ELECTROMAGNETIC ROTARY DRIVE, A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP AND A PUMP UNIT

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 21170397.0, filed Apr. 26, 2021, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an electromagnetic rotary drive, a centrifugal pump having such an electromagnetic rotary drive, and a pump unit for such a centrifugal pump.

Background Information

Electromagnetic rotary drives are known which are designed and operated according to the principle of the bearingless motor. The term bearingless motor means an electromagnetic rotary drive in which the rotor is levitated completely magnetically with respect to the stator, wherein no separate magnetic bearings are provided. For this purpose, the stator is designed as a bearing and drive stator, which is both the stator of the electric drive and the stator of the magnetic levitation. A magnetic rotating field can be generated with the electrical windings of the stator, which on the one hand exerts a torque on the rotor, which effects its rotation about a desired axis of rotation and which, on the other hand, exerts a shear force, which can be set as desired, onto the rotor so that its radial position can be actively controlled or regulated. Thus, three degrees of freedom of the rotor can be actively regulated, namely its rotation and its radial position (two degrees of freedom). With respect to three further degrees of freedom, namely its position in the axial direction and tilting with respect to the radial plane perpendicular to the desired axis of rotation (two degrees of freedom), the rotor is passively magnetically levitated or stabilized by reluctance forces, i.e., it cannot be controlled. The absence of a separate magnetic bearing with a complete magnetic levitation of the rotor is the property, which gives the bearingless motor its name. In the bearing and drive stator, the bearing function cannot be separated from the drive function.

Such a bearingless motor, which is disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,705, has proven itself in a large number of applications. Due to the absence of mechanical bearings, the bearingless motor is in particular suitable for pumping, mixing or stirring devices, with which very sensitive substances are conveyed, for example blood pumps, or on which very high demands are made with respect to purity, for example in the pharmaceutical industry or in the biotechnological industry, or with which abrasive or aggressive substances are conveyed, which would very quickly destroy mechanical bearings, for example pumps or mixers for slurry in the semiconductor industry.

A further advantage of the principle of the bearingless motor is the design of the rotor as an integral rotor, which is both the rotor of the electromagnetic rotary drive and the rotor of the pump. In addition to the magnetic levitation without contact, the advantage here is a very compact and space-saving design.

In addition, the principle of the bearingless motor also allows designs, e.g. of centrifugal pumps, in which the rotor can be separated from the stator very easily. This is a very great advantage, because in this way, for example, the rotor or the pump unit comprising the rotor can be designed as a single-use part for single use. Today, such single-use applications often replace processes in which, due to the very high purity requirements, all those components that come into contact with the substances to be treated in the process previously had to be cleaned and sterilized in an elaborate manner, for example by steam sterilization. When designed for single use, those components that come into contact with the substances to be treated are only used exactly once and are then replaced with new, i.e., unused, single-use parts for the next application.

SUMMARY

The pharmaceutical industry and the biotechnological industry can be named as examples here. Solutions and suspensions are frequently produced here that require careful and gentle conveying of substances.

In the pharmaceutical industry, for example in the production of pharmaceutically active substances, very high demands are made on purity, the components which come into contact with the substances often even have to be sterile. Similar demands also result in biotechnology, for example in the production, treatment or cultivation of biological substances, cells or microorganisms, where an extremely high degree of purity has to be ensured in order not to endanger the usability of the product produced. Bioreactors can be named as a further example here in which, for example, biological substitutes for tissue or special cells or other very sensitive substances are cultivated. Centrifugal pumps are also required here in order, for example, to ensure a continuous blending of the nutrient fluid or its continuous circulation in the mixing tank. A very high purity has to be ensured in this respect to protect the substances or the produced products from contamination. Another application example are blood pumps, where of course highest demands are made on purity and furthermore on gentle treatment in particular of red blood cells.

In such applications where a centrifugal pump is designed for single use, the centrifugal pump is typically composed of a single-use device and of a reusable device. The single-use device comprises those components which come into contact with the substances, and which are designed as single-use parts for single use. This is, for example, the pump unit with the pump housing and the rotor arranged therein, which forms the impeller of the centrifugal pump. The reusable device comprises those components which are used permanently, i.e., multiple times, for example the stator of the electromagnetic rotary drive.

In all these applications where the bearingless motor is successfully used, it is in principle possible to design the bearingless motor as an internal rotor, i.e., with an internally located rotor and a stator arranged around it. However, it has been determined that there is still room for improvement in such electromagnetic rotary drives, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,705.

Thus, such devices usually have a relatively low axial stiffness of the magnetic levitation of the rotor, in particular also because the flux density of the magnetic flux in the air gap between the stator and the rotor is rather small, and the gradient of the magnetic flux density at deflections of the rotor in the axial direction is also rather small due to the high dispersion.

Starting from this state of the art, it is therefore an object of the disclosure to disclose an electromagnetic rotary drive which is designed as an internal rotor and which comprises a rotor which can be magnetically driven without contact and which can be magnetically levitated without contact, whereby in particular the axial stiffness of the magnetic stabilization of the rotor is significantly improved. In addition, it is an object of the disclosure to disclose a centrifugal pump which comprises such a rotary drive. Furthermore, a pump unit for such a centrifugal pump is to be disclose by embodiments of the invention, which in particular can also be designed for single use.

