U.S. patent application number 14/799236 was filed with the patent office on 2017-01-19 for axial-flux induction motor pump.
The applicant listed for this patent is Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation. Invention is credited to Jacek F. Gieras, Lubomir A. Ribarov.
Application Number | 20170016449 14/799236 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56890679 |
Filed Date | 2017-01-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170016449 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gieras; Jacek F. ; et
al. |
January 19, 2017 |
AXIAL-FLUX INDUCTION MOTOR PUMP
Abstract
A pump comprises a housing partially defining a cavity, an
impeller arranged in cavity, the impeller including a first disk,
and a vane arranged on the first disk, the impeller operative to
rotate about a rotational axis, a first stator core arranged on the
housing, windings arranged on the first stator core, and a first
inlet defined by the housing, wherein the first inlet, the
impeller, and the housing partially define a fluid flow path.
Inventors: |
Gieras; Jacek F.;
(Glastonbury, CT) ; Ribarov; Lubomir A.; (West
Hartford, CT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation |
Charlotte |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56890679 |
Appl. No.: |
14/799236 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F05D 2300/507 20130101;
F04D 13/0666 20130101; H02K 7/14 20130101; F04D 29/026
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04D 13/06 20060101
F04D013/06; F04D 17/08 20060101 F04D017/08; F04D 29/24 20060101
F04D029/24; F04D 29/42 20060101 F04D029/42; F04D 29/30 20060101
F04D029/30; F04D 1/00 20060101 F04D001/00; F04D 25/06 20060101
F04D025/06 |
Claims
1. A pump comprising: a housing partially defining a cavity; an
impeller arranged in cavity, the impeller including a first disk,
and a vane arranged on the first disk, the impeller operative to
rotate about a rotational axis; a first stator core arranged on the
housing; windings arranged on the first stator core; and a first
inlet defined by the housing, wherein the first inlet, the
impeller, and the housing partially define a fluid flow path.
2. The pump of claim 1, further comprising a conductive material
arranged on a surface of the first disk such that the conductive
material is disposed between the first disk and the first stator
core such that the conductive material and the first stator core
partially define a gap therebetween.
3. The pump of claim 1, wherein further comprising a second stator
core arranged on the housing, wherein the second stator core is
arranged circumferentially about the rotational axis.
4. The pump of claim 1, wherein the first disk includes a
ferromagnetic material that is conductive to electric current and
magnetic flux.
5. The pump of claim 3, wherein the impeller further includes a
second disk arranged such that the vane is disposed between the
second disk and the first disk, the second disk including a
ferromagnetic material that is conductive to electric current and
magnetic flux.
6. The pump of claim 5, further comprising a conductive material
arranged on a surface of the second disk such that the conductive
material is disposed between the second disk and the second stator
core such that the conductive material and the first second core
partially define a gap therebetween.
7. The pump of claim 2, wherein the conductive material has a
higher conductivity than the first disk.
8. The pump of claim 1, further comprising a second inlet defined
by the housing, wherein the second inlet partially defines the
fluid flow path.
9. The pump of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an outlet
communicative with the cavity, the outlet partially defining the
fluid flow path.
10. A pump comprising: a housing partially defining a cavity; an
impeller arranged in cavity, the impeller including a first disk, a
second disk, and a vane arranged between the first disk and the
second disk, the impeller operative to rotate about a rotational
axis; a first stator core arranged on the housing such that a
portion of the first stator core partially defines the cavity;
windings arranged on the first stator core; and a first inlet
defined by the housing, wherein the first inlet, the impeller, and
the housing partially define a fluid flow path.
11. The pump of claim 10, further comprising a conductive material
arranged on a surface of the first disk such that the conductive
material is disposed between the first disk and the first stator
core such that the conductive material and the first stator core
partially define a gap therebetween.
12. The pump of claim 10, wherein further comprising a second
stator core arranged on the housing, wherein the second stator core
is arranged circumferentially about the rotational axis.
13. The pump of claim 10, wherein the first disk includes a
ferromagnetic material that is conductive to electric current and
magnetic flux.
14. The pump of claim 12, wherein the second disk includes a
ferromagnetic material that is conductive to electric current and
magnetic flux.
15. The pump of claim 12, further comprising a conductive material
arranged on a surface of the second disk such that the conductive
material is disposed between the second disk and the second stator
core such that the conductive material and the second stator core
partially define a gap therebetween.
16. A pump comprising: a housing partially defining a cavity; an
impeller arranged in cavity, the impeller including a first disk,
and a vane arranged on the first disk, the impeller operative to
rotate about a rotational axis; a first stator core arranged on the
housing such that a portion of the first stator core partially
defines the cavity; windings arranged on the first stator core; and
a first inlet defined by the housing, wherein the first inlet, the
impeller, and the housing partially define a fluid flow path.
