Electric machine with integrated electromagnetic pumping scheme for direct cooled windings
An integrated electric machine. The integrated electric machine includes a stator, a rotor positioned within the stator, and an electromagnetic pumping system in communication with the stator. The electromagnetic pumping system includes a conductive fluid and a number of electromagnetic pump windings to pump the conductive fluid through coolant pathways of direct cooled windings.
1 . An integrated electric machine, comprising:
a stator;
wherein the stator comprises direct cooled windings having hollow conductors with coolant pathways formed therein;
a rotor positioned within the stator; and
an electromagnetic pumping system integrated within the stator and in direct communication with the hollow conductors of the direct cooled windings;
wherein the electromagnetic pumping system comprises a conductive fluid flowing through the coolant pathways within the hollow conductors of the direct cooled windings; and
wherein the electromagnetic pumping system comprises a plurality of electromagnetic pump windings positioned about the stator to pump the conductive fluid.
2 . The integrated electric machine of claim 1 , wherein the conductive fluid comprises liquid sodium, sodium-potassium alloys, or lithium.
3 . The integrated electric machine of claim 1 , wherein the conductive fluid comprises aluminum alloys.
4 . The integrated electric machine of claim 1 , wherein the conductive fluid comprises molten salts or brine.
5 . The integrated electric machine of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic pump windings operate via conduction, induction, or thermoelectric.
6 . The integrated electric machine of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic pumping system comprises a heat exchanger in communication with the coolant pathways of the direct cooled windings.
7 . The integrated electric machine of claim 6 , further comprising an electrical isolator positioned about the coolant pathways and the heat exchanger.
8 . The integrated electric machine of claim 6 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a counter-flow heat exchanger with a cooling fluid.
9 . The integrated electric machine of claim 1 , wherein the integrated electric machine comprises a motor or a generator.
10 . A method of cooling an integrated electric machine having a rotor and a stator, comprising:
pumping a conductive fluid through coolant pathways formed within hollow conductors of direct cooled windings of the stator by a plurality of electromagnetic pump windings integrated within the stator;
absorbing heat in the conductive fluid from the direct cooled windings of the stator;
pumping the conductive fluid to a heat exchanger; and
cooling the conductive fluid in the heat exchanger.
11 . An integrated electric machine, comprising:
a stator with a plurality of direct cooled windings having hollow conductors with coolant pathways formed therethrough;
a rotor positioned within the stator; and
an electromagnetic pumping system integrated within the stator and in direct communication with the plurality of direct cooled windings of the stator;
wherein the electromagnetic pumping system comprises a conductive fluid flowing through the coolant pathways within the hollow conductors of the direct cooled windings;
wherein the electromagnetic pumping system comprises a plurality of electromagnetic pump windings positioned about the stator to pump the conductive fluid through the direct cooled windings.
12 . The integrated electric machine of claim 11 , wherein the electromagnetic pumping system comprises a heat exchanger in communication with the coolant pathways of the direct cooled windings.
13 . The integrated electric machine of claim 12 , further comprising an electrical isolator positioned about the coolant pathways and the heat exchanger.