The subject matter of the disclosure meeting this object are characterized by the features disclosed herein.

According to an embodiment of the invention, an electromagnetic rotary drive designed as an internal rotor is thus disclosed, with a rotor comprising a ring-shaped or disk-shaped magnetically effective core which is surrounded by a radially externally arranged stator, wherein the stator has a plurality of stator poles which are arranged around the magnetically effective core and each of which in each case is delimited by an end face facing the magnetically effective core of the rotor, wherein the stator is designed as a bearing and drive stator, by which the rotor can be magnetically driven without contact in the operating state about a desired axis of rotation which defines an axial direction, and by which the rotor can be magnetically levitated without contact with respect to the stator, wherein the rotor is actively magnetically levitated in a radial plane perpendicular to the axial direction and is passively magnetically stabilized in the axial direction and against tilting. The magnetically effective core of the rotor has a rotor height which is the maximum extension of the magnetically effective core in the axial direction, wherein the rotor height is greater than a stator pole height which is defined by the maximum extension of the end faces of the stator poles in the axial direction.

Particularly preferably, the magnetically effective core of the rotor is of permanent-magnetic design, i.e., it comprises at least one permanent magnet or it consists of a permanent-magnetic material. Furthermore, it is preferred that each end face of the stator poles has the same extension in the axial direction, so that for each end face their respective extension in the axial direction is equal to the stator pole height.

Due to the fact that the magnetically effective core of the rotor has the rotor height, which is greater than the stator pole height, a concentration of the magnetic flux in the air gap between the end faces and the magnetically effective core of the rotor results, i.e., the magnetic flux density increases in the air gap. Since the axial stiffness of the magnetic stabilization of the rotor increases at least approximately quadratically with the magnetic flux density in the air gap, the axial stiffness increases disproportionately with the rotor height. Thus, the fact that the rotor height is greater than the stator pole height results in an increase in the axial stiffness of the magnetic levitation or stabilization of the rotor.

In order not to reduce the tilting stiffness of the rotor too much, i.e., its resistance to tilting relative to the radial plane, which is perpendicular to the axial direction, it is preferred that the ratio of the outer diameter of the magnetically effective core of the rotor and the rotor height does not fall below the value of 2.8.

In a preferred embodiment, the magnetically effective core comprises a central region which is arranged with respect, to the axial direction between a first edge region and a second edge region, and which has a rotor diameter, wherein the first edge region forms a first axial boundary surface of the magnetically effective core which has a first edge diameter, wherein the second edge region forms a second axial boundary surface of the magnetically effective core which has a second edge diameter, and wherein each edge diameter is smaller than the rotor diameter.

In this embodiment, the radially outer region of the magnetic core of the rotor can thus be designed with a lower height—measured in the axial direction—than the region between the first and second axial boundary surfaces. This has the advantage that an increase in the axial stiffness of the magnetic stabilization also results, but a significantly smaller decrease in the tilting stiffness.

Preferably, the central region has a central height which is the extension of the central region in the axial direction, whereby the central height is the same size as the stator pole height. This has the advantage that the radially outer region of the magnetically effective core of the rotor, i.e., that region which is located directly opposite the end faces of the stator poles, has the same extension in the axial direction as the end faces of the stator poles, so that a very high magnetic flux density results in the air gap, which is also advantageous with regard to the torque that drives the rotation of the rotor.

It is a further preferred measure that the magnetically effective core has an outer surface that is not parallel to the axial direction either between the central region and the first axial boundary surface or between the central region and the second axial boundary surface. In this way, it can be realized that the field lines of the magnetic flux between the central region and the two axial boundary surfaces do not emerge from the magnetically effective core of the rotor perpendicular to the axial direction, but at an angle smaller than 90°. Thus, the field lines enter the stator poles further out with respect to the radial direction, which improves the magnetic levitation or stabilization of the rotor.

It is particularly preferred that at least one of the first and the second edge regions is designed in the form of a truncated cone or in the form of a spherical disk or in the form of a paraboloid disk. Due to such embodiments, it can be realized in particular that the outer surface delimiting the magnetically effective core of the rotor does not run parallel to the axial direction both between the central region and the first axial boundary surface and between the central region and the second axial boundary surface, so that here the field lines of the magnetic flux emerge from or enter the magnetically effective core of the rotor at an angle different from 90°.

The first and the second edge regions can be designed differently, Thus, for example, the first edge region can be designed in the shape of a truncated cone and the second edge region in the shape of a spherical disk. Of course, it is also possible that the first and the second edge regions are designed in the same way.

According to a first preferred embodiment which is also designated as a radial motor, each stator pole carries at least one concentrated winding such that each concentrated winding is arranged in the radial plane. Thus, in this first embodiment, the windings for generating the electromagnetic fields are arranged in the same plane as the magnetically effective core of the rotor.

