Integrated Fluid Power Conversion System

• US 20070145751A1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Hydro Jet Corporation
• Original Assignee: American Hydro Jet Corporation
• Inventors: Roos, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,385,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/52
• 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; (c) a diffusor (12) having an outer wall attached to the housing, a diffusor 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 diffusor 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. In a preferred embodiment, the armature has radially-inward protrusions having laminations (73) and windings (74), and the rotor has parallel magnetic rings (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 diffusor having (a) an outer wall attached to the housing, (b) a diffusor 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 diffusor hub to the outer wall; and

a rotating electrical machine having (a) an armature attached to the housing and (b) a rotor attached to the impeller periphery and positioned to form a gap between rotor and armature,

whereby the impeller and the rotor form an integrated unit.

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

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

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

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

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the exit nozzle is under the water surface and the apparatus is used as an underwater thruster.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the exit nozzle is above the water surface and the apparatus is used as a waterjet.

8. 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.

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

the armature includes radially-inward protrusions having laminations and windings; and

the rotor includes two or more parallel magnetic rings configured to sandwich the protrusions therebetween, the rings each having a plurality of magnetic poles.

10. The fluid power conversion apparatus of claim 9 wherein the magnetic poles are aligned such that each magnetic north pole is aligned with a magnetic south pole on its neighboring ring(s).

11. The fluid power conversion apparatus of claim 9 wherein the rotating electrical machine is substantially centered over the bearing assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the rotating electrical machine is an electric motor and the apparatus is used as a fluid pump.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a portion of the fluid flows through the gap to cool the motor.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 further including an intake duct and a exit nozzle, whereby the apparatus is used for marine propulsion.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the exit nozzle is under the water surface and the apparatus is used as an underwater thruster.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the exit nozzle is above the water surface and the apparatus is used as a waterjet.

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

18. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the housing includes at least two housing portions assembled to form the housing.