Abstract:
A system for generating power comprising, a superconducting generator including, an armature assembly comprising, a body portion, a tooth portion having a front surface and a rear surface, a slot partially defined by the body portion and the tooth portion, an armature bar engaging the slot, and a cooling cavity partially defined by the tooth portion, communicative with the front surface and the rear surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The described embodiments relate generally to superconducting generators and motors, and more particularly to systems involving generator and motor armatures with superconducting field windings. 
     The superconducting field windings in superconducting motors and generators generate high magnetic fields in excess of the magnetic saturation of the magnetic teeth usually present in a stator, Superconducting motors and generators use complex assemblies of armature coils, cooling features, and nonmagnetic teeth between bars in the armatures to avoid losses in the saturated teeth. The use of these features adds cost for materials and assembly of the generators and motors. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An exemplary embodiment includes a system for generating power comprising, a superconducting generator including, an armature assembly comprising, a body portion, a tooth portion having a front surface and a rear surface, a slot partially defined by the body portion and the tooth portion, an armature bar engaging the slot, and a cooling cavity partially defined by the tooth portion, communicative with the front surface and the rear surface. 
     An alternate exemplary embodiment includes an electrical motor system comprising, a superconducting motor including, an armature assembly comprising, a body portion, a tooth portion having a front surface and a rear surface, a slot partially defined by the body portion and the tooth portion, an armature bar engaging the slot, and a cooling cavity partially defined by the tooth portion, communicative with the front surface and the rear surface. 
     Another alternate exemplary embodiment includes an armature assembly of an electrical apparatus comprising, a body portion, a tooth portion having a front surface and a rear surface, a slot partially defined by the body portion and the tooth portion, an armature bar engaging the slot, a slot wedge member operative to engage the slot, and a cooling cavity partially defined by the tooth portion, communicative with the front surface and the rear surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective partially cut-away view of an exemplary embodiment of an electrical device. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a side partially cut away view of an armature assembly of the electrical device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side partially cut away view of an alternate embodiment of an armature assembly of the electrical device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a superconducting electrical generator system. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a superconducting electrical generator system. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a superconducting electrical motor system. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of a superconducting electrical motor system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments. However, the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail. 
     Further, various operations may be described as multiple discrete steps performed in a manner that is helpful for understanding the embodiments. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations need be performed in the order they are presented, or that they are even order dependent. Moreover, repeated usage of the phrase “in an embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Lastly, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used in the present application, are intended to be synonymous unless otherwise indicated. 
     Motor and generator systems that use superconducting field windings may use complex assemblies of armature coils, cooling systems, and nonmagnetic teeth disposed between bars in the armature. Generator and motor systems experience losses from alternating current (AC) current in the armature; this occurs through eddy currents induced in the metals and magnetic hysteresis in the magnetic components, and these losses increase as AC frequency increases. The superconducting field windings often produce magnetic fields in excess of the saturation value of the magnetic teeth, and this, coupled with the AC effects, results in high losses. Non-magnetic teeth or removal of the teeth can be used to reduce the losses, but this may result in a complex fabrication methods. 
     It is desirable for an electrical system to have a less expensive armature assembly that is easier to manufacture and is capable of operating with a highly magnetically saturated armature teeth assembly with minimal AC current losses. This can be accomplished by constructing the teeth of the same metal (e.g., commonly, silicon iron) as and as extensions of the main magnetic body. Since in saturation the teeth no longer serve a magnetic function, the teeth may be designed and constructed for optimal structural and thermal performance. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective partially cut-away view of an electrical device  100  having a superconducting field winding. The electrical device  100  is configured as a generator. However, a similar device may be configured as an electrical motor. The electrical device  100  includes an armature portion  105  that includes an armature assembly  101 . The armature assembly contacts a yoke portion  103 . The electrical device  100  also includes a field assembly  107  that comprises a cryostat  109  with a superconducting coil  111  inside the cryostat. 
