SHAFT GENERATOR FOR GENERATING POWER DURING A GENERATING PROCESS AND/OR FOR PROVIDING POWER DURING A MOTOR OPERATION

Abstract

The invention relates to a shaft generator (01) for generating power during a generating process and/or for providing power during a motor operation, the shaft generator (01) comprising a stator (02) and a rotor (03), the rotor (03) being configured to be disposed around a shaft (04) of a drive unit, in particular bearing-free, and the stator (02) being configured to be disposed around the rotor (03). The shaft generator (01) comprises at least two frequency converters (08, 09), the stator (02) is separable into at least two stator segments (05, 06) and each of the at least two stator segments (05, 06) is assigned one of the at least two frequency converters (08, 09).

Claims

1. A shaft generator (01) for generating power during a generating process and/or for providing power during a motor operation, the shaft generator (01) comprising a stator (02) and a rotor (03), the rotor (03) being configured to be disposed around a shaft (04) of a drive unit, in particular bearing-free, and the stator (02) being configured to be disposed around the rotor (03), characterized in that the shaft generator (01) comprises at least two frequency converters (08, 09), the stator (02) is separable into at least two stator segments (05, 06) and each of the at least two stator segments (05, 06) is assigned one of the at least two frequency converters (08, 09).

2. The shaft generator (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotor (03) is separable into at least two rotor segments (13, 14).

3. The shaft generator (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two stator segments (05, 06) are each configured to be displaced radially and/or axially.

4. The shaft generator according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least two rotor segments (13, 14) are each configured to be displaced radially and/or axially.

5. The shaft generator (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two stator segments (05, 06) are each configured to be operated independently of each other during a motor operation and/or during a generating process by means of the corresponding frequency converter (08, 09).

6. The shaft generator (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that the stator (02) is separable into 4, 6, 8 or 10 stator segments (05, 06) and/or the rotor (03) is separable into 4, 6, 8 or 10 rotor segments (13, 14).

7. The shaft generator (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two stator segments (05, 06) and/or the at least two rotor segments (13, 14) are each designed in the form of a hollow-cylinder segment.

8. The shaft generator (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the at least two frequency converters (08, 09) is configured to operate the corresponding stator segment (05, 06) of the at least two stator segments (05, 06) during a motor operation and/or during a generating process.

9. The shaft generator (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaft generator (01) has a power range of 500 kilowatts to 15,000 kilowatts.

10. The shaft generator according to claim 1, characterized in that an air gap in the size of 1 millimeter to 30 millimeters is present between the stator (02) and the rotor (03) in an operational state of the shaft generator (01).

11. The shaft generator (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that the stator (02) has a diameter of 150 centimeters to 500 centimeters.

12. The shaft generator (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaft generator (01) has a gross weight of 3,000 kilograms to 30,000 kilograms.

13. The shaft generator (01) according to any one of claim 1, characterized in that the stator (02) and the rotor (03) and the at least two frequency converters (08, 09) form components of an electric synchronous machine.

14. An energy-generation and/or drive system having a shaft generator (01) according to claim 1 and having a drive unit comprising a shaft (04), the rotor (03) being disposed around the shaft (04), the stator (02) being disposed around the rotor (03) and the shaft (04) being rotatable by means of the drive unit and/or the shaft generator (01).

15. A ship having a shaft generator (01) according to claim 1 or an energy-generation and/or drive system.

Description

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a shaft generator and a shaft of a drive unit in an operational state;

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a shaft generator having separated stator segments displaced radially with respect to each other:

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of separated rotor segments displaced radially with respect to each other, including a shaft of a drive unit:

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of two stator segments in a closed position; and

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of separated stator segments displaced radially with respect to each other.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a shaft generator 01 according to the invention. Shaft generator 01 has a stator 02 and a rotor 03. Rotor 03 in the present case is fixedly disposed on a shaft 04 and/or connected in a torque-proof manner thereto in a bearing-free manner, i.e., without a bearing. Shaft 04 is, for example, a ship-propeller shaft which can be operated by a drive unit (not shown), such as a ship engine. Stator 02 is in the present case is disposed concentrically around rotor 03. Rotor 03 is separated from stator 02 contact-free via an air gap (not shown) and can rotate inside the stator 02.

