LOAD APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING SAME

• US 20140138950A1
• Filed: 11/20/2012
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TurboGen, LLC
• Original Assignee: TurboGen, LLC
• Inventors: Kuczaj, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,907,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/52
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/36 Power transmission arrangements between the different shafts of the gas turbine plant, or between the gas-turbine plant and the power user F02C3/107 - F02C3/13 and F02C7/32 take precedence; couplings for transmitting rotation F16D; gearing in general F16H
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 3/02 adapted to specific functions

Abstract

A load apparatus is provided. The load apparatus generally comprises a load that is configured to convert mechanical rotational energy to electrical energy for a power output. A rotor assembly is coupled to the load, wherein the rotor assembly includes a rotor shaft that is configured to rotate within at least a portion of the load. A quill shaft is coupled to the rotor shaft, wherein the quill shaft is configured to couple the rotor shaft to a drive shaft of a machine such that the rotor shaft is axially and/or radially isolated from the drive shaft to facilitate rotordynamic isolation between the load apparatus and the machine.

Claims

1. A load apparatus comprising:

a load configured to convert mechanical rotational energy to electrical energy for a power output;

a rotor assembly coupled to said load, wherein said rotor assembly comprises a rotor shaft that is configured to rotate within at least a portion of said load; and

a quill shaft coupled to said rotor shaft, wherein said quill shaft is configured to couple said rotor shaft to a drive shaft of a machine such that said rotor shaft is at least one of axially and radially isolated from the drive shaft to facilitate rotordynamic isolation between said load apparatus and the machine.

2. A load apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a control system coupled to said load, said control system comprises a controller that is configured to control channeling the power output in one of a first direction and a second direction, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.

3. A load apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said controller is configured to control channeling the power output in one of the first direction and the second direction based on a predefined threshold for the power output.

4. A load apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said controller is configured to channel the power output in the first direction to facilitate energy absorption by an energy storage device, and said controller is configured to channel the power output in the second direction to facilitate energy use by the machine.

5. A load apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said control system further comprises at least one sensor coupled to said controller, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to detect the power output.

6. A load apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a housing apparatus coupled to said load and to said rotor assembly such that said housing apparatus substantially encloses at least a portion of said load and at least a portion of said rotor assembly therein.

7. A load apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said load comprises a high speed generator.

8. A load apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said quill shaft comprises a first end portion coupled to said rotor shaft and a second end portion coupled to the drive shaft, wherein said first end portion comprises a spline engagement member.

9. A power system comprising:

a machine comprising a drive shaft;

a load apparatus coupled to said machine, wherein said load apparatus comprises;

a load configured to convert mechanical rotational energy to electrical energy for a power output;

a rotor assembly coupled to said load, wherein said rotor assembly comprises a rotor shaft that is configured to rotate within at least a portion of said load; and

a quill shaft coupled to said rotor shaft, wherein said quill shaft is configured to couple said rotor shaft to said drive shaft such that said rotor shaft is at least one of axially and radially isolated from said drive shaft to facilitate rotordynamic isolation between said load apparatus and said machine; and

an energy storage device coupled to said load apparatus.

10. A power system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said load apparatus further comprises a control system coupled to said load, said control system comprises a controller that is configured to control channeling the power output in one of a first direction and a second direction, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.

11. A power system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said controller is configured to control channeling the power output in one of the first direction and the second direction based on a predefined threshold for the power output.

12. A power system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said controller is configured to channel the power output in the first direction to facilitate energy absorption by said energy storage device, and said controller is configured to channel the power output in the second direction to facilitate energy use by said machine.

13. A power system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said control system further comprises at least one sensor coupled to said controller, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to detect the power output.

14. A power system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said load apparatus further comprises a housing apparatus coupled to said load and to said rotor assembly such that said housing apparatus substantially encloses at least a portion of said load and at least a portion of said rotor assembly therein.

15. A power system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said load comprises a high speed generator.

16. A power system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said quill shaft comprises a first end portion coupled to said rotor shaft and a second end portion coupled to said drive shaft, wherein said first end portion comprises a spline engagement member.

17. A method of using a load apparatus, said method comprising:

providing a load that is configured to convert mechanical rotational energy to electrical energy for a power output;

coupling a rotor assembly to the load, wherein the rotor assembly includes a rotor shaft that is configured to rotate within at least a portion of the load; and

coupling a quill shaft to the rotor shaft, wherein the quill shaft is configured to couple the rotor shaft to a drive shaft of a machine such that the rotor shaft is at least one of axially and radially isolated from the drive shaft to facilitate rotordynamic isolation between the load apparatus and the machine.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, channeling the power output in one of a first direction and a second direction that is different from the first direction via a control system coupled to the load, wherein the control system includes a controller.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein channeling the power output in one of a first direction and a second direction further comprises channeling the power output in one of the first direction and the second direction based on a predefined threshold for the power output.

20. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein channeling the power output in one of a first direction and a second direction further comprises channeling the power output in one of the first direction to facilitate energy absorption by an energy storage device and the second direction to facilitate energy use by the machine.