17. The pump of claim 16, further comprising a conductive material
arranged on a surface of the first disk such that the conductive
material is disposed between the first disk and the first stator
core such that the conductive material and the first stator core
partially define a gap therebetween.
18. The pump of claim 16, wherein further comprising a second
stator core arranged on the housing, wherein the second stator core
is arranged circumferentially about the rotational axis.
19. The pump of claim 16, wherein the first disk includes a
ferromagnetic material that is conductive to electric current and
magnetic flux.
20. The pump of claim 18, wherein the impeller further includes a
second disk arranged such that the vane is disposed between the
second disk and the first disk, the second disk including a
ferromagnetic material that is conductive to electric current and
magnetic flux.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to pumps, and particularly to
an axial-flux induction motor driven centrifugal pump.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Centrifugal pumps include a housing with an impeller that is
driven by a prime mover to rotate in the housing. Fluid typically
enters the pump impeller axially through a suction side intake and
is accelerated to flow radially. The housing chamber acts as a
diffuser that decelerates the flow of the fluid and increases the
pressure of the fluid, which is discharged from an outlet on the
pressure side of the pump.
SUMMARY
[0003] According to an embodiment, a pump comprises a housing
partially defining a cavity, an impeller arranged in cavity, the
impeller including a first disk, and a vane arranged on the first
disk, the impeller operative to rotate about a rotational axis, a
first stator core arranged on the housing, windings arranged on the
first stator core, and a first inlet defined by the housing,
wherein the first inlet, the impeller, and the housing partially
define a fluid flow path.
[0004] According to another embodiment, a pump comprises a housing
partially defining a cavity, an impeller arranged in cavity, the
impeller including a first disk, a second disk, and a vane arranged
between the first disk and the second disk, the impeller operative
to rotate about a rotational axis, a first stator core arranged on
the housing such that a portion of the first stator core partially
defines the cavity, windings arranged on the first stator core, and
a first inlet defined by the housing, wherein the first inlet, the
impeller, and the housing partially define a fluid flow path.
[0005] According to yet another embodiment, a pump comprises a
housing partially defining a cavity, an impeller arranged in
cavity, the impeller including a first disk, and a vane arranged on
the first disk, the impeller operative to rotate about a rotational
axis, a first stator core arranged on the housing such that a
portion of the first stator core partially defines the cavity,
windings arranged on the first stator core, and a first inlet
defined by the housing, wherein the first inlet, the impellor, and
the housing partially define a fluid flow path.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Exemplary embodiments and features of the present disclosure
will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 6, of which:
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a cut-away view along the line A-A of
FIG. 2 of an exemplary embodiment of an axial-flux induction motor
pump.
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the pump of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate exemplary embodiment of a
pump.
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates another alternate exemplary embodiment of
a pump.
[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a fluid flow path.
[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a pump that
includes two fluid inlets.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Previous centrifugal pumps often included a prime mover such
as an electric motor or engine that was coupled to the impeller via
a drive shaft. Such pumps were large and heavy, and used bushings
and seals that often needed maintenance.
[0014] Some previous centrifugal pumps integrated the pump and
motor where the impeller contained permanent magnets such that the
impeller acted as the rotor for a brushless direct current (DC)
motor. Such pumps produced high axial attractive forces (at zero
current state) between the stator and impeller that caused
difficulties in practical assembly of the pumps. The magnetic
impeller attracted unwanted ferromagnetic debris. The pumps also
used more complicated electronics to control the pump motor.
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a cut-away view along the line A-A (of
FIG. 2) of an exemplary embodiment of an axial-flux induction motor
pump 100. The pump 100 is a centrifugal type pump having a fluid
inlet 102 that communicates through a housing 104. An impeller 106
is arranged in the housing 104 and is arranged to rotate around an
axis of rotation 101. The impeller includes vanes 108 arranged
between a first disk 110 and a second disk 112 that secure the
vanes 108. An electrically conductive material 114 is arranged on
the first disk 110. A stator core 116 is arranged proximate to the
conductive material 114. Windings 118 are arranged on the stator
core 116. The stator core 116 and the conductive material 114
define a gap having a gap width (g). In the illustrated embodiment,
the stator core 116 is arranged in the housing 104 such that an
inner surface (active surface) 119 of the stator core 116 is
proximate to the conductive material 114. The stator core 116
passes through the housing 104 and partially defines the chamber
120 with the housing 104. In the illustrated embodiment the stator
core 116 contacts and partially defines the flow path of the
fluid.