According to a second preferred embodiment, the rotary drive is designed as a temple motor, and the stator has a plurality of coil cores, each of which comprises a bar-shaped longitudinal limb which extends in the axial direction from a first end to a second end, and a transverse limb which is arranged at the second end of the longitudinal limb and in the radial plane, and which extends in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction, wherein each transverse limb forms one of the stator poles, and wherein at least one concentrated winding is arranged on each longitudinal limb, which winding surrounds the respective longitudinal limb. In this embodiment as a temple motor, the windings for generating the electromagnetic fields are thus arranged below the magnetic center plane and aligned in such a way that their coil axis lies in the axial direction in each case.

Furthermore, a centrifugal pump for conveying a fluid is proposed by one embodiment of the invention, which is characterized in that the centrifugal pump comprises an electromagnetic rotary drive designed, the rotor of the electromagnetic rotary drive being designed as the rotor of the centrifugal pump.

Preferably, the centrifugal pump comprises a pump unit with a pump housing comprising an inlet and an outlet for the fluid to be conveyed, wherein the rotor is arranged in the pump housing and comprises a plurality of vanes for conveying the fluid, wherein the pump unit is designed in such a way that the pump unit can be inserted into the stator such that the magnetically effective core of the rotor is surrounded by the stator poles.

Furthermore, a pump unit for a centrifugal pump is proposed by one embodiment of the invention, which is characterized in that the pump unit is designed for a centrifugal pump.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pump housing comprises a base part and a cover which are connected to each other in a sealing manner, wherein the outlet of the pump housing is completely arranged in the base part.

It is also a preferred measure that the rotor has a central bore extending completely through the rotor in the axial direction, so that the axial thrust generated by the vanes is at least partially compensated.

Preferably, the pump unit is designed for detachable connection to the stator of the centrifugal pump according to an embodiment of the invention.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pump unit is designed as a single-use device for single use.

Further advantageous measures and embodiments of the invention result as disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESORPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail on the basis of embodiments and on the basis of the drawing.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of an electromagnetic rotary drive according to the invention in a section in the axial direction, where the section is made along the section line I-I in FIG. 2,

FIG. 2 illustrates a section through the first embodiment in a section perpendicular to the axial direction along the section line II-II in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is as FIG. 1, but with tilted rotor,

FIG. 4: is as FIG. 1, but with rotor displaced in the axial direction,

FIG. 5 illustrates the magnetically effective core of the rotor of the first embodiment,

FIG. 6: illustrates a first variant for the magnetically effective core of the rotor in a representation analogous to FIG. 1,

FIG. 7: illustrates a second variant for the magnetically effective core of the rotor in a section in the axial direction,

FIG. 8: illustrates a third variant for the magnetically effective core of the rotor,

FIG. 9: illustrates a fourth variant for the magnetically effective core of the rotor,

FIG. 10 illustrates a second embodiment of an electromagnetic rotary drive according to the invention in a section in the axial direction,

FIG. 11 illustrates a plan view on the second embodiment from the axial direction,

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a centrifugal pump according to the invention in a section in the axial direction,

FIG. 13 illustrates the pump unit of the centrifugal pump from FIG. 12 in an axial section along the section line XIII-XIII in FIG. 14, and

FIG. 14 illustrates a plan view on the pump unit from FIG. 13 from the axial direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective sectional view of a first embodiment of a rotary drive according to the invention, which is designated as a whole by the reference sign. FIG. 1 shows the electromagnetic rotary drive in a section in the axial direction, wherein the section is made along the section line I-I in FIG. 2. For a better understanding, FIG. 2 still shows a section through the electromagnetic rotary drive in a section perpendicular to the axial direction A along the section line II-II in FIG. 1.

The electromagnetic rotary drive is designed as an internal rotor and comprises a stator and rotor which is magnetically levitated without contact with respect to the stator. Furthermore, the rotor can be magnetically driven without contact by the stator to rotate about a desired axis of rotation. The desired axis of rotation refers to that axis about which the rotor rotates in the operating state when the rotor is in a centered and not tilted position with respect to the stator, as represented in FIG. 1. This desired axis of rotation defines an axial direction A. Usually, the desired axis of rotation defining the axial direction A corresponds to the central axis of the stator.

In the following, a radial direction refers to a direction, which stands perpendicular on the axial direction A.

The rotor comprises a magnetically effective core, which is designed in a ring-shaped or disk-shaped manner. According to the representation in FIG. 1, the magnetically effective core is designed as a disk and defines a magnetic center plane C. The magnetic center plane C of the magnetically effective core of the rotor refers to that plane perpendicular to the axial direction A in which the magnetically effective core of the rotor is levitated in the operating state when the rotor is not tilted and not deflected in the axial direction A. As a rule, in a disk-shaped or ring-shaped magnetically effective core, the magnetic center plane C is the geometric center plane of the magnetically effective core of the rotor, which is perpendicular to the axial direction. That plane in which the magnetically effective core of the rotor is levitated in the stator in the operating state is also referred to as the radial plane E. The radial plane defines the x-y plane of a Cartesian coordinate system whose z-axis extends in the axial direction A. If the magnetically effective core of the rotor is not tilted and not deflected with respect to the axial direction (A), the radial plane F coincides with the magnetic center plane C.

FIG. 2 shows a section, which is made in the radial plane E.

The radial position of the magnetically effective core or the rotor refers to the position of the rotor in the radial plane E.