     The electrical device  100  is configured such that the armature portion  105  rotates around the field assembly  107 . Other similar embodiments may be configured such that the armature portion  105  is stationary and the field assembly  107  rotates. The electrical device may receive mechanical energy from a prime mover (not shown) to generate electrical power. Alternatively, the electrical device  100  may be configured as a motor that receives electrical power, and converts the electrical power to mechanical energy. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side partially cut-away portion of an exemplary embodiment of the armature assembly  101 . The armature assembly  101  includes a body portion  201  that may, for example, be fabricated from laminated layers of metal. Teeth portions  203  contact the body portion  201  and may, for example, comprise of the same material as the body portion  201 , material such as, for example, laminated silicon-iron. The teeth portions  203  may be an extension of the material that comprises the body portion  201 . The body portion  201  and the teeth portions  203  partially define slots  205 . Armature bars  207  engage the slots  205 . The armature bars  207  may be electrically insulated by insulator portions  209 .  FIG. 2  shows the front surface  211  of the teeth portions  203 . Cooling cavities  213  are partially defined by the teeth portions  203  and are communicative between the front surface  211  and a rear surface  212  of the teeth portions  203  (not shown). Slot wedge members  215  may be included to engage the slots  205 , and are operative to retain the armature bars  207  in the slots  205 . The armature bars  207  may comprise superconducting windings. In operation, the cooling cavities  213  transmit cooling air that is operative to cool the armature assembly  101 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a side partially cut-away portion of an alternate exemplary embodiment of the armature assembly  101 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cooling cavities  213  are engaged with tube members  317  that are operative to receive a liquid coolant. In operation, the liquid coolant flowing through the tube members  317  cools the armature assembly  101 . The embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  show non-limiting examples of cooling cavities  213 . Other embodiments may include more or less numbers of cooling cavities  213 . 
       FIGS. 4-7  illustrate embodiments of systems having armature assemblies similar to the armature assembly  101 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , a superconducting electrical generator system  400  is shown including a blade assembly  401  (a prime mover) mechanically linked to a mechanical linkage  403 . A superconducting electrical generator  405  including an armature assembly  407  similar to the armature assembly  101  mechanically linked to the mechanical linkage  403 , and a field assembly  409 . In operation, the blade assembly  401  is rotated by wind power. The mechanical linkage  403  is rotated, and in turn, rotates the armature assembly  407 . The field assembly  409  remains stationary. The interaction of flux in the superconducting electrical generator  405 , and the rotation of the armature assembly  407  generates electrical current that may be sent to, for example, a power grid. Though the prime mover in  FIG. 4  includes wind blades, the prime mover may be any other type of device, such as, for example, an engine that is operative to output mechanical energy. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of an electrical generator system  500  that is similar to the superconducting electrical generator system  400  (of  FIG. 4 ). The superconducting electrical generator system  500  is shown including a blade assembly  501  (a prime mover), mechanically linked to a mechanical linkage  503 . A field assembly  509  of a superconducting electrical generator  505  is mechanically linked to the mechanical linkage  503 . The superconducting electrical generator  505  includes an armature assembly  507 . In the illustrated embodiment, the stator assembly  507  remains stationary in operation, while the field assembly  509  is rotated by mechanical energy received from the blade assembly  501  via the mechanical linkage  503 . The superconducting electrical generator outputs electrical current similarly to the current generation of the superconducting electrical generator system  400  (of  FIG. 4 ). 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective partially cut-away view of an exemplary embodiment of a superconducting electrical motor system  600 . The superconducting electrical motor system  600  includes a superconducting motor  605  including an armature assembly  607  that is similar to the armature assembly  101  described above, and a field assembly  609 . The armature assembly  607  is mechanically linked to a mechanical linkage  603 . In operation, the superconducting motor  605  receives current from a power source, such as, for example, a generator (not shown). The current induces a flux in the superconducting motor  605  that is operative to rotate the armature assembly  607 . The mechanical linkage  630  rotates, and may be connected to, for example, a shaft  611 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective partially cut-away view of an exemplary embodiment of a superconducting electrical motor system  700 . The superconducting electrical motor system  700  includes a superconducting motor  705  that includes an armature assembly  707  and a field assembly  709 . The armature assembly  707  is similar to the armature assembly  101  described above. In operation, the superconducting motor  705  receives current from a power source that induces a flux in the superconducting motor  705 . The field assembly  709  rotates, and in turn, rotates the mechanical linkage  703 . The mechanical linkage may be operative to rotate, for example, a shaft  711 . 
     The embodiments illustrated above may most effectively operate at low speeds (i.e. the relative speed between the rotors and armatures) of as low as approximately 10-25 revolutions per minute. An advantage of operating at low speeds is that the AC losses of the oversaturated magnetic portions of the armatures, e.g. the teeth, are lessened, resulting in a minimal loss of efficiency. Regarding motor embodiments, the loss of mechanical output due to wasted AC current is also minimized. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the embodiments, including the best mode, and also to enable practice of the embodiments, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the embodiments is defined by the claims, and may include other examples. 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.