Homopolar machine for reversible energy storage and transfer systems

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:863926

Stillwagon, Roy E ^[1]

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1. Ruffsdale, PA

A homopolar machine designed to operate as a generator and motor in reversibly storing and transferring energy between the machine and a magnetic load coil for a thermo-nuclear reactor. The machine rotor comprises hollow thin-walled cylinders or sleeves which form the basis of the system by utilizing substantially all of the rotor mass as a conductor thus making it possible to transfer substantially all the rotor kinetic energy electrically to the load coil in a highly economical and efficient manner. The rotor is divided into multiple separate cylinders or sleeves of modular design, connected in series and arranged to rotate in opposite directions but maintain the supply of current in a single direction to the machine terminals. A stator concentrically disposed around the sleeves consists of a hollow cylinder having a number of excitation coils each located radially outward from the ends of adjacent sleeves. Current collected at an end of each sleeve by sleeve slip rings and brushes is transferred through terminals to the magnetic load coil. Thereafter, electrical energy returned from the coil then flows through the machine which causes the sleeves to motor up to the desired speed in preparation for repetition of the cycle. To eliminate drag on the rotor between current pulses, the brush rigging is designed to lift brushes from all slip rings in the machine.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Westinghouse Electric Corporation
• DOE Contract Number: LN4-44177
• Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4276507
• OSTI ID: 863926
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

homopolar
machine
reversible
energy
storage
transfer
systems
designed
operate
generator
motor
reversibly
storing
transferring
magnetic
load
coil
thermo-nuclear
reactor
rotor
comprises
hollow
thin-walled
cylinders
sleeves
form
basis
utilizing
substantially
mass
conductor
kinetic
electrically
highly
economical
efficient
manner
divided
multiple
separate
modular
design
connected
series
arranged
rotate
opposite
directions
maintain
supply
current
single
direction
terminals
stator
concentrically
disposed
consists
cylinder
excitation
coils
located
radially
outward
adjacent
collected
sleeve
slip
rings
brushes
transferred
thereafter
electrical
returned
flows
causes
desired
speed
preparation
repetition
cycle
eliminate
drag
pulses
brush
rigging
lift
single direction
slip rings
modular design
hollow cylinder
homopolar machine
magnetic load
transferring energy
opposite direction
current pulse
opposite directions
electrical energy
energy storage
nuclear reactor
kinetic energy
radially outward
located radially
current pulses
concentrically disposed
load coil
rotor comprises
rotor mass
rotor kinetic
reversible energy
separate cylinders
reversibly storing
transfer systems
transfer substantially
thin-walled cylinders
thermo-nuclear reactor
sleeve slip
sleeves consists
stator concentrically
utilizing substantially
adjacent sleeves
brush rigging
machine rotor
machine terminals
machine designed
multiple separate
comprises hollow
efficient manner
energy electrically
eliminate drag
energy returned
excitation coils
lift brushes
desired speed
current collected
highly economical
hollow thin-walled
excitation coil
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