Since it is sufficient for the understanding of the invention, only the magnetically effective core is represented in each case from the rotor in the drawing, e.g., in FIGS. 1 to 10. It is understood that the rotor can, of course, comprise other components such as jackets or encapsulations, which are preferably made of a plastic, or of a metal, or of a metal alloy, or of a ceramic or ceramic material. Furthermore, the rotor can also comprise vanes for mixing, agitating or pumping fluids (see, for example, FIG. 12) or other components.

For a better understanding, FIG. 5 still shows a view of the magnetically effective core of the rotor.

As is usually the case with an internal rotor, the rotor and in particular the magnetically effective core of the rotor is surrounded by the radially outwardly arranged stator. The stator comprises a plurality of pronounced stator poles—here six stator poles—each extending radially inward toward the rotor from a radially outward ring-shaped return. Each stator pole is arranged in the radial plane E and is delimited in each case by an end face facing the magnetically effective core of the rotor. During operation of the electromagnetic rotary drive, it is the desired position that the magnetically effective core is centered between the end faces of the stator poles.

In order to generate the electromagnetic rotating fields required for the magnetic drive and the magnetic levitation of the rotor, the stator poles carry windings. In the embodiment described here, the windings are designed as concentrated windings, for example, in such a way that exactly one concentrated winding in each case is wound around each stator pole, so that each concentrated winding is also arranged in the radial plane E. In the operating state, those electromagnetic rotating fields are generated with these concentrated windings with which a torque is effected on the rotor and with which any adjustable transverse force can be exerted on the rotor in the radial direction, so that the radial position of the rotor, i.e. its position in the radial plane F perpendicular to the axial direction A, can be actively controlled or regulated.

The “magnetically effective core” of the rotor refers to that region of the rotor which magnetically interacts with the stator poles for torque generation and the generation of magnetic levitation forces.

As already mentioned, the magnetically effective core is designed in a disk-shaped manner. Furthermore, the magnetically effective core is designed in a permanent magnetic manner. For this purpose, the magnetically effective core can comprise at least one permanent magnet, but also several permanent magnets, or—as in the embodiment described here—consist entirely of a permanent magnetic material, so that the magnetically effective core is the permanent magnet. The magnetization of the magnetically effective core of the rotor is represented in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 in each case by the arrow without reference sign in the magnetically effective core. The magnetically effective core is thus magnetized in the radial direction.

Those ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic materials, which are magnetically hard, that is which have a high coercive field strength, are typically called permanent magnets. The coercive field strength is that magnetic field strength which is required to demagnetize a material. Within the framework of this application, a permanent magnet is understood as a component or a material, which has a coercive field strength, more precisely a coercive field strength of the magnetic polarization, which amounts to more than 10,000 A/m.

Both the ring-shaped return and the stator poles of the stator are each made of a soft magnetic material because they serve as flux conducting elements to guide the magnetic flux. Suitable soft magnetic materials are, for example, ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic materials, i.e., in particular iron, nickel-iron, cobalt-iron, silicon iron or Mu-metal. In this case, for the stator 2, a design as a stator sheet stack is preferred, in which the stator poles and the return are designed in sheet metal, i.e., they consist of several thin sheet metal elements, which are stacked. Furthermore, it is possible that the stator poles and the return consist of pressed and subsequently sintered grains of the aforementioned materials. The metallic grains are preferably embedded in a plastic matrix so that they are at least partially insulated from each other, whereby eddy current losses can be minimized. Thus, soft magnetic composites consisting of electrically insulated and compressed metal particles are also suitable for the stator. In particular, these soft magnetic composites, also designated as SMC (Soft Magnetic Composites), can consist of iron powder particles coated with an electrically insulating layer. These SMCs are then formed into the desired shape by powder metallurgy processes.

During operation of the electromagnetic rotary drive, the magnetically effective core of the rotor interacts with the stator poles of the stator according to the principle of the bearingless motor described above, in which the rotor can be magnetically driven without contact and can be magnetically levitated without contact with respect to the stator. For this purpose, the stator is designed as a bearing and drive stator, with which the rotor can be magnetically driven without contact in the operating state about the desired axis of rotation it can be set into rotation—and can be magnetically levitated without contact with respect to the stator. Three degrees of freedom of the rotor can be actively regulated, namely its position in the radial plane E and its rotation. With respect to its axial deflection from the radial plane F in the axial direction A, the magnetically effective core of the rotor is passively magnetically stabilized by reluctance forces, i.e., it cannot be controlled. Also, with respect to the remaining two degrees of freedom, namely tilts with respect to the radial plane F perpendicular to the desired axis of rotation, the magnetically effective core of the rotor is also passively magnetically stabilized, which will be explained later with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Due to the interaction of the magnetically effective core with the stator poles, the rotor is thus passively magnetically levitated or passively magnetically stabilized in the axial direction A and against tilting, (a total of three degrees of freedom) and actively magnetically levitated in the radial plane (two degrees of freedom).

As is generally the case, an active magnetic levitation is also referred to in the framework of this application as one Which can be actively controlled or regulated, for example by the electromagnetic rotating fields generated by the concentrated windings. A passive magnetic levitation or a passive magnetic stabilization is one that cannot be controlled or regulated. The passive magnetic levitation or stabilization is based, for example, on reluctance forces, which bring the rotor back again to its desired position when it is deflected from its desired position, e.g., when it is displaced or deflected in the axial direction A or when it is tilted.

