The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to generators, and more particularly to generator with rotor windings formed from flat wire.
Electrical systems, such as aircraft electrical systems, commonly include generators. The generators provide electrical power to electrical devices connected to the electrical systems during operation, typically by rotating a rotor carrying a magnetic element relative to a stator winding. As the rotor rotates relative to the stator the magnetic elements communicate magnetic flux to the stator. The magnetic flux in turn induces an electric current in the stator winding, which is harvested from the stator winding and communicated to electrical devices connected to the generator.
The magnetic elements carried by the rotor typically include permanent magnets, windings, or both permanent magnets and windings. In the case of generators employing wound field rotors, an electric excitation current is applied to the windings to generate and/or tune the magnetic flux communicated by the rotor. The windings are generally formed with a wire having a rounded or circular cross-sectional profile. The geometry of the rotor is typically selected to accommodate mechanical load exerted on the rotor by the windings during rotation as well as to limit density of the magnetic flux communicated between the magnetic elements carried and the stator winding.
Such generators and methods of making generators having generally been satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there remains a need in the art for improved generators and methods of making generators. The present disclosure provides a solution to this need.
According to one embodiments a generator is provided. The generator includes a stator with a stator winding, a rotor core supported for rotation relative to the stator about a rotation axis, the rotor core having one or more axially extending rotor tooth, and a field winding. The field winding includes one or more field coil seated on the rotor core and extending about the rotor tooth. The field coil includes two or more flat wire turns radially stacked with one another and formed such edges of the field coil tightly engage circumferential faces of the tooth.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that a flat wire turn stack defined by the plurality of flat wire turns is one (1) flat wire-width wide.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the flat wire has an axial profile with a height and a width, wherein the width of the flat wire is greater than the height of the flat wire.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the flat wire has an axial profile that is rectangular in shape.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the flat wire turns are oblique relative to the rotor tooth, a first edge of the flat wire abutting the rotor tooth being arranged radially outward of an opposite second edge of the flat wire.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the field winding has twelve (12) field coils circumferentially distributed about a periphery of the rotor core.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the field coil has a first axial portion abutting a first circumferential face of the rotor tooth, a second axial portion abutting a second circumferential face of the rotor tooth, the second circumferential face circumferentially separated from the first circumferential face by the rotor tooth, and end turn portion. The end turn portion couples the first axial portion to the second axial portion and is bowed radially outward of the first axial portion and the second axial portion to tightly abut the first axial segment and the second axial segment against the rotor tooth.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the rotor tooth is a first rotor tooth and the rotor core defines a second rotor tooth circumferentially separated from the first rotor tooth by an axial slot, the generator further including a second field coil extending about the second rotor tooth, and a rotor wedge arranged in the axial slot and separating the first field coil from the second field coil.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include a damper coil seated in the rotor tooth and arranged radially outward of field coil.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include a shaft arranged along the rotation axis, wherein the rotor core is seated on the shaft.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the rotor tooth is a first rotor tooth and the rotor core has a second rotor tooth separated by a gap, wherein a minimum width of gap is substantially equivalent to a width of the flat wire turn.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the rotor tooth defines a pole arc, wherein the pole is larger than a pole arc of a rotor having an equivalent pole pitch and a field coil formed from wire having a circular profile.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the field coil comprises twenty (20) flat wire turns stacked with one another.
According to another embodiment an electrical system is provided. The electrical system includes a generator as described above and two or more electrical devices electrically connected to the stator winding. A flat wire turn stack defined by the two or more flat wire turns is one (1) flat wire wide, the flat wire has an axial profile with a height and a width, and the width of the flat wire is greater than the height of the flat wire.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the field winding includes twelve (12) field coils circumferentially distributed about a periphery of the rotor core wherein the field coil comprises twenty (20) flat wire turns stacked with one another.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the flat wire turns are stacked with one another radially relative the rotation axis; and wherein the flat wire turns are oblique relative to the rotor tooth, a first edge of the flat wire abutting the rotor tooth being arranged radially outward of an opposite second edge of the flat wire.
According to further embodiments a method of making a generator is provided. The method includes stacking two or more flat wire turns to form a field coil, seating the field coil on a tooth of a rotor core, forming the field coil on the rotor core such that the edges of the field coil tightly engage circumferential faces of the tooth, and supporting the rotor core for rotation about a rotation axis relative to a stator with a stator winding.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that forming the field coil includes bowing an end turn portion of the field coil radially outward relative to axial segments of the field coil.
In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include positioning a rotor wedge on a side of the field coil opposite the tooth.
Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include the capability to form rotors with large pole arc size in relation to rotors of equivalent diameter and pole count formed with wire having rounded or circular cross-sectional shapes. In certain embodiments generators described herein can communicate a given amount of magnetic flux with lower flux density owing to the relatively large pole arc in comparison to rotors of equivalent diameter and pole count. In accordance with certain embodiments, generators described herein can operate with relatively low tooth stress in comparison to generators employing rounded or circulate wire for a given rotor diameter and rotational speed, improving generator efficiency.
