The invention relates to a turbine wheel arrangement for a turbine, in particular a waste heat recovery device.
Typically, large amounts of waste heat arise when operating an internal combustion engine. On principle, it is possible and desirable to convert these amounts of waste heat into mechanical work by means of corresponding thermodynamic processes or to store them in a manner, which is suitable for mechanical work, respectively. Basically, it is possible for instance to evaporate a fluid, such as for example ethanol, coolant or water-ammonia by means of the waste heat of an exhaust gas system, and to use the steam generated in this way to operate a turbine or another expansion or turbo-machine. The turbine wheel of the turbine should thereby work in a fluidically hermetically insulated area in order to subsequently heat the fluid used for the operation without loss again and to be able to use it to drive the turbine wheel. For safety reasons, a hermetical seal may be required as well, for instance to avoid an escape of ethanol and an ignition of the ethanol associated therewith. In this context, there is the problem of drivingly connecting the turbine wheel to a device, which uses the work of the turbine or the like.
It is known from the prior art to use magnetic couplings, by means of which the torque, which is generated by the turbine wheel in a fluidically insulated area, can be transmitted from the insulated area in a contact-free manner. For this purpose, it is known to connect the turbine wheel of the turbine in a rotationally fixed manner to a first rotor, which is arranged in the fluidically insulated area. The second rotor, in contrast, is arranged outside the insulated area. The torque transmission between the two rotors occurs by magnetic coupling of the magnetic elements, which are provided on the two rotors. Such common magnetic couplings typically have an internal rotor and an external rotor, both of which can be rotatably adjusted about a common axial axis of rotation. The external rotor is thereby arranged radially outside of the internal rotor with respect to the axis of rotation. If the internal rotor is for example connected to the turbine wheel in a rotationally fixed manner, the magnetic coupling of the magnetic elements, which are typically arranged on the outer circumferential side of the internal rotor, to the magnetic elements, which are arranged on the inner circumferential side of the external rotor, takes place in the radial direction. Such a circumferential arrangement of the magnetic elements with respect to the two rotors, however, is associated with a significant space requirement. In addition, a partition wall, which needs to be arranged radially between internal and external rotor and which thus needs to be realized as circumferential wall, is typically required for the fluidic separation of the internal rotor comprising the turbine wheel from the external rotor. The structural realization of such a circumferential wall in the smallest possible space between internal and external rotor, however, is structurally very extensive.
It is thus an object of the invention at hand to create an improved embodiment of a turbine wheel arrangement, preferably for waste heat utilization devices, which is in particular characterized by a small space requirement.
This object is solved by means of the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent patent claims.
It is thus the basic idea of the invention to connect a first rotor of a magnetic coupling to a turbine wheel in a rotationally fixed manner and to magnetically couple it axially to the second rotor. The turbine wheel arrangement according to the invention can be realized in an extremely space-saving manner by means of such an axially extending magnetic coupling between the two rotors. This applies in particular for the need of space in the axial direction, which can be reduced significantly compared to common magnetic couplings comprising a radial coupling between an internal and an external rotor. This also provides for a simplified, rotatably adjustable support of the turbine wheel on a turbine housing of the turbine wheel arrangement. The axial force, which forms between the two rotors, can further be used for tensioning or prestressing, respectively, the supports. Finally, the technically extensive embodiment of the partition wall between the two rotors in the form of a circumferential wall, which is required in the case of magnetic couplings comprising a radial coupling, when used in waste heat utilization devices, can be forgone.
A turbine wheel arrangement according to the invention comprises a turbine wheel and a magnetic coupling, which has a first and a second rotor. The two rotors can each be rotatably adjusted about a common axis of rotation, which defines an axial direction. The first rotor is connected to the turbine wheel in a rotationally fixed manner. The first rotor is furthermore magnetically coupled axially to the second rotor.
In an advantageous further development of the invention, the first rotor has at least a first magnetic element. The second rotor has at least a second magnetic element. The first and second magnetic elements are thereby arranged on axial front sides, which face one another, of the two rotors. The two rotors can thus be be magnetically coupled to one another in a highly effective manner.
In an advantageous further development of the invention, the first rotor comprising the at least one first magnetic element can be molded integrally on the turbine wheel. In other words, the at least one first magnetic element is attached directly to the turbine wheel. Such a simplified structural setup of first rotor and turbine wheel is associated with significant cost advantages in the production of the turbine wheel arrangement. In the alternative, however, the first rotor can also be capable of being detachably fastened to the turbine wheel. This facilitates in particular the replacement of a defective rotor.
In a further preferred embodiment, the magnetic coupling comprises at least two first magnetic elements, preferably a plurality of first magnetic elements. They are arranged along the circumferential direction of the first rotor adjacent to one another. In the alternative or in addition, the magnetic coupling can comprise at least two second magnetic elements, preferably a plurality of second magnetic elements, which are then also arranged along the circumferential direction of the second rotor adjacent to one another. The number of the first and second magnetic elements can thus be determined in an application-specific manner, which proves to be advantageous, when the magnetic coupling is to be realized as magnetic gear.
Particularly advantageously, the at least one first magnetic element and/or the at least one second magnetic element can be embodied as permanent magnet, which has a magnetic polarization direction along the axial direction. Magnetic elements embodied in this way are available commercially in a cost-efficient manner and in large quantities, which has an advantageous effect on the production costs of the turbine wheel arrangement.
In a further preferred embodiment, the first rotor can have a first base part, which is connected to the turbine wheel in a rotationally fixed manner. On this base part, a first accommodation, in which the at least one first magnetic element is accommodated, is present on a front side, which faces the second rotor. Such an accommodation facilitates the assembly of the at least one first magnetic element. This applies in particular when a plurality of first magnetic elements is present. As an alternative or in addition to the first rotor, the second rotor can analogously also have a second base part, at which a second accommodation is present on a front side facing the first rotor. The at least one second magnetic element is accommodated in this second accommodation.
To accommodate the magnetic elements in a stable manner in the first accommodation, it proves to be advantageous, when the first accommodation is embodied as a first accommodation collar, which projects axially away from the first base part towards the second rotor. The at least one first magnetic element is inserted into this first accommodation collar. As an alternative or in addition, the second accommodation can also be embodied as a second accommodation collar, which projects away from the second base part towards the first rotor. The at least one second magnetic element is inserted into the second accommodation.
For the improved reinforcement of the first accommodation, it is proposed in a further preferred embodiment to arrange a first outer sleeve element, which encloses the first accommodation collar along the circumferential direction, on the first accommodation collar radially on the outside. A fiber reinforced material, in particular carbon, which is characterized by a low dead weight while simultaneously having an extremely high mechanical stability, is thereby recommended as sleeve material of the first outer sleeve element. In the alternative or in addition, a second outer sleeve element, which encloses the second accommodation collar along the circumferential direction, can also be arranged on the second accommodation collar radially on the outside for the improved reinforcement of the second accommodation. A fiber reinforced material, in particular the carbon, which has already been mentioned, is also recommended for the sleeve material of the second outer sleeve element.
An improved reinforcement of the first accommodation can also be attained according to a further preferred embodiment, in the case of which a first inner sleeve element, which extends along the circumferential direction and which abuts against the first magnetic elements, is arranged radially on the inside on the first magnetic elements. The sleeve material of the first inner sleeve element can also comprise a fiber reinforced material, in particular carbon. In the alternative or in addition, a second inner sleeve element, which extends along the circumferential direction and which abuts against the second magnetic elements and the sleeve material of which comprises a fiber reinforced material, in particular carbon, can also be arranged on the second magnetic elements radially on the inside for the improved reinforcement of the second accommodation.
For application-specific reasons, it may be advantageous in the practice operation of the turbine wheel arrangement, when the speed of the turbine wheel is translated to slow. For this purpose, it is proposed to embody the magnetic coupling as magnetic gear, in particular in the manner of a reluctance gear.
If the magnetic coupling is to have the effect of a magnetic gear, it is proposed according to an advantageous further development of the invention to arrange a plurality of polar bars at the partition wall along the circumferential direction. These polar bars, together with the first and second magnetic elements, effect the desired translation of the speed of the turbine wheel to slow, when they are provided in adequate number.
In order to fluidically insulate the turbine wheel comprising the first rotor, in particular in response to use in a waste heat utilization device from the second rotor of the magnetic coupling, it is proposed in a particularly advantageous manner to provide a partition wall in the axial direction between the first and the second rotor. For instance, such a partition wall may be embodied in a space, which is arranged axially between the two rotors and which is preferably realized in the manner of a gap.
A particularly space-saving arrangement of the magnetic coupling is attained in an advantageous further development of the invention, in the case of which the partition wall runs perpendicular to the axis of rotation in a plane.
A particularly good magnetic coupling between the magnetic elements of the first and second rotor is attained when a gap width, which is defined by the axial distance between the two base parts, is maximally 3 mm, preferably maximally 1 mm.
Particularly preferably, the following components of the two rotors may be embodied as identical parts: the magnetic elements, the inner sleeve elements, and/or the outer sleeve elements. In this case, the mentioned components can be installed either into the first or second rotor of the turbine wheel arrangement. This leads to a simplified production of the turbine wheel arrangement and thus to reduced production costs of the turbine wheel arrangement according to the invention.