A radial levitation or a levitation in a radial manner refers to a levitation of the rotor with which the radial position of the rotor can be stabilized, i.e., a levitation which levitates the rotor in the radial plane E and thus with respect to its radial position.

An axial levitation or a levitation in an axial manner and an axial stabilization or a stabilization in an axial manner, respectively, refers to a levitation or a stabilization of the rotor with which, on the one hand, the position of the rotor is stabilized with respect to the axial direction A and with which, on the other hand, the rotor is stabilized against tilting. Such tilting represent two degrees of freedom and designate deflections in which the momentary axis of rotation of the rotor no longer points exactly in the axial direction A but encloses an angle different from zero with the desired axis of rotation. In the case of a tilt, the magnetic center plane C thus no longer lies in or parallel to the radial plane E, but the magnetic center plane C encloses an angle with the radial plane E that is different from zero.

In the case of a bearingless motor, in contrast to classical magnetic bearings, the magnetic levitation and drive of the motor is realized by electromagnetic rotating fields. Typically, in the bearingless motor, the magnetic drive and levitation function is generated by the superposition of two magnetic rotating fields, which are usually designated as the drive and control fields. These two rotating fields generated with the windings of the stator usually have a pole pair number that differs by one. For example, if the drive field has the pole pair number p, the control field has the pole pair number p+1 or p−1. In this case, tangential forces acting on the magnetically effective core in the radial plane are generated with the drive field, causing a torque, which causes the rotation about the axial direction A. Due to the superposition of the drive field and the control field, it is also possible to generate a transverse force on the magnetically effective core in the radial plane which can be adjusted as desired, with which the position of the magnetically effective core in the radial plane can be regulated. Thus, it is not possible to divide the electromagnetic flux generated by the concentrated windings 61 into an (electro-) magnetic flux that only provides for driving the rotation and an (electro-) magnetic flux that only realizes the magnetic levitation.

To generate the drive field and the control field, it is possible on the one hand to use two different winding systems, namely one to generate the drive field and one to generate the control field. The coils for generating the drive field are then usually designated as drive coils and the coils for generating the control field as control coils. The current impressed in these coils is then designated as the drive current or the control current. On the other hand, it is also possible to generate the drive and levitation function with only one single winding system—as in the embodiment described here—so that there is therefore no distinction between drive and control coils. This can be realized in such a way that the values for the drive current and the control current determined in each case by a control device are added or superimposed by calculation—e.g., with the aid of software—and the resulting total current is impressed into the respective concentrated winding. In this case, of course, it is no longer possible to distinguish between control and drive coils. In the first embodiment described here, the last-mentioned variant is realized, i.e., there is no distinction between drive and control coils in the stator, but there is only one winding system in each case, in the six concentrated windings of which the calculated sum of the drive and control currents is impressed. However, it is of course also possible to design the electromagnetic rotary drive according to the invention in such a way that two separate winding systems are provided in the stator, namely one with separate drive coils and one with separate control coils. Then, for example, two concentrated windings in each case are provided on each stator pole, one of which serves as a drive coil and one of which serves as a control coil.

In order to further improve the passive magnetic stabilization of the rotor in particular, according to embodiments of the invention, the magnetically effective core of the rotor is designed in such a way that it has a rotor height HR (see also FIG. 5) which is greater than a stator pole height HS (FIG. 1). The rotor height HR is given by the maximum extension of the magnetically effective core in the axial direction A.

In the first embodiment (see in particular FIG. 5), the magnetically effective core is delimited with respect to the axial direction by a first axial boundary surface and a second axial boundary surface, both of which are perpendicular to the axial direction A and thus parallel to each other. In this embodiment, the perpendicular distance between the first axial boundary surface and the second axial boundary surface is the rotor height HR.

The stator pole height HS is defined by the maximum extension of the end faces of the stator poles in the axial direction A. Preferably, all end faces have the same extension in the axial direction, so that each end face has the same maximum extension in the axial direction A, namely the stator pole height HS. Furthermore, it is preferred that each end face is designed in such a way that its axial height is constant when viewed in the circumferential direction. Then, the axial height of each end face is equal to the stator pole height HS.

Due to the design according to embodiments of the invention of the magnetically effective core of the rotor, the axial stiffness of the magnetic levitation or the magnetic stabilization of the rotor can be significantly improved, because the higher design of the magnetically effective core with respect to the axial direction A leads to a concentration of the magnetic flux density in the air gap between the end faces of the stator poles and the magnetically effective core of the rotor. Due to this concentration of the magnetic flux density in the air gap, a significantly stronger gradient of the magnetic flux density also results at the transition from the (at least approximately) homogeneous field between the end faces and the magnetically effective core into the region of the stray field that prevails above or below the stator poles with respect to the axial direction A. In the Figures, for example in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the field lines of the magnetic flux are respectively represented by the dashed lines between the stator poles and the magnetically effective core, wherein straight, parallel field lines indicate the region of the homogeneous field and curved field lines indicate the region of the stray fields.