The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description and drawings are intended to be illustrative and explanatory in nature and non-limiting.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a generator in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in
Referring to
With reference to
The rotor core 110 is seated on the shaft 108, extends circumferentially about the shaft 108, and is fixed in rotation relative to the shaft 108 for common rotation therewith about the rotation axis 118. The rotor core 110 is formed from a magnetic material 120 for communicating magnetic flux between the rotor 102 and the stator 104 (shown in
The rotor core 110 has a plurality of rotor teeth 122, e.g., a first rotor tooth 124, a second rotor tooth 126, and a third rotor tooth 128. The plurality of rotor teeth 122 are circumferentially distributed about a radially outer periphery 130 of the rotor core 110. A plurality of axial gaps 132, e.g., a first axial gap 134 and a second axial gap 136, are defined about the radially outer periphery 130 and separate circumferentially adjacent teeth of the plurality of rotor teeth 122. In this respect the first axial gap 134 separates the first rotor tooth 124 from the second rotor tooth 126, and the second axial gap 136 separates the second axial gap 136 from the third rotor tooth 128.
The field winding 112 is supported by the rotor 102, is fixed in rotation relative to the rotor core 110, and is arranged about the radially outer periphery 130 of the rotor 102. The field winding 112 includes a plurality of field coils 140, e.g., a first field coil 144 and a second field coil 146, seated in the plurality of axial gaps 132 defined by the rotor core 110 and extending about respective teeth of the plurality of rotor teeth 122. The plurality of filed coils 140 are connected electrically in series with one another and are to magnetize portions of the rotor core 110 into a plurality of magnetic poles when current flows through the field winding 112 for generating the magnetic flux M (shown in
The first field coil 144 extends about the first rotor tooth 124 and is disposed partially in the first axial gap 134 and the second axial gap 136. The first field coil 144 is electrically connected to the field winding 112 such that electric current flowing through the first coil magnetizes the first rotor tooth 120. This defines a first of the magnetic poles, the first rotor tooth 120 thereby communicating magnetic flux M (shown in
As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art in view of the present disclosure, the construction of field windings in electric machines can influence both the mechanical stress exerted on the rotor structure and the characteristics of magnetic flux communicated in electric machines. For example, gaps between rotor teeth typically must be sized to allow the field winding to be installed in the electric machine rotor. The size of the gaps between adjacent rotor teeth cooperates with the pole count and rotor diameter to determine both the geometry of the rotor teeth and the pole arc size in the electric machine.
As will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art in view of the present disclosure, pole arc size influences magnetic flux density, the maximum amount of magnetic flux linking the rotor and stator in the electric machine, and/or the shape of the voltage waveform associated with the magnetic flux communicated between the stator and rotor in the electric machine. Applicant has determined that employment field windings constructed from flat wire turns 154 (shown in
With reference to
The first axial portion 156 is arranged in the first axial gap 134 and circumferentially abuts the first rotor tooth 124. More specifically, the first axial portion 156 abuts a first circumferential face 162 of the first rotor tooth 124 and is defined by the flat wire turns 154. The second axial portion 158 is similar to the first axial portion 156 and is additionally arranged in the second axial gap 136 such that the second axial portion 158 also abuts the first rotor tooth 124 along a second circumferential face 164, the second circumferential face 164 located on a side of the first rotor tooth 124 circumferentially opposite the first circumferential face 162.
With reference to
The radially outer flat wire 172 is angled relative to the first rotor tooth 124. More specifically, the radially outer flat wire 172 is angled obliquely relative to a radial axis defined by the first rotor tooth 124 such that a first end 182 of the axial profile abutting the first rotor tooth 124 is located radially outward of an opposite second end 184 of the radially outer flat wire 172. The radially inner flat wire 166 and the radially intermediate flat wire 176 are similarly angled relative to the first rotor tooth 124, which aligns the first axial portion 152 with the end turn portion 160 of the first field coil 144. As shown in
With reference to
With reference to
It is contemplated that the field coil undergo a forming operation such that edges of the field coil tightly abut circumferential faces of the rotor tooth, as shown with box 240. In certain embodiments the forming the field coil can include bowing the field coil such that an end turn portion, e.g., the end turn portion 160 (shown in
Field coils for generators can be formed with wires having circular cross-sections. The circular cross-section of the wire forming the field coils influence the pole arc of generator rotors including the field coils, the pole arc in turn being a factor in density of flux communicated between the rotor and the stator. The pole arc in turn can also influence the peak magnetic flux that can be communicated between the rotor and the stator and rotor construction due to the stress associated with the field winding placement and shape.
In embodiments described herein field coils include flat wire turns stacked with one another. The flat wire turns allow the pole arc defined by the rotor to be relatively large for a given pole count and rotor diameter, limiting density of magnetic flux communicated by the rotor and providing relatively high peak magnetic flux communication capability and/or improving quality of the voltage waveform associated with the magnetic flux communicated between the rotor and stator. In accordance with certain embodiments, the field coils can be formed such that field coil end turns are bowed radially outward relative to axial portions of the field coils, tightening the field coils against the teeth about which the respective field coil is seated. It is also contemplated that the field coils can have a width that such the field coils can be installed over the tooth tips that define the relatively large pole arcs of the rotor teeth.
The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.