[0052] According to the invention, stator 02 has at least two stator segments 05, 06. In the present case, stator 02 has a first stator segment 05 and a second stator segment 06. Stator segments 05, 06 are each semi-shells. Stator segments 05, 06 are separable from each other, stator segments 05, 06 being assembled so as to be reversibly detachable in the state shown in FIG. 1, meaning stator 02 essentially has the shape of a hollow cylinder in this state. Both stator segments 05, 06 can be connected to each other to form stator 02, for example via a reversible clamping or screw connection, which can be provided at tabs 07 of stator segments 05, 06, tabs 07 each being disposed at end faces. Tabs 07 in the present case are provided as radially protruding sections at corresponding end sections of stator segments 05, 06 (see also FIGS. 4 and 5). Other connections are generally also conceivable which ensure that stator segments 05, 06 are separable from each other, preferably individually, after being assembled to form stator 02.

[0053] Furthermore, shaft generator 01 comprises at least two frequency converters (not shown in FIG. 1 for better clarity), i.e., at least one first frequency converter 08 and one second frequency converter 09. In FIG. 1, merely first clamping box 08a for the connection of first frequency converter 08 and second clamping box 09a for the connection of second frequency converter 09 are shown. Each of the two stator segments 05, 06 is assigned one of the at least two frequency converters 08, 09. In the present case, first frequency converter 08 is assigned to first stator segment 05, i.e., electrically connected thereto. Second frequency converter 09 is assigned to second stator segment 06, i.e., electrically connected thereto. Corresponding frequency converters 08, 09 together with corresponding stator segments 05, 06 each form a self-contained electromagnetic active system, which can be operated independently of each other both during a generating process and during a motor operation in interaction with rotor 03.

[0054] Furthermore, shaft generator 01 has a rail guide 10, which is oriented orthogonally to a rotational axis 11 of rotor 03 and/or to rotational axis 11 of shaft 04. At each of the at least two stator segments 05, 06, a guide 12 is provided. Each guide 12 is fixedly connected to corresponding stator segment 05, 06 at one of their ends, for example welded thereto.

[0055] At the other end, each guide 12 engages in rail guide 10, so that guide 12 is movably disposed on rail guide 10. According to the invention, it is possible to separate each stator segment 05, 06 from a corresponding other stator segment. By means of rail guide 10, it is possible to move each separated stator segment 05, 06 individually away from rotor 03 in the radial direction.

[0056] In FIG. 2, for example, it is shown that both stator segments 05, 06 are each displaced away from rotor 03 along rail guide 10 in opposite radial directions to each other. Thus, stator segments 05, 06 are each electromagnetically decoupled from rotor 03. Upon a malfunction in one of stator segments 05, 06, it is consequently possible to effectively decouple them. Rotor 03 can thus continue to rotate with shaft 04, without an electromagnetic supply to the stator taking place, which could cause a fire hazard in the event of a fault.

[0057] In FIG. 3, rotor 03 is shown in an isolated view, i.e., without stator 02, albeit with shaft 04. As FIG. 3 shows, rotor 03 can be separated into at least two rotor segments 13, 14, as intended by the invention. In the present case, rotor 03 therefore has a first rotor segment 13 and a second rotor segment 14. Both rotor segments 13, 14 separate rotor 03 axial-symmetrically into two halves. Rotor 03 or rather rotor segments 13, 14 in the present case have permanent magnet poles each having alternating polarity, the permanent magnet poles being disposed along an outer circumference of corresponding rotor segment 13, 14, i.e., on a corresponding partial circumferential surface. In FIG. 3, no clearly delimited permanent magnet poles are drawn, but they are merely indicated schematically. Rotor 03 in the present case forms a part of a synchronous machine excited by permanent magnets. Rotor segments 13, 14 in the present case are each designed having a spoke-like interior. Rotor 03 is thus not designed as a contiguous circular disk, but rather has a shape more akin to a wheel rim having a plurality of recesses. These serve essentially to reduce weight and decrease an initial moment of inertia when starting rotor 03.

[0058] In FIGS. 4 and 5, stator 02 is shown in an isolated view again. In FIG. 4, stator 02 is shown in an assembled state, as previously shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 5, stator 02 is shown in a state in which the at least two stator segments 05, 06 are separated from each other and are each moved away from each other in the radial direction along the rail guide. From the Figures, it can be seen that stator 02 comprises a plurality of stator windings 15, which are distributed along an inner circumferential surface of stator 02 so as to be isolated from each other. The number of stator windings 15 is determined by the number of pole pairs of shaft generator 01.