Since the axial stiffness of the magnetic levitation increases quadratically with the magnetic flux density and thus disproportionately with the rotor height HR, a significant improvement in the axial stiffness of the magnetic levitation can be achieved with the embodiment according to the invention. Furthermore, the torque that drives the rotation of the rotor can also be increased with this embodiment by concentrating the magnetic flux in the air gap.

In the embodiment described here (see. FIG. 5), the magnetically effective core has a central region which is arranged with respect to the axial direction A between a first edge region and a second edge region, wherein both edge regions, are directly adjacent to the central region. The central region has a diameter which is designated as the rotor diameter RZ. The central region has a central height HZ in the axial direction A, which is smaller than the rotor height HR.

The first edge region forms the first axial boundary surface of the magnetically effective core, wherein the first axial boundary surface has a first edge diameter R1 which is its outer diameter. The second edge region forms the second axial boundary surface of the magnetically effective core, wherein the second axial boundary surface has a second edge diameter R2 which is its outer diameter. Each of the edge diameters R1 and R2 is smaller than the rotor diameter RZ. The first edge diameter R1 and the second edge diameter R2 can be the same size, as represented in FIG. 5. In other embodiments, the first edge diameter and the second edge diameter can be different sizes.

In the embodiment of the magnetically effective core represented in FIG. 5, the central region has a rectangular profile in an axial section, which has the central height HZ as the height and the rotor diameter RZ as the width.

Particularly preferably, the central region of the magnetically effective core is designed such that the central height HZ is the same as the stator pole height HS.

The first edge region and the second edge region are each designed in the form of a truncated cone, wherein the truncated cone in each case has at its base a diameter corresponding to the rotor diameter RZ and at its axial boundary surface, facing away from the base a smaller diameter corresponding to the first edge diameter R1 and the second edge diameter R2, respectively.

Preferably—but not necessarily—the first edge region and the second edge region are designed in the same way.

Such embodiments are also possible in which the first edge region and/or the second edge region are designed in the shape of a circular disk with a diameter corresponding to the first edge diameter R1 or the second edge diameter R2, so that the first edge region and/or the second edge region then have a rectangular profile in an axial section.

However, such embodiments of the magnetically effective core are preferred in which the magnetically effective core has an outer surface which is parallel to the axial direction A neither between the central region and the first axial boundary surface nor between the central region and the second axial boundary surface. Thus, such embodiments are preferred in which both the first axial boundary surface and the second axial boundary surface are connected to the central region by transitions that are oblique to the axial direction A or curved.

Due to this measure, the tilting rigidity of the rotor, i.e., its resistance to tilting, or its ability to return to the desired position from a tilted position, is significantly improved.

As already mentioned, in the embodiment represented in FIG. 5, the first edge region and the second edge region are each designed in the form of a truncated cone. The inclination of the truncated cone is described by a truncated cone angle α, which is given by the acute angle between the transition and the axial direction A.

In practice, specific combinations of the geometric dimensions have proven to be particularly advantageous.

For the height ratio of the rotor height and the central height HZ, the range of 1.2 to 1.6 is preferred, i.e., 1.2≤HR/HZ≤1.6, wherein the truncated cone angle α is between 15 degrees and 60 degrees, i.e., 15°≤α≤60°. It has been shown to be advantageous if the truncated cone angle α is greater the greater the height ratio HR/HZ.

Furthermore, it has been shown to be advantageous if the ratio of the rotor diameter RZ and the rotor height HR is between two and three, i.e., 2≤RZ/HR≤, whereby this ratio can preferably be selected to be smaller the larger the truncated cone angle α.

Particularly preferably, the height ratio of the rotor height HR and the central height HZ is in the range of 1.3 to 1.5, i.e., 1.3≤HR/HZ≤1.5, wherein the truncated cone angle α is between 20 degrees and 30 degrees, i.e., 20°≤α30°. For the ratio of the rotor diameter RZ and the rotor height HR, the range of 2.3 to 2.7 is particularly preferred, i.e., 2.3≤RZ/HR≤2.7.

Especially preferably, the height ratio of the rotor height HR and the central height HZ is about 1.46, i.e., HR/HZ=1.46, where the truncated cone angle α is about 22.5 degrees, i.e., α=22.5°.

In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the axial stiffness of the passive magnetic levitation of the rotor against tilting and against displacements of the rotor in the axial direction A, respectively, is illustrated. In this case, the field lines of the magnetic flux between the magnetically effective core of the rotor and the stator poles are again represented by the dashed lines without reference signs.

FIG. 3 shows the magnetically effective core of the rotor in a tilted position in which the magnetic center plane C encloses an angle different from zero with the axial direction A. In this position, a force component FA, which is directed downwards according to the representation, acts in the axial direction A in the region of the magnetically effective core which is opposite the left end face according to the representation, while a force component FA, which is directed upwards according to the representation, acts in the axial direction A in the region of the magnetically effective core which is opposite the right end face according to the representation. Thus, these two force components FA exert a torque on the magnetically effective core, which brings it back to its desired position, i.e., to a non-tilted position in which the magnetic center plane C is perpendicular to the axial direction A.

