SUPERCRITICAL CO2 COOLED ELECTRICAL MACHINE

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to cool a heat producing component in an electrical machine system. The electrical machine includes a supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO.sub.2) wherein the SCO.sub.2 is a working medium of a heat exchanger that is arranged in the electrical machine system to cool a fluid that cools the heat producing component and/or wherein the SCO.sub.2 directly cools at the heat producing component.

Claims

1. A system comprising: a dynamoelectric machine comprising a stator, and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator, the stator and the rotor are heat generating components; and a supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO.sub.2), wherein the dynamoelectric machine comprises a heat exchanger to cool a fluid that cools at least one of the heat generating components, the SCO.sub.2 is a working medium of the heat exchanger, the working medium is heated during the heat exchange to form a heated working medium.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the SCO.sub.2 is the working medium of a heat exchanger, and wherein the fluid is air, water or hydrogen.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein a heated working medium of the heat exchanger is discharged to the atmosphere.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein a heated working medium of the heat exchanger is sequestered.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein a heated working medium of the heat exchanger is used as a working medium in a further component in the system.

6. The system according to claim 5, comprising: an egress conduit arranged between the dynamoelectric machine and the further component, the egress conduit configured to conduct the heated working medium to the further component.

7. The system according to claim 6, comprising: an ingress conduit arranged between the dynamoelectric machine and the further component, the conduit configured to conduct a discharged working fluid from the further component to the heat exchanger, wherein the ingress conduit and the egress conduit form a closed loop between the dynamoelectric machine and the further component.

8. The system according to claim 7, comprising: an ingress conduit arranged between the dynamoelectric system and the further component, the conduit configured to conduct a discharged working fluid from the further component to the heat exchanger.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the SCO.sub.2 directly cools at least one of the heat producing components.

10.-14. (canceled)

15. The system according to claim 5, comprising: an ingress conduit arranged between the dynamoelectric system and the further component, the conduit configured to conduct a discharged working fluid from the further component to the dynamoelectric system.

16. The system according to claim 1, comprising an SCO.sub.2 power cycle turbine connected to the dynamoelectric system, the turbine providing rotational energy to the dynamoelectric machine.

17. A method comprising: receiving supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO.sub.2) by a dynamoelectric system comprising a stator, and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator; and cooling the stator and/or the rotor by a heat exchanger or directly by SCO.sub.2, wherein when cooling the stator and/or rotor by the heat exchanger, SCO.sub.2 is a working medium of the heat exchanger to cool a fluid having been heated from cooling the stator and/or the rotor.

18. (canceled)

19. The method according to claim 17, discharging a heated working medium of the heat exchanger to the atmosphere.

20. The method according to claim 17, sequestering a heated working medium of the heat exchanger.

21. The method according to claim 17, comprising conducting a discharged working fluid from a further component to the heat exchanger by an ingress conduit arranged between the dynamoelectric system and the further component.

22. The method according to claim 17, comprising conducting a heated working medium to a further component from the heat exchanger by an egress conduit arranged between the dynamoelectric system and the further component.

23. The method according to claim 17, comprising further heating the heated working medium before adding the heated working medium to the further component as a working medium.

24. The method according to claim 17, wherein the SCO.sub.2 directly cools at least one of the stator and the rotor, and wherein a heated exhaust gas is produced, from the SCO.sub.2, after cooling at least one of the stator and the rotor.

25.-26. (canceled)

27. A system comprising: a dynamoelectric machine comprising a stator, and a rotor rotatable relative to the stator, the stator and the rotor are heat generating components; a supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO.sub.2); an SCO.sub.2 power cycle turbine is connected to the dynamoelectric system, the turbine providing rotational energy to the dynamoelectric machine, wherein the dynamoelectric machine comprises a heat exchanger to cool a fluid that cools at least one of the heat generating components, the SCO.sub.2 is a working medium of the heat exchanger, the working medium is heated during the heat exchange to form a heated working medium and/or wherein the SCO.sub.2 directly cools at least one of the heat generating components, a heated exhaust gas is formed, from the SCO.sub.2, after the cooling of at least one of the heat generating components.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an electric generator.

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a system that includes SCO.sub.2, to cool heat generating components of a dynamoelectric system.

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a method of a system that includes SCO.sub.2, to cool heat generating components of a dynamoelectric system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Various technologies that pertain to systems and methods will now be described with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals represent like elements throughout. The drawings discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged apparatus. It is to be understood that functionality that is described as being carried out by certain system elements may be performed by multiple elements. Similarly, for instance, an element may be configured to perform functionality that is described as being carried out by multiple elements. The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with reference to exemplary non-limiting embodiments.

[0019] Also, it should be understood that the words or phrases used herein should be construed broadly unless expressly limited in some examples. For example, the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Further, the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like.

[0020] Also, although the terms “first”, “second”, “third” and so forth may be used herein to refer to various elements, information, functions, or acts, these elements, information, functions, or acts should not be limited by these terms. Rather these numeral adjectives are used to distinguish different elements, information, functions or acts from each other. For example, a first element, information, function, or act could be termed a second element, information, function, or act, and, similarly, a second element, information, function, or act could be termed a first element, information, function, or act, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0021] In addition, the term “adjacent to” may mean that an element is relatively near to but not in contact with a further element; or that the element is in contact with the further portion unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. Terms “about” or substantially” or like terms are intended to cover variations in a value that are within normal industry manufacturing tolerances for that dimension. If no industry standards are available, a variation of 20 percent would fall within the meaning of these terms unless otherwise stated. Ranges are understood to be inclusive of the starting and ending values unless otherwise stated.

[0022] An electric machine is any device that produces heat during operation and that may benefit from a reduction of heat of the heat generating components. The aspects described herein may be applied to any electric machine to reduce heat. A dynamoelectric machine is illustrated to describe the various aspects of the invention. It would be understood that the principles outlined using the dynamoelectric machine may be applied to other electric machines and that illustrations are not to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a system 200 that includes a dynamoelectric machine and supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO.sub.2,). The dynamoelectric machine 210 includes a plurality of heat generating components 212, 214. The heat generating components include a stator 212 and a rotor 214. The rotor 214 is rotatable relative to the stator 212. At least one of the stator and rotor is cooled by a heat exchanger or directly by the SCO.sub.2.

[0024] The dynamoelectric machine 210 may include a heat exchanger 240 using SCO.sub.2 216 as a working medium of the heat exchanger 240. A fluid 246, for example, air, hydrogen, or water, is circulated in a closed looped environment. The fluid 246 is used to cool at least one of the heat generating components 212, 214. It would be understood that the heat generating components 212, 214 may each be cooled by different fluids. It would also be understood that more than one heat exchanger 240 may be employed. For example, each heat generating component may use a different heat exchanger 240. The heat exchanger 240 is arranged to cool the fluid 246 that has been heated during the cooling of the at least one heat generating components 212, 214. The working medium 216 is heated during this heat exchange. By way of an egress conduit 250, the heated working medium 217 may be discharged, contained, or used in a further component by an egress conduit 250. For example, the heated working medium 217 may be released into the atmosphere 277; may be stored in a container 242; may be used as a coolant in the further component 254; or may be used as a working medium in the further component 254. The egress conduit 250 may be arranged between the dynamoelectric machine 210 and the further component 254 to conduct the heated working medium 217 from the heat exchanger 240 to the further component 254. An ingress conduit 270 may be arranged between the dynamoelectric machine 210 and the further component 254; the ingress conduit 270 is configured to conduct a discharged working fluid, SCO.sub.2, from the further component 254 to the heat exchanger 240. According to the illustration, the ingress conduit 270 and the egress conduit 250 are connected to the same further component 254. It would be understood that ingress conduit 270 may be connected to a first further component and the egress conduit 250 may connected to a second further component. It would further be understood the SCO.sub.2 216 may be supplied to the dynamoelectric machine 210 heat exchanger 240 by a container.

[0025] In an embodiment, a SCO.sub.2 power cycle turbine that uses SCO.sub.2 as a working medium is connected 280 to the dynamoelectric machine 210. For example, the SCO.sub.2 power cycle turbine may be an Allam Cycle turbine. SCO.sub.2. The turbine provides a rotational energy to the dynamoelectric machine. The ingress conduit 270 connects the SCO.sub.2 power cycle turbine 254 to the dynamoelectric machine 210, to supply SCO.sub.2 from the turbine 254 to the heat exchanger 240. As described above, the heated working medium 217 may be discharged, sequestered, or used in a further component by the egress conduit 250. The egress conduit 250 may connect the turbine 254 to the dynamoelectric machine 210 to conduct the heated working medium 217 of the heat exchanger 240 to the turbine 254. The internal energy of the SCO.sub.2 having been increased by the heating may increase the efficiency of the turbine 254. The heated working medium 217 may be further heated, further increasing the internal energy, before being added to the turbine 254. In an embodiment, the ingress conduit 270 and the egress conduit 250 are connected to the SCO.sub.2 power cycle turbine 254 creating a close loop for the SCO.sub.2. The stage of the turbine where the ingress conduit 270 is connected may be different than the stage to where the egress conduit 250 is connected.

[0026] Using SCO.sub.2 216 as a working fluid in the heat exchanger 240 may increase the power density of the generator without increasing footprint and/or without adding additional auxiliaries.

[0027] The dynamoelectric machine 210 may use SCO.sub.2 216 as a coolant to directly cool at least one of the heat generating components 212, 214. By way of an egress conduit 250, a heated exhaust gas 219, formed by directly cooling the heat generating component 212, 214 by the SCO2, may be discharged; may be contained; or may be used in a further component. For example, the heated exhaust gas 219 may be released into the atmosphere 277; may be stored in a container 242; may be used as a coolant in the further component 254; or may be used as a working medium in the further component 254. The egress conduit 360 may be arranged between the dynamoelectric machine 210 and the further component 254 to conduct the heated exhaust gas 219 to the further component. An ingress conduit 270 may be arranged between the dynamoelectric machine and the further component 254, the ingress conduit configured to conduct a discharged working fluid from the further component to the dynamoelectric machine. According to the illustration, the ingress conduit 270 and the egress conduit 250 are connected to the same further component 254. It would be understood that ingress conduit 270 may be connected to a first further component and the egress conduit 250 may connected to a second further component. It would further be understood the SCO.sub.2 216 may be supplied to the dynamoelectric machine 210 by a container.

[0028] In an embodiment, a SCO.sub.2 power cycle turbine that uses SCO.sub.2 as a working medium is connected 250 to the dynamoelectric machine 210, the turbine providing rotational energy to the dynamoelectric machine. For example, the SCO.sub.2 power cycle turbine may be an Allam Cycle turbine. SCO.sub.2. The ingress conduit 270 connects the SCO.sub.2 power cycle turbine 254 to the dynamoelectric machine 210, to supply SCO.sub.2 from the turbine 254 to directly cool at least one of the heat generating components. The heated exhaust gas 219 may be discharged, sequestered, or used in a further component. The egress conduit 250 may connect the turbine 254 to the dynamoelectric machine 210 to conduct heated exhaust gas 219 to the turbine 254. The internal energy of the SCO.sub.2 having been increased by the heating may increase the efficiency of the turbine 254. The heated exhaust gas 219 may be further heated, further increasing the internal energy, before being added to the turbine 254. The ingress conduit 270 and the egress conduit 250 may be connected to the SCO.sub.2 power cycle turbine 254 creating a close loop for the SCO.sub.2. The stage of turbine where the ingress conduit 270 is connected may be different than the stage to where the egress conduit 250 is connected.

[0029] Unlike water and hydrogen, SCO.sub.2 may directly contact the copper used in the stator windings. This may allow for a reduced caused of stator windings when producing cooling channels. Furthermore, by directly cooling at least one of the heat generating components 212, 214, a reduction of auxiliaries may be realized. For example, SCO.sub.2 is not conductive like water and would not need demineralization auxiliaries. A seal oil system needed by hydrogen cooling may be eliminated. It may be possible to eliminate other auxiliaries as the SCO.sub.2 is not in a close loop within the generator 210.

[0030] The combination of SCO.sub.2 216 as a working medium of a heat exchanger and SCO.sub.2 216 as a coolant to directly cool at least one of the heat generating components may be employed. For example, the rotor may be directly cooled by SCO.sub.2 216 and the stator may be cooled by a fluid that is cooled by the heat exchanger. It would be understood that a reverse configuration may be used where the stator may be directly cooled by SCO.sub.2 216 and the rotor may be cooled by a fluid that is cooled by the heat exchanger. It would be further understood that a configuration only using the heat exchanger 240 to cool at least one of the heat generating components 212, 214 may be employed or conversely, a configuration only using SCO.sub.2 216 may be used as a coolant to directly cool at least one of the heat generating components may be employed.

[0031] A method is illustrated in FIG. 3. According to the method 300 supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO.sub.2) is received by an electric machine comprising a plurality of heat generating components (310). The SCO2 may be received from a container or from a further component. The further component may be a SCO2 power cycle turbine.

[0032] At least one of the heat generating components is cooled (312) from a heat exchanger using the SCO.sub.2 as a working medium or by using SCO.sub.2 to directly cool at least one of the heat generating components.

[0033] When the SCO.sub.2 is a working medium of a heat exchanger, the fluid used of cool the stator/and or the rotor may be air, water or hydrogen.

[0034] The heated working medium of the heat exchanger and/or the heated exhaust gas may be discharged to the atmosphere, may be sequestered, may be used as a coolant in a further component, or may be used as a working medium in a further component. The further component may be a SCO2 power cycle turbine.

[0035] A closed loop may be provided between the further component and electric machine so SCO.sub.2 is received by the electrical machine and after the cooling of at least one of the heat generating components the heated working medium and/or the heated exhaust is returned to the further component as a working medium.

[0036] The heated working medium and/or the heated exhaust gas may be further heated before adding the heated working medium to the further component as a working medium.

[0037] The electric machine may be a generator comprising a rotor and a stator as the heat generating components.

[0038] In a further embodiment, a dynamoelectric machine may be provided that includes SCO.sub.2 within an enclosed casing around the rotor and the stator. In this way SCO.sub.2 surrounds the stator and rotor. A heat exchanger may be provided to extract the heat from the SCO.sub.2 as it is heated by the stator and the rotor.

[0039] Although an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, substitutions, variations, and improvements disclosed herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure in its broadest form.

[0040] None of the description in the present application should be read as implying that any element, step, act, or function is an essential element, which must be included in the claim scope: the scope of patented subject matter is defined only by the allowed claims. Moreover, none of these claims are intended to invoke a means plus function claim construction unless the exact words “means for” are followed by a participle.

[0041] Various technologies that pertain to arrangement and methods will now be described with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals represent like elements throughout. The drawings discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged apparatus. It is to be understood that functionality that is described as being carried out by certain system elements may be performed by multiple elements. Similarly, for instance, an element may be configured to perform functionality that is described as being carried out by multiple elements. The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with reference to exemplary non-limiting embodiments.