In a preferred embodiment, the first and second rotor are embodied as identical parts and can each be detachably fastened or are detachably fastened to the turbine wheel by means of a fastening bolt or by means of a screw connection or by press-fitting or by means of the outer sleeve element. The identical part can thus be fastened to the first or to the second rotor.
In an additional aspect of the invention, a turbine wheel arrangement for a turbine, in particular a waste heat utilization device, comprises a turbine wheel comprising a rotor, which is connected to the turbine wheel in a rotationally fixed manner. Together with the turbine wheel, the rotor can be rotatably adjusted about an axis of rotation, which defines an axial direction. The turbine wheel arrangement furthermore comprises a stator, which has at least two electrical coil elements on a front side, which axially faces the rotor. Finally, the turbine wheel arrangement comprises at least two first magnetic elements, which are arranged on the rotor on a front side thereof, which faces the stator. The magnetic elements are arranged in such a way that an electrical induction voltage is induced in the at least two electrical coil elements during a rotational movement of the rotor relative to the stator. The turbine wheel arrangement can thus be used as electrical generator. Such a turbine wheel arrangement comprising an axial coupling of magnetic elements and coil elements instead of a magnetic coupling has its own invention character. All of the above-mentioned advantages or advantageous embodiments, respectively, with respect to the use of an axially oriented magnetic coupling can also be transferred to such a turbine wheel arrangement, which acts as generator. The axial coupling of the magnetic elements of the rotor to the coil elements of the stator, which is attached to a turbine housing in a stationary manner, for example, on which the rotor is rotatably supported, ensures an arrangement with particularly small space requirements.
In a further alternative, the coil elements can be energized actively with electrical alternating current with the help of a suitable electrical alternating current source. In this scenario, the generated magnetic alternating field effects a rotational movement of the rotor about its axis of rotation by interaction with the magnetic elements of the rotor. In this case, the turbine wheel arrangement according to the additional aspect of the invention follows the operating principle of an electric motor.
The invention also relates to a turbine comprising a turbine housing and an above-presented turbine wheel arrangement, wherein the turbine wheel is rotatably supported on the turbine housing of the turbine.
Further important features and advantages of the invention follow from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the corresponding figure description by means of the drawings.
It goes without saying that the above-mentioned features and the features, which will be discussed below, cannot only be used in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without leaving the scope of the invention at hand.
Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be discussed in more detail in the description below, whereby the same reference numerals refer to the same or to similar or functionally identical components.
In each case schematically
The first magnetic elements 8 and the second magnetic elements 9 are each embodied as permanent magnets, which have a magnetic polarization direction along the axial direction. According to
When now looking at
As shown clearly in
To reinforce the structure, a first outer sleeve element 17, which encloses the first accommodation collar 15 along the circumferential direction U, is arranged on the first accommodation collar 15 radially on the outside. The sleeve material of the first outer sleeve element 17 can comprise a fiber reinforced material, in particular carbon, or can consist thereof. To reinforce the structure, a second outer sleeve element 18, which encloses the second accommodation collar 16 along the circumferential direction U, is also arranged on the second accommodation collar 16 radially on the outside. The sleeve material of the second outer sleeve element 18 can also comprise a fiber reinforced material, in particular carbon, or can consist thereof. In particular, the following components of the two rotors 5, 6 can be embodied as identical parts: the base parts 10, 11, the magnetic elements 8, 9, the inner sleeve elements 23, and/or the outer sleeve elements 17, 18. These components can then either be installed into the first or second rotor 5, 6 of the turbine wheel arrangement 1. This results in significant cost savings in response to the production of the turbine wheel arrangement 1.
As shown in
n=p
1
+p
2
thus applies.
If the first rotor 5 comprising the first magnetic elements 8 is now rotated in the circumferential direction U, the magnetic fields generated by first magnetic elements 8 are permeated by the polar bars 21 on the stationary partition wall 19, resulting in that second rotor 6 and accordingly the second base part 11 comprising the second magnetic elements 9 rotates opposite to the circumferential direction U—identified with U′ in
In a further example of use, which is not illustrated in detail in the figures, the second rotor 6 of the magnetic coupling 4 can be connected to the input shaft of a gear, in particular of a planetary gear, for translating the speed of the first rotor 5 to slow or, in the case of a suitable configuration, also to fast. The turbine wheel arrangement 1 according to the invention, which is presented herein, thus opens up a plurality of areas of application for the person of skill in the art.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2015 204 506.4 | Mar 2015 | DE | national |
This application claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2016/054443, filed on Mar. 2, 2016, and German Patent Application DE 10 2015 204 506.4, filed on Mar. 12, 2015, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2016/054443 | 3/2/2016 | WO | 00 |