FIG. 4 shows the magnetically effective core of the rotor in a displaced or deflected position with respect to the axial direction A. In this case, the magnetic center plane C is still perpendicular to the axial direction A, but is displaced parallel downward (as represented) with respect to the radial plane E. In this position, a force component FA, which is directed upwards according to the representation, acts in the axial direction A in the region of the magnetically effective core which is opposite to the left end face according to the representation, and a force component FA, which is also directed upwards according to the representation, acts in the axial direction A in the region of the magnetically effective core which is opposite to the right end face according to the representation. Thus, these two force components FA exert a force on the magnetically effective core which brings it back to its desired position, in which the magnetic center plane C lies in the radial plane E.

In the following, on the basis of the FIG. 6 to FIG. 9, various variants for the embodiment of the rotor or the magnetically effective core of the rotor are explained. Only the differences with respect to the previous explanations will be discussed. Otherwise, the previous explanations also apply to these variants in the same or in the analogously same way. Furthermore, it is also possible to combine the measures described on the basis of the variants.

FIG. 6 illustrates a first variant for the magnetically effective core of the rotor. In this first variant, the magnetically effective core is designed in its entirety with a height in the axial direction A which is equal to the rotor height HR. In this embodiment, the magnetically effective core does not have any distinct edge regions that could be distinguished from a central region. The magnetically effective core is designed as a circular disk or as a disk of a circular cylinder, wherein this disk has the diameter, which is the rotor diameter RZ, and a height in the axial direction, which is the rotor height HR. Of course, the magnetically effective core can also be designed as a ring-shaped disk.

FIG. 7 shows a second variant for the magnetically effective core in a section in the axial direction. The second variant largely corresponds to the embodiment represented in FIG. 5 but has a central bore extending in the axial direction A through the entire magnetically effective core from the first axial boundary surface to the second axial boundary surface.

FIG. 8 shows a third variant for the magnetically effective core. The third variant largely corresponds to the embodiment represented in FIG. 5 but differs in the design of the first edge region and the second edge region. In the third variant, both edge regions, are each designed in the form of a spherical disk or in the form of a paraboloid disk, i.e., the transitions are each designed curved here, for example as a part of a spherical shell or as a part of a paraboloid. The inclination of the transitions can be described, for example, by an inclination angle β, which can be defined in the analogously same way as the truncated cone angle α. Thus, for example, the inclination angle β is the acute angle which a tangent to the transition makes with the axial direction A. The same explanations apply analogously to the inclination angle β as to the truncated cone angle α.

FIG. 9 shows a fourth variant for the magnetically effective core. The fourth variant largely corresponds to the embodiment represented in FIG. 5 but differs in the design of the first edge region. In the fourth variant, only the second edge region is designed in the form of a truncated cone, while the first edge region is designed in the form of a spherical disk or in the form of a paraboloid disk.

FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of an electromagnetic rotary drive according to the invention in a section in the axial direction A. For a better understanding, FIG. 11 still shows a plan view on the second embodiment from the axial direction A.

In the following, only the differences to the first embodiment will be discussed. The same parts or parts equivalent in function of the second embodiment are designated with the same reference signs as in the first embodiment or its variants. In particular, the reference signs have the same meaning as already explained in connection with the first embodiment. It is understood that all previous explanations of the first embodiment and its variants also apply in the same way or in the analogously same way to the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the electromagnetic rotary drive is designed as a temple motor. The electromagnetic rotary drive comprises the stator, wherein the stator has a plurality of coil cores, each of which comprises a bar-shaped longitudinal limb extending in the axial direction A from a first end to a second end, and a transverse limb which is arranged at the second end of the longitudinal limb. Each transverse limb extends in the radial direction towards the rotor. Thus, each coil core has the shape of an L, wherein the longitudinal limbs each form the long limb of the L extending in the axial direction A, and the transverse limbs extending perpendicular to the longitudinal limbs in the radial direction toward the rotor each form the short limb of the L.

Each transverse limb forms one of the stator poles. In contrast to the first embodiment, which is designed as a radial motor, the concentrated windings are not carried by the stator poles, but at least one of the concentrated windings is arranged on each longitudinal limb, surrounding the respective longitudinal limb.

When the magnetically effective core of the rotor is in its desired position during operation, the magnetically effective core is centered between the stator poles, which are formed by the transverse limbs, so that the stator poles are arranged in the magnetic center plane C and in the radial plane E, respectively (in this case, these two planes are the same). According to the representation, the concentrated windings are arranged below the radial plane E and are aligned such that their coil axes extend in the axial direction A.

All first ends of the longitudinal limbs—these are the lower ends according to the representation in FIG. 10—are connected to each other by the return. The return is preferably designed in a ring-shaped manner. Such embodiments are possible (see FIG. 10) in which the return extends radially inwardly along all first ends of the longitudinal limbs. However, it is also possible that the return has a plurality of recesses along its circumference, each of which receives one of the first ends.

Furthermore, a centrifugal pump for conveying a fluid is proposed by an embodiment of the invention, which is characterized in that the centrifugal pump comprises an electromagnetic rotary drive designed according to the invention, wherein the rotor of the electromagnetic rotary drive is designed as the rotor of the centrifugal pump.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of a centrifugal pump according to the invention, which is designated as a whole by the reference sign, in a section in the axial direction A.

In this embodiment of the centrifugal pump, the electromagnetic rotary drive is designed as a temple motor, i.e., according to the second embodiment (FIG. 10, FIG. 11).

The centrifugal pump comprises a pump unit with a pump housing comprising an inlet and an outlet for the fluid to be conveyed, wherein the rotor is arranged in the pump housing and comprises a plurality of vanes for conveying the fluid. The pump unit is designed in such a way that the pump unit can be inserted into the stator such that the magnetically effective core of the rotor is surrounded by the stator poles.

It is an advantageous aspect that the rotor is designed as an integral rotor, because it is both the rotor of the electromagnetic rotary drive and the rotor of the centrifugal pump, with which the fluid is conveyed. In total, the rotor thus fulfills three functions in one: It is the rotor of the electromagnetic drive, it is the rotor of the magnetic levitation, and it is the impeller with which the fluid or fluids are acted upon. This embodiment as an integral rotor offers the advantage of a very compact and space-saving design.

For a better understanding, FIG. 13 still shows a slightly more detailed representation of the pump unit of the centrifugal pump in a section along the section line XIII-XIII in FIG. 14. FIG. 14 shows a plan view on the pump unit from the axial direction A.

The pump housing of the pump unit comprises a base part and a cover, which are connected to each other in a sealing manner, wherein the outlet of the pump housing is completely arranged in the base part. The cover comprises the inlet, which extends in the axial direction A, so that the fluid flows to the rotor from the axial direction A.

In this regard, it is also a substantial aspect that the outlet is completely arranged in the base part so that the outlet does not have any parting lines, welding lines or similar joints.

Any methods known per se are suitable for a connection of the cover and the base part in a sealing manner. Thus, for example, the base part and the cover can be connected to each other by a screw connection or by a click connection or by a snap-in connection, by gluing or by various types of welding, for example by infrared welding. Depending on the type of connection, it can be advantageous to provide a sealing element, for example an O-ring, between the base part and the cover.

The rotor comprises the plurality of vanes for conveying the fluid. In the case of the embodiment described here, a total of four vanes are provided, whereby this number has an exemplary character. The rotor further comprises a jacket with which the magnetically effective core of the rotor is enclosed and preferably hermetically encapsulated so that the magnetically effective core of the rotor does not come into contact with the fluid to be conveyed. All vanes are arranged on the jacket and arranged equidistantly with respect to the circumferential direction of the rotor 3. Each vane extends outward in the radial direction and is connected to the jacket in a torque-proof manner. The vanes can be separate components that are then fixed to the jacket. Of course, it is also possible that all of the vanes are an integral part of the jacket, i.e., that the jacket is designed with all of the vanes as a single piece. The rotor with the vanes forms the impeller or the impeller of the centrifugal pump, with which the fluid or fluids are acted upon.

Preferably, the rotor comprises the central bore, which extends completely through the rotor in the axial direction A. At least a partial axial thrust compensation can be ensured by this central bore, so that the passive magnetic axial levitation of the rotor is relieved.

Depending on the application, for example, if the centrifugal pump is used as a blood pump, it is preferred if the pump housing of the pump unit as well as the jacket and the vanes are made of one or more plastics. Suitable plastics are: Polyethylene (PE), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Ultra Low Density Polyethylene (ULDPE), Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polypropylene (PP), Polyurethane (PU), Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Polyacryl, Polycarbonates (PC), Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or Silicones. For many applications, the materials known under the brand name Teflon, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluoroalkoxy polymers (PFA), are also suitable plastics.

Preferably, the pump unit is designed for detachable connection to the stator of the centrifugal pump. For this purpose, several lugs can be provided on the pump housing, for example, which can cooperate with the stator in the form of a bayonet connection.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the pump unit is designed as a single-use device for single use, which can be inserted into the stator designed as a reusable device. Then, the centrifugal pump is composed of the pump unit, which is designed as a single-use device for single use, and the stator, which is designed as a reusable device designed for multiple use. The stator typically also comprises the control, regulation and supply units of the electromagnetic rotary drive 1.

The term “single-use device” and other compositions with the component “single-use” refer to such components or parts that are designed for single-use, i.e., that can be used only once according to their intended purpose and are then disposed of. A new, previously unused single-use part must then be used for a new application. In the conception or design of the single-use device, it is therefore a substantial aspect that the single-use device can be assembled with the reusable device to form the centrifugal pump in the simplest possible manner. The single-use device should therefore be able to be replaced in a very simple manner without the need for a high level of assembly work. Particularly preferably, the single-use device should be able to be assembled with and separated from the reusable device without the use of tools. The pump unit can be designed as such a single-use device.

The centrifugal pump can be used, for example, in the medical industry as a blood pump, or can find use in the pharmaceutical industry or in the biotechnology industry. The centrifugal pump is especially suitable for such applications in which a very high degree of purity or sterility of those components that come into contact with the substances to be mixed is substantial.

It is understood that the centrifugal pump according to the invention for conveying fluids can also be designed with an electromagnetic rotary drive, which is designed according to the first embodiment (FIG. 1, FIG. 2), i.e., as a radial motor, in which the windings are arranged on the stator poles in the radial plane E.

ELECTROMAGNETIC ROTARY DRIVE, A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP AND A PUMP UNIT

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CPC

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