Honeycomb stator inserts for improved generator cooling

Claim 2

A gas-cooled dynamoelectric machine comprising a rotor mounted for rotation within a stator with an annular gap therebetween, and an air-tight casing enclosing said rotor and stator and means for cooling and recirculating a gas coolant within said casing, means defining a plurality of axially spaced radial stator ducts for conducting coolant to and from said gap, and means defining a plurality of axially spaced inlet and outlet rotor ducts and connecting passages for taking coolant from said gap and circulating coolant through said Rotor and back into said gap, and at least one honeycomb stator insert mounted adjacent the inner surface of said stator extending into said gap to produce a substantially reduced effective gap clearance space and comprising a honeycomb baffle structure defining radial passages for coolant flow.

Claim 3

A dynamoelectric machine according to claim 1 wherein said honeycomb stator insert is substantially peripherally continuous.

Claim 4

A dynamoelectric machine according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of said honeycomb stator inserts are mounted adjacent to one another on said stator so as to be substantially peripherally continuous.

Claim 5

A dynamoelectric machine according to claim 1 wherein said honeycomb stator insert further includes a curved perforated plate to which said honeycomb baffle structure is attached, and a longitudinally extending support member secured to said perforated plate for mounting said insert in corresponding grooves in said stator.

Claim 6

A dynamoelectric machine according to claim 4 wherein said inlet and outlet rotor ducts and connecting passages include a network of radial passages and connecting axial ducts for the circulation of coolant through said rotor.

Claim 7

A gas-cooled dynamoelectric machine comprising a rotor mounted for rotation within a stator with an annular gap therebetween, and an air-tight casing enclosing said rotor and stator and means for cooling and recirculating a gas coolant within said casing, means defining a plurality of alternating axially spaced groups of radial stator ducts for respectively conducting coolant to and from said gap, and means for defining a plurality of corresponding alternating axially spaced groups of inlet and outlet rotor ducts and network of associated connecting passages for respectively scooping coolant from said gap and circulating coolant through said rotor and back into said gap, said groups of stator ducts and inlet and outlet rotor ducts being arranged in alternating zones for the inward flow of cooled coolant and the outward flow of heated coolant, and a plurality of honeycomb stator inserts slidably mounted adjacent to one another on said stator extending into said gap so as to be substantially peripherally continuous, said stator inserts each comprising a honeycomb baffle structure defining radial passages for the flow of coolant and reducing axial leakage between said zones.

Claim 8

A gas-cooled dynamoelectric machine comprising a rotor mounted for rotation within a stator with an annular gap therebetween, and an air-tight casing enclosing said rotor and stator and means for cooling and recirculating a gas coolant within said casing, means defining a plurality of alternating axially spaced groups of radial stator ducts for respectively conducting coolant to and from said gap, and means for defining a plurality of corresponding alternating axially spaced groups of inlet and outlet rotor ducts and network of associated connecting passages for respectively scooping coolant from said gap and circulating coolant through said rotor and back into said gap, said groups of stator ducts and inlet and outlet rotor ducts being arranged in alternating zones for the inward flow of cooled coolant and the outward flow of heated coolant, and a plurality of honeycomb stator inserts slidably mounted adjacent to one another on said stator extending into said gap so as to be substantially peripherally continuous, said stator inserts each comprising a honeycomb baffle structure defining radial passages for the flow of coolant and reducing axial leakage between said zones.

Claim 9

A dynamoelectric machine according to claim 6 wherein each honeycomb stator insert further comprises a curved perforated plate to which said honeycomb baffle structure is attached, and a longitudinally extending support member secured to said perforated plate for mounting said insert in corresponding grooves in said stator.

Claim 10

A dynamoelectric machine according to claim 6 wherein said groups of inlet and outlet rotor ducts and network of associated connecting passages includes a network of radial passages and connecting axial ducts for the circulation of coolant through said rotor.