[0016] In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 104 may be formed
from any suitable material such as, for example, a plastic or
polymer material, a nonmagnetic material such as bronze, aluminium,
titanium or ceramic, or a ferromagnetic material such as, for
example steel or nickel. The first disk 110 is formed from a
suitable ferromagnetic material such as, for example, steel,
nickel, or another ferromagnetic alloy. The second disk 112 in the
illustrated embodiment, may be formed from any suitable material
such as, for example, a plastic or polymer material, or a metallic
or ceramic material. In the illustrated embodiment, the second disk
112 may be formed from similar or dissimilar materials as the first
disk 110.
[0017] The conductive material 114 arranged in contact with the
first disk 110, and may include a conductive material such as, for
example, copper or silver. The stator core 116 may be a single
phase or a poly-phase, and may be formed from, for example, a
laminated or sintered powder ferromagnetic material. The windings
118 are formed from, for example, copper or aluminium wire that may
be wound about the stator core 116.
[0018] In operation, the first disk 110 conducts both electric
current and magnetic flux. Eddy currents induced in the first disk
110 interact with the stator magnetic field to produce
electromagnetic torque. The torque is applied to the first disk
110, which rotates the impeller 106 about the rotational axis 101.
The rotation of the impeller 106 draws fluid through the fluid
inlet 102, and increases the velocity and pressure of the fluid as
the fluid flows radially outward. The fluid is discharged from the
pump 100 via an outlet 202 (described below in FIG. 2).
[0019] Higher torque is achieved by increasing the current in the
first disk 110 and the magnetic flux density in the gap 103 between
the first disk 110 and the stator core 116. The current in the
first disk 110 may be increased by reducing the impedance for eddy
currents in the first disk 110. The impedance for eddy currents in
the first disk 110 can be decreased by arranging a conductive
material 114 having a relatively higher conductivity than the
conductivity of the first disk 110 on an outer surface 105 of the
first disk 110 such that the conductive material 114 is disposed
between the first disk 110 and the stator core 116. The conductive
material 114 may include, for example, copper or silver, and may
be, for example, arranged as a coating on the first disk 110 or may
be fabricated by securing a disk of the conductive material 114 to
the first disk 110. The arrangement of the conductive material 114
on the disk 110 need not cover the entire outer surface 105 of the
disk 110. In alternate embodiments, for example, the conductive
material 114 may be arranged as bands proximate to edges of the
first disk 110. Radial or skewed slots may also be arranged in the
first disk 110 to reduce the impedance for eddy currents of the
first disk 110 in other alternate embodiments.
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the pump 100. The windings
118 are shown arranged about the stator core 116. In FIG. 2 some of
the windings 118 are not shown for clarity. In this regard, in the
exemplary embodiment, the windings 118 are arranged axially about
the axis of rotation 101 on the stator core 116. FIG. 2 illustrates
the fluid outlet 202, which is communicative with the chamber
120.
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate exemplary embodiment of a
pump 300. The pump 300 is similar to the pump 100 (of FIG. 1)
described above. The pump 300 includes an additional stator core
116b and additional windings 118b arranged on a side of the
impeller 106 opposing the stator core 116a and windings 118a. A
disk 110b that is similar to the disk 110a is arranged proximate to
the stator core 116b. A conductive material 114b is arranged on the
second disk 110b. The operation of the pump 300 is similar to the
operation of the pump 100 described above.
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates another alternate exemplary embodiment of
a pump 400. The pump 400 is similar to the pump 100 (of FIG. 1)
however; the stator core 116 is mounted on an outer surface 401 of
the housing 104. In other alternate embodiments, the pump 300 (of
FIG. 3) may include stator cores 116a and/or 116b arranged on the
outer surface of the housing 104 of pump 300 in a manner similar to
the pump 400.
[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the fluid flow path 501 of
pump 500 similar to the pumps described above. In the illustrated
embodiment the fluid flows through the inlet 102 and radially
outward from the axis of rotation 101 of the impeller 106. The
fluid flows through the gap 103 partially defined by the housing
104, the stator core 116 and the conductive material 114.
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a pump 600
that includes two fluid inlets, a first fluid inlet 102 and a
second fluid inlet 602 opposing the first fluid inlet 102. The
fluid flow path 601 is partially defined by the first fluid inlet
102 and the second fluid inlet 602. The arrangement of the inlets
102 and 602 of FIG. 6 may be used in any of the embodiments
described above.
[0025] The embodiments of a centrifugal pump described above offer
a low cost, compact, high speed pump that may be used in a number
of fluid systems. The pump avoids using permanent magnets, which
attract unwanted ferromagnetic debris. The pump has low
susceptibility to electromagnetic interference, and may be
assembled easily.
[0026] Although the figures and the accompanying description
describe particular embodiments, it is to be understood that the
scope of this disclosure is not to be limited to such specific
embodiments, and is, instead, to be determined by the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *