MAGNETIC BEARING FOR A TURBOMACHINE

Abstract

A magnetic bearing for a turbomachine includes a stator fixable to a structure of a turbomachine; a rotor magnetically coupled to the stator and defining a rotation axis, the rotor having a front central surface, a rear central surface opposite to the front central surface and an external surface with respect to the rotation axis; the rotor is provided with an internal channel configured to displace cooling fluid.

Claims

1. Magnetic bearing for a turbomachine, comprising a stator fixable to a structure of a turbomachine; a rotor magnetically coupled to the stator and defining a rotation axis, the rotor having a front central surface, a rear central surface opposite to the front central surface and an external surface with respect to the rotation axis; wherein the rotor is provided with an internal channel configured to displace cooling fluid.

2. Magnetic bearing according to claim 1, wherein the channel is configured to direct the cooling fluid on a motor of the turbomachine.

3. Magnetic bearing according to claim 1, wherein the channel has an intake on the front central surface and an outlet onto the side surface.

4. Magnetic bearing according to claim 1, also comprising a mechanical backup bearing configured to act on the rotor to support the rotor.

5. Magnetic bearing according to the previous claim 4 wherein the rotor is provided with a support extending from the front central surface, the mechanical backup bearing being configured to engage the support.

6. Magnetic bearing according to claim 4, also comprising a landing sleeve attached to the rotor and configured to engage the mechanical backup bearing.

7. Magnetic bearing according to claim 6, wherein the landing sleeve is made as a single piece with the rotor.

8. Magnetic bearing according to claim 4, also comprising a cartridge, the stator being housed inside the cartridge.

9. Magnetic bearing according to claim 8, wherein the mechanical backup bearing is also housed inside the cartridge.

10. Magnetic bearing according to claim 8, also comprising a further cartridge, distinct from the cartridge, the mechanical backup bearing being housed inside the further cartridge.

11. Magnetic bearing according to claim 1, wherein the rotor is attachable to an end of a shaft of a turbomachine.

12. Magnetic bearing according to claim 11, wherein the rotor is provided with a hole for a screw, the hole being coaxial with the rotation axis.

13. Magnetic bearing according to claim 1, wherein the rotor has a front peripheral surface external with respect to the front central surface; a rear peripheral surface external with respect to the rear central surface; the stator comprising a plurality of coils, each coil facing either the front peripheral surface of the rotor or the rear peripheral surface.

14. Magnetic bearing according to claim 1, wherein the rotor is a shrouded impeller.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Further details and specific embodiments will refer to the attached drawings, in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a magnetic bearing according to a an embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a magnetic bearing according to an embodiment; and

[0015] FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a magnetic bearing according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The following description of exemplary embodiments refer to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit embodiments of the invention. Instead, the scope of embodiments of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0017] Reference throughout the specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases in one embodiment or in an embodiment in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0018] With reference to the attached drawings, with the number 1 is indicated a magnetic bearing for a turbomachine.

[0019] Such magnetic bearing 1 is typically installed between the structure C of the turbomachine and the shaft 5. Indeed, the magnetic bearing 1 is installed between the structure C of the turbomachine and the shaft 5. The purpose of the magnetic bearing 1 is to support the shaft S itself with all of the rotoric stages of the turbomachine (which are not shown in the drawings).

[0020] The magnetic bearing 1 comprises a stator 2, which is fixable to the above mentioned structure C. With more detail, the stator is, in an embodiment, an electromagnet comprising a plurality of coils 5. The electromagnet 2 and the coils 5, being of a known type, won't be described with additional detail in the present disclosure.

[0021] The magnetic bearing 1 also comprises a rotor 3, which is magnetically coupled to the stator 2. The rotor 3 defines a rotation axis A. With more detail, the rotor 3 has a front central surface 3a, placed transversally with respect to the rotation axis A. A rear central surface 3b is opposite to the front central surface 3a, also placed transversally with respect to rotation axis A. Also, an external surface 3c is defined as a substantially circumferential surface, placed externally with respect to the rotation axis A. Also, the rotor 3 has a front peripheral surface 3d, which is placed externally with respect to the front central surface 3a. The front peripheral surface 3d also borders the external surface 3c. Similarly, the rotor 3 has a rear peripheral surface 3e, which is placed externally with respect to the rear central surface 3b. The rear peripheral surface 3e also borders the external surface 3c.

[0022] The above described coils 5, part of the stator 2, are arranged around the rotor 3. In particular, the coils 5 are arranged by pair. In each pair, a coil 5 faces the front peripheral surface 3d of the rotor 3, while another coil 5 faces the rear peripheral surface 3e. The pairs of coils 5 are arranged along radial directions extending from the rotation axis A. One or more pair can be placed on a single radial direction. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, in the presently described embodiments a single pair of coils 5 are provided. These coils 5 are continuous along substantially the entire circumference of the stator 2. In other embodiments, not shown in the drawings, any number of pairs of coils 5 can be arranged radially. In other words, the coils 5 have a uniform distribution along the periphery of the rotor 3. Therefore, the rotor 3 and the stator 2 perform the function of an axial magnetic bearing in the bearing 1.

[0023] As shown by the FIGS. 1-3, the rotor 3 is provided with an internal channel 4 configured to move cooling fluid. Indeed, the rotor 3 is, in an embodiment, provided with a plurality of internal channel 4, arranged in a radial symmetry around the rotation axis A. Still, with other words, the rotor 3 is configured internally as a centrifugal impeller, in particular a shrouded impeller, thereby allowing it to perform such function in addition to its mechanical role in the magnetic bearing 1.

[0024] With additional detail, each channel 4 has an intake 4a placed on the front central surface 3a of the rotor 3. Also, each duct has an outlet 4b located onto the side surface 3c of the rotor 3. Indeed, the channels 4 are configured so as to direct the cooling fluid on a motor (not shown in the drawing) of said turbomachine. In other embodiments, the rotor 3 may direct the cooling fluid on any part of the turbomachine that needs cooling. It is to be noted that in all the embodiments the rotor 3 provides its own cooling, thereby removing the need to provide a cooling system for the rotor 3.

[0025] It is particularly to be noted that the rotor 3 described above is attachable to an end of the shaft S of the turbomachine. In other words, the rotor 3 is placed in an overhanging configuration. To fix the rotor 3 at the end of the shaft S, it is provided with a hole 12 for a screw 13. The hole 12 is coaxial with the rotation axis A. In other embodiments of the invention, not shown in the drawings, other known fixing means can be used instead of the hole 12 and the screw 13. For example, in other embodiments of the invention, not shown in the drawings, the rotor 3 can be made as a single piece with the shaft S of the turbomachine. Also, in other embodiments, not shown in the drawings, the rotor 3 may be placed in a configuration different from the above described overhanging configuration.

[0026] With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the magnetic bearing 1 also comprises a radial magnetic bearing 6. Such radial magnetic bearing 6 acts directly between the structure C and the shaft S of the turbomachine. The radial magnetic bearing 6, being of known type, will not be further described.

[0027] Also, the magnetic bearing 1 comprises a mechanical backup bearing 7, which is configured to act on the shaft S to support it, in particular when the axial magnetic bearing fails or if the forces acting on the magnetic bearing 1 are greater than its capacity to counteract them. With more detail, such mechanical backup bearing 7 acts on the rotor 3 to support the shaft S through the rotor 3.

[0028] With additional detail, the mechanical backup bearing may be a ball bearing or bushing bearing.

[0029] To engage the mechanical backup bearing 7, the rotor 3 is provided with a support 8, which extends from the front central surface 3a. With more detail, the support 8 as an internal surface 8a, which defines a cylindrical cavity 10. The support 8 also has an external surface 8b which is attached to the mechanical backup bearing 7. Indeed, it is to be noted that the support 8 for the mechanical bearing 7 extends outwardly with respect from both the rest of the rotor 3 and with respect to the shaft S of the turbomachine.

[0030] With additional detail, a landing sleeve 9 is attached to the rotor 3, in particular to the support 8. The landing sleeve 9 is configured to directly engage the mechanical backup bearing 7.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the landing sleeve 9 is attached to the external surface 8b of the support 8. According to another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 3, the landing sleeve 9 is made as a single piece with the rotor 3. In this case, the surface 8b of the support 8 is partially defined on the landing sleeve 9.

[0032] In order to house the stator 2, the magnetic bearing 1 also comprises a cartridge 11, which is in particular attached to the structure C of the turbomachine. Furthermore, part of the rotor 3 is also housed inside the cartridge 11. With additional detail, the cartridge 11 is placed externally with respect to the rotor 3, which is nevertheless partially contained inside the cartridge 11. Indeed, the peripheral surfaces 3d, 3e, as well as the external surface 3c of the rotor 3, are enveloped by the stator 2 and, consequently, are mostly inside the cartridge 11.

[0033] It is also to be noted that, according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the above mentioned mechanical backup bearing 7 is also housed inside the cartridge 11.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, in another embodiment the magnetic bearing 1 may also comprise a further cartridge 14, which is distinct from the cartridge 11. In this case, the mechanical backup bearing 7 is housed inside the further cartridge 14.

[0035] Also, the further cartridge 14 is attached to the cartridge 11 described above. The further cartridge 14 is placed externally with respect to the rotor 3 and, in particular with respect to the landing sleeve 9.

[0036] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the preferred embodiments, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.