Vacuum gap generators and motors

1. A device comprising:

a stator; and

a rotor configured to be positioned at least partially within the stator and to rotate within the stator, the rotor being separated from the stator by a gap comprising a partial vacuum, the rotor formed from a ferrous material using additive manufacturing, the rotor comprising:

a shaft configured to permit a flow of coolant within the shaft;

a plurality of electromagnets, each electromagnet comprising a plurality of windings; and

a plurality of microchannels formed within the rotor and fluidly coupled to the shaft, wherein:

at least one microchannel is located proximate to one of the windings;

the microchannels are configured to permit the coolant to pass from the shaft through at least a portion of the rotor in order to provide cooling for the rotor; and

wherein the rotor comprises:

a plurality of rotor teeth;

a plurality of rotor windings, each of the one or more rotor winding being located proximate to one of the rotor teeth; and

wherein at least one of the microchannels passes through at least a portion of one of the rotor teeth along a longitudinal direction aligned with a rotation axis of the rotor.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microchannels comprise cross-sectional diameters that are less than cross-sectional diameters of the plurality of rotor windings.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is a generator or an alternating current (AC) motor.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the coolant comprises polyalphaolefin (PAO).

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ferrous material comprises steel or iron.

6. A device comprising:

a stator; and

a rotor configured to rotate at least partially within the stator or around the stator, the rotor being separated from the stator by a gap comprising a partial vacuum, the rotor comprising:

a shaft configured to permit a flow of coolant;

a plurality of microchannels formed within the rotor and fluidly coupled to the shaft, the microchannels configured to permit the coolant to pass from the shaft through at least a portion of the rotor in order to provide cooling for the rotor; and

wherein the rotor comprises:

a plurality of rotor teeth;

a plurality of rotor windings, each of the one or more rotor winding being located proximate to one of the rotor teeth; and

wherein at least one of the microchannels passes through at least a portion of one of the rotor teeth along a longitudinal direction aligned with a rotation axis of the rotor.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the rotor comprises a single member that is formed using additive manufacturing.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the rotor is formed using steel or iron.

9. The device of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of microchannels comprise cross-sectional diameters that are less than cross-sectional diameters of the plurality of rotor windings.

10. The device of claim 6 , wherein the coolant comprises polyalphaolefin (PAO).

11. The device of claim 6 , wherein:

the device comprises an electrical generator; and

rotation of the rotor by mechanical energy causes a voltage to be induced in electromagnets of the stator.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the electrical generator is configured to be installed in an aircraft.

13. The device of claim 6 , wherein:

the device comprises an alternating current (AC) motor; and

the rotor rotates in response to rotating magnetic fields caused by electromagnets of the stator.

14. A generator comprising:

a stator;

a rotor configured to rotate at least partially within the stator or around the stator, the rotor being separated from the stator by a gap comprising a partial vacuum, the rotor comprising a plurality of microchannels formed within the rotor and fluidly coupled to a shaft of the rotor, the microchannels configured to permit a coolant to pass from the shaft through at least a portion of the rotor in order to provide cooling for the rotor; and

wherein the rotor comprises:

a plurality of rotor teeth;

a plurality of rotor windings, each of the one or more rotor winding being located proximate to one of the rotor teeth; and

wherein at least one of the microchannels passes through at least a portion of one of the rotor teeth along a longitudinal direction aligned with a rotation axis of the rotor.

15. The generator of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of microchannels comprise cross-sectional diameters that are less than cross-sectional diameters of the plurality of rotor windings.

16. The generator of claim 14 , wherein the coolant comprises polyalphaolefin (PAO).