Dynamoelectric machine rotor

Abstract: A U-shaped subslot liner (70) is disposed in the bottom of a slot (68) in the rotor (64) of a dynamoelectric machine. A stack of conductors (22) and insulating layers (24) is supported by arms (74,76) of the subslot liner during manufacture. The subslot liner, together with the lower conductor, defines a coolant channel (80) for conveying a gaseous coolant to the conductors. A slot armor (78) lines the sides of the slots where it is retained against centrifugal acceleration by the subslot liner. In one embodiment, the slot armor (78) passes completely under the subslot liner. In other embodiments, the slot armor is in two pieces, each affixed to the subslot liner.

Description: The present invention relates to dynamoelectric machines and, more particularly, to a rotor for a dynamoelectric machine. The present invention relates for example to a field rotor of a large dynamoelectric machine. One type of large dynamoelectric machine employs a forged rotor of magnetic material into which slots are machined to contain metallic current-carrying field conductors interconnected to produce a desired magnetic flux pattern. The rotor is rotated on an axis to cause the flux pattern to interact with conductors in a stator, whereby electric power is generated in response to rotational torque (in a generator) or a torque is generated in response to input electric energy. The magnitude of the field flux which may be generated in the rotor is limited by the permissible maximum current in the field conductors. This limit is related to the temperature to which the field windings can be exposed. The maximum current can be increased by providing means for dissipating heat from the windings. One technique for cooling, with which the present invention is concerned, includes flowing a coolant gas in ventilation passages in subslots in the rotor located below the slots containing the windings. Flow channels pass from the subslots radially outward through coolant openings in the windings to dissipate resistive heating losses from the windings. As disclosed in DE-A-2913844 and as shown in Figure 1 of this application, it is conventional to form a subslot with a smaller cross section than the conductor-containing main slot. A subslot cover between the subslot and the main slot supports the conductors, and other elements above it, provides insulation to ground for the conductors and provides an interface with slot armor lining the main slot. Machining of rotor slots is complicated by the need to form two slot widths in each slot, namely, the conductor-carrying slot and the narrower subslot. In addition, the subslot cover requires machined holes therein to permit the coolant gas flowing therein to pass from the subslot into the windings. In addition, the requirement that the subslot cover provide an interface between slot armor lining the main slot, as well as electrical insulation to ground, results in a subslot cover having complex geometry and resultant high cost. FR-A-2089422 discloses a rotor for a dynamoelectric machine, the rotor including a plurality of longitudinal slots therein extending radially into said rotor, each slot having a plurality of conductors therein; a subslot liner below said plurality of conductors; said subslot liner including first and second arms supporting said plurality of conductors at least during assembly of said rotor to define a coolant passage below the plurality of conductors; a slot armor extending radially along first and second sides of said slot between said slot and said plurality of conductors; at least a radially inner portion of said slot armor being retained against outward urging by centrifugal acceleration; and means for retaining said plurality of conductors in said slot against outward urging by centrifugal acceleration. The subslot liner is of copper and extends around the bottom, sides and top of the coolant passage with coolant holes in the top of the liner communicating with coolant passages through the conductors. According to the present invention, there is provided a rotor for a dynamoelectric machine, the rotor including a plurality of longitudinal slots therein extending radially into said rotor, each slot having: a plurality of conductors therein; a subslot liner below said plurality of conductors; said subslot liner including first and second arms supporting said plurality of conductors at least during assembly of said rotor to define a coolant passage below the plurality of conductors; a slot armor extending radially along first and second sides of said slot between said slot and said plurality of conductors at least a radially inner portion of said slot armor having retained against outward urging by centrifugal acceleration; and means for retaining