Homopolar machine for reversible energy storage and transfer systems
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.
- Assignee:
- Department of Energy
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4271369
- Application Number:
- TRN: 82-001473
- OSTI ID:
- 5925478
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 10 Feb 1978
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Homopolar machine for reversible energy storage and transfer systems
Homopolar machine for reversible energy storage and transfer systems