rotor body is of a polygonal shape.

10. The generator of claim 1 wherein said supply channel is directed tangentially into the cavity at the periphery thereof.

11. The generator of claim 1 wherein said at least one discharge channel is directed tangentially outwards from the cavity at the periphery thereof.

12. The generator of claim 1 wherein said supply channel is directed non-tangentially into the cavity at the periphery thereof, and having a curvature in the direction of the centre of the cavity.

13. The generator of claim 1 wherein at least one coil is coreless.

14. The generator of claim 1 wherein the generator is adapted for placement in a subterranean well for production of electric energy for downhole equipment in the well.

15. The method according to claim 1 further comprising directing at least one secondary flow channel radially outwards from the periphery of the cavity.

16. The method according to claim 1 further comprising providing the rotor body with at least one through-going equalizing channel.

17. The method according to claim 1 further comprising arranging the equalizing channel parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor body.

18. The method according to claim 1 further comprising adapting the generator for connection to a well pipe for placement in a subterranean well for production of electric energy for use by downhole equipment in the well.

19. The method according to claim 1 wherein the generator is releasably connected in the well pipe allowing the generator to be introduced in the well after the completion thereof.

20. A method of making a generator for fluid-driven production of electric energy by means of electromagnetic induction, the generator comprising a stator having at least one coil being connected to at least one electric circuit, and a rotor having at least one permanent magnet, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

forming said stator as a turbine housing having at least one internal cavity;

arranging at least one independent rotor body in said cavity, the rotor body having no fixed mechanical support in the turbine housing;

arranging at least one supply channel and at least one discharge channel in the turbine housing, and connecting at least one supply channel to said cavity for throughput of a generator-driving fluid;

forming the cavity with a circular shape along at least one path of rotation therein;

forming the rotor body with a rotary-symmetrical shape for allowing rotation of the rotor body along the at least one path of rotation in the cavity; and

providing the turbine housing with at least one coil at the periphery of the cavity, and to provide providing the rotor body with at least one permanent magnet at the periphery of the rotor body.