said plurality of conductors in said slot against outward urging by centrifugal acceleration; characterized in that the subslot liner is of insulative material, and the said arms extend radially into contact with the lower one of the plurality of conductors the said lower one of the conductors defining the radially outer side of the coolant passage. Embodiments of the present invention provide a U-shaped subslot liner disposed in the bottom of a slot in the rotor of a dynamoelectric machine. A stack of conductors and insulating layers is supported by arms of the subslot liner at least during manufacture. Thus the extremities of an upward-opening shape support windings disposed in the slot, particularly during assembly of the rotor. The subslot liner, together with the lower conductor, defines a coolant channel for conveying a gaseous coolant to the conductors. A slot armor lines the sides of the slots; it may be retained against centrifugal acceleration by the subslot liner. In one embodiment, the slot armor passes completely under the subslot liner. In other embodiments, the slot armor is in two pieces, each affixed to the subslot liner. A better understanding of the present invention will become apparent from the following illustrative description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a cross section of a slot in a rotor of a dynamoelectric machine showing a subslot cover according to the prior art. Fig. 2 is a cross section of a slot in a rotor of a dynamoelectric machine showing a subslot liner according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 is a cross section of a slot in a rotor of a dynamoelectric machine showing a subslot liner according to a further embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional of a slot in a rotor of a dynamoelectric machine showing a subslot liner according to a still further embodiment of the invention. Fig. 5 is a cross section of a slot in a rotor corresponding to Fig. 2 except that the bottom of the slot and the slot liner have a trapezoidal shape. Referring to Fig. 1, a rotor 10 of a prior art dynamoelectric machine includes a rotor forging 12 (only part of which is shown) including a plurality of longitudinal slots 14 (one of which is shown) disposed therein. For reference, a peripheral outer surface 16 of rotor forging 12 is identified in the figure. Slot 14 includes a main portion 18 and a subslot 20. Conventionally, a width of subslot 20 is less than that of main portion 18. A plurality of conductors 22, mutually insulated by intermediate insulating layers 24, are disposed in main portion 10. A subslot cover 26 rests on a shoulder 28 defined by the different widths of main portion 18 and subslot 20. A coolant opening 30 is disposed generally centered in subslot cover 26. A flow of a coolant gas in subslot 20 passes through coolant opening 30 whence it travels through conventional coolant openings (not shown) in conductors 22, insulating layers 24, creepage block 36 and dovetail wedge 42 toward peripheral outer surface 16. Air or hydrogen is usually used as a coolant gas. A slot armor, made up of slot armor halves 32 and 34, lines slot 14 to prevent grounding of conductors 22 to rotor forging 12. A conventional creepage block 36 is disposed atop the stack made up of conductors 22 and insulating layers 24 to prevent electrical creepage from conductors 22 to dovetail wedge 42. First and second dovetail slots 38 and 40 engage a dovetail wedge 42 for resisting the radially outward (upward in the figure) centrifugal urging when rotor 10 is in its normal rapid rotation thereby securing the entire contents of slot 14 in place. Subslot cover 26 includes legs 44 and 46 to prevent electrical creepage from the bottom conductor of conductors 22 to the sides of slot 14. In addition, subslot cover 26 includes first and second edge slots 48 and 50. Edge slot 48 receives an end of a right-angle portion 52 of slot armor half 32. Similarly, edge slot 50 receives an end of a right-angle portion 54 of slot armor half 34. An upper end 56 of slot armor half 32 is fitted into a recess 58 in an edge of creepage block 36. Similarly, an upper end 60 of slot armor half 34 is fitted into a recess 62 in the opposed edge of creepage block 36. In other embodiments, recesses 58 and 60 may be omitted, with slot armor halves extending nearly the full distance to dovetail wedge 42. Slot armor halves 32 and 34 are either rigid or non-rigid. Rigid types of slot armor include a fiber matrix in a cured resin binder. Non-rigid types include, for example, a non-woven paper-like polyamid material sold under the trademark Nomex. Particularly when a non-rigid slot armor is used, means are necessary to prevent slot armor halves 32 and 34 for migrating radially outward (upward in the