Patent ID: 7385303
Filing Date: 2008-06-10
Classification: B63H,B63J,F01D,F03B,F05B,F05D,Y02B,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A fluid power conversion apparatus serving fluid pumping and/or power-generation functions, comprising: an impeller having an impeller hub and a periphery; a housing around the impeller; a diffuser having (a) an outer wall attached to the housing, (b) a diffuser hub axially-aligned with the impeller hub, rotatable support of the impeller being provided only by a bearing assembly internal to the hubs, and (c) at least one stator vane securing the diffuser hub to the outer wall; and a rotating electrical machine having (a) an armature which is attached to the housing and has radially-inward protrusions with laminations and windings and (b) a rotor attached to the impeller periphery and positioned to form a gap between rotor and armature, the rotor having at least one magnetic ring sandwiched between radially-inward protrusions adjacent thereto and having a plurality of magnetic poles.