figure) under the influence of centrifugal acceleration. In the embodiment shown, such means is provided by bonding or cementing right-angle portions 52 and 54 into edge slots 48 and 50, respectively. The rigidity of rigid slot armor reduces the necessity for bonding or cementing right-angle portions 52 and 54, but such bonding or cementing may be performed to improve resistance to centrifugal acceleration. As noted in the description of the background of the invention, the prior-art device shown in Fig. 1 requires a relatively complex, and consequently expensive, device to perform the function of subslot cover 26. In addition, the conventional requirement that subslot 20 have a smaller width than main portion 18 adds complication and cost to the machining required to fabricate slot 14. We have identified the functions of subslot cover 26 to consist of the following: supporting conductors 22 and insulating layers 24 during manufacture of rotor 10, supporting slot armor halves 32 and 34 against centrifugal acceleration during operation, and insulating conductors 22 from rotor forging 12 during operation. It turns out that centrifugal acceleration urges conductors 22 and insulating layer 24 radially outward during operation. Accordingly, the function of supporting conductors 22 and insulating layers 24 against downward (radially inward) force is required only during manufacture, wherein such force is exerted to compact conductors 22 within rotor forging 12. We then discovered that all of the functions of subslot cover 26 can be performed in a different manner that simplifies machining and assembly, while carrying out or improving the required functions. Referring now to Fig. 2, a rotor 64 according to an embodiment of the invention, includes a rotor forging 66 having a plurality of longitudinal slots 68 (only one of which is shown) therein. It will be noted that slot 68 has a generally uniform width from top to bottom. A U-shaped subslot liner 70 includes a bottom 72 and first and second arms 74 and 76. A one-piece slot armor 78 passes completely under arm 74. Conductors 22 and insulating layers 24 are initially supported on the extremities of arms 74 and 76 during manufacture. During use, no further substantial support is required. Slot armor 78 optionally may be bonded or cemented to the exterior of U-shaped subslot liner 70. U-shaped subslot liner 70, together with the bottom conductor 22, forms a coolant channel 80. The conventional, but unillustrated, coolant channels through conductors 22 and insulating layers 24 permit coolant from coolant channel 80 to pass therethrough. It will be noted that, since slot armor 78 passes completely under U-shaped subslot liner 70, resistance to radially outward migration of slot armor 78 is provided. This is especially desirable with non-rigid slot armor. Also, since slot armor 78 passes completely about conductors 22 and U-shaped subslot liner 70, creepage paths to ground, which may be experienced in the prior-art device of Fig. 1, are prevented. In a further embodiment based on Fig. 2, U-shaped subslot liner 70, instead of being an insulating material, may be a conducting material such as, for example, copper. In such an embodiment. U-shaped subslot liner 70 may be used as a conductor. An insulator (not shown) is required between arms 74 and 76 and the bottom one of conductors 22. Referring now to Fig. 3, a rotor 82 according to another embodiment of the invention includes a rotor forging 84 having a plurality of slots 86 therein (only one of which is shown). A U-shaped subslot liner 88 having a bottom 90 and first and second arms 92 and 94. Arms 92 and 94 have recesses 96 and 98 into which ends 100 and 102 of slot armor halves 104 and 106, all respectively, are bonded, cemented, or otherwise affixed. As in the previous embodiment, U-shaped subslot liner 88, together with the bottom conductor 22, defines a coolant channel 108. Although the embodiment of Fig. 3 lacks the feature of a slot armor wrapping around a U-shaped subslot liner, and thus requires affixing slot armor halves 104 and 106 to U-shaped subslot liner 88, in some applications, it is believed that this is satisfactory and that bonding technology for retaining slot armor halves 104 and 106 against centrifugal acceleration is satisfactory. Referring now to Fig. 4, a rotor 110 according to a still further embodiment of the invention includes a rotor forging 112 having a plurality of slots 114 therein, as in previous embodiments. A slot armor consists of first and second slot armor halves 116 and 118. A U-shaped subslot liner 120 is disposed in the bottom of slot 114, as in previous embodiments. A wrap portion 122 of slot armor half 116 passes partway below U-shaped subslot liner 120 and is affixed thereto by any convenient means. Similarly, a wrap portion 124 of slot armor half 118 passes partway below U-shaped subslot liner 120 and is also affixed thereto by any convenient means. In other respects, rotor 110 is similar to previous embodiments, and further description thereof is omitted herefrom. One skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the invention wherein a single width is employed for the slots is not a necessary limitation on the invention. The greatest concentration of stress from centrifugal acceleration exists at the bottoms of the slots. In some rotors, the bottoms of the slots should be narrower than the radially outer portions in order to retain greater strength in this region. The scope of the present invention is intended to include such embodiments. Referring now to Fig. 5, one embodiment of a rotor 64′ is shown, similar to that of Fig. 2, except that slot 68′ includes a generally trapezoidal bottom surface 126. A U-shaped subslot liner 70′ and a slot armor 78′ conform to this shape to form a coolant channel 80′ having a generally trapezoidal cross section. The angled portions of slots 68′ provide increased metal for additional strength in this highest-stress region to resist radially outward acceleration. Other shapes of the bottoms of slots may include Vee, arc, arc with extended arms and elliptical. Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: A rotor (64,64',110) for a dynamoelectric machine, the rotor including a plurality of longitudinal slots (68,86,118) therein extending radially into said rotor, each slot having: a plurality of conductors (22) therein; a subslot liner (70,88,70',120) below said plurality of conductors; said subslot liner (70,88,70',120) including first (74,92) and second (76,94) arms supporting said plurality of conductors (22) at least during assembly of said rotor to define a coolant passage (80,80'108) below the plurality of conductors; a slot armor (78,78',104,106,116,118) extending radially along first and second sides of said slot between said slot and said plurality of conductors at least a radially inner portion of said slot armor being retained against outward urging by centrifugal acceleration; and means (42) for retaining said plurality of conductors in said slot against outward urging by centrifugal acceleration; characterized in that the subslot liner (70,88,70',120) is of insulative material, and the said arms (74,76,92,94) extend radially into contact with the lower one of the plurality of conductors (22) the said lower one of the conductors (22) defining the radially outer side of the coolant passage (80,80' 108). A rotor according to claim 1, wherein said subslot liner (88) has a generally U-shaped cross section. A rotor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said slot armor (78,78') is in a single piece and a middle portion thereof is wrapped about the bottom and sides of said slot liner (70,70') to retain the slot armor against outward urging. A rotor according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said slot armor includes first (104) and second (106) slot armor halves; said first half (104) being fixed to said first arm (92); and said second half (106) being fixed to said second arm (94). A rotor according to claim 4, wherein said first and second halves (104,106) are bonded to the first and second arms (92,94) respectively. A rotor according to claim 4 wherein an extremity (100,102) of each of said first and second slot armor halves (104,106) is disposed under said slot liner (120). A rotor according to claim 4 wherein: an end portion (122) of the first slot armor half (104) is bent under a radially inner portion of said slot liner (120); and an end portion (124) of the second slot armor half (106) is bent under a radially inner portion of said slot liner (120). A rotor according to claim 7, wherein said slot armor halves (104,106) are affixed to the slot liner (120). A rotor according to any preceding claim, wherein each slot (68) has a uniform width. A rotor according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said slot (68) includes a trapezoidal radially inner portion. A rotor according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein a radially inner portion of said slot (68) is reduced within said coolant opening.

Inventors: COURTNEY JOHN PAUL, JENKINS THOMAS BERT, LEE LESTER HOWARD, NASON ROBERT WILLIAM, SALERNO ROBERT PATRICK, ULERY DENNIS ROY, WALKO STEVEN CHARLES, WILSON BLAKE WELDON, COURTNEY, JOHN PAUL, JENKINS, THOMAS BERT, LEE, LESTER HOWARD, NASON, ROBERT WILLIAM, SALERNO, ROBERT PATRICK, ULERY, DENNIS ROY, WALKO, STEVEN CHARLES, WILSON, BLAKE WELDON
Applicants: GEN ELECTRIC, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Application year: 1988
Main classification: H02K3
IPC codes: H02K3, H02K1