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US 10,240,562 B2Granted
Machine system having submersible pumping system, and method
AssigneeProgress Rail Locomotive Inc.
InventorPeter Popadiuc
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A submersible pumping system in a machine system includes a pumping element, and a drive mechanism for actuating the pumping element. The drive mechanism has an electromagnetic element with a superconducting state at or below a critical temperature. A temperature control jacket and cooling mechanism are provided to pump heat from a heat exchange cavity to cool the drive mechanism to or below a critical temperature less than an ambient temperature in a cryogenic environment.
Claims17
A machine system comprising:
- a machine;
- a fluid storage vessel;
- an outlet conduit coupled with the fluid storage vessel and structured to convey a fluid stored within the fluid storage vessel to the machine;
- a pumping system positioned within the fluid storage vessel so as to be submerged within the stored fluid, the pumping system including a housing having formed therein a pumping chamber, and a pumping element movable within the pumping chamber to transition the stored fluid from the fluid storage vessel to the outlet conduit;
- the pumping system further including a drive mechanism for actuating the pumping element, the drive mechanism including an electromagnetic element having an electrical conducting state above a critical temperature and an electrical superconducting state at or below the critical temperature;
- the drive mechanism further including a temperature control jacket forming a heat exchange cavity about the electromagnetic element;
- and
- a cooler coupled with the temperature control jacket and structured to pump heat from the heat exchange cavity to maintain the electromagnetic element at or below the critical temperature,
- wherein the cooler includes a first heat exchange element within the heat exchange cavity, and a second heat exchange element outside the heat exchange cavity and structured to pump heat to a fluid storage volume of the fluid storage vessel, and the cooler is structured to pump heat from the first heat exchange element to the second heat exchange element.
6 more elements
A submersible pumping system comprising:
- a housing having a pumping chamber positioned fluidly between a pumping inlet and a pumping outlet;
- a pumping element movable within the pumping chamber to transition a fluid from the pumping inlet to the pumping outlet;
- a drive mechanism for actuating the pumping element, and including an electromagnetic element having an electrical conducting state above a critical temperature, and an electrical superconducting state at or below the critical temperature;
- the drive mechanism further including a temperature control jacket forming a heat exchange cavity about the electromagnetic element;
- and
- a cooler coupled with the temperature control jacket and structured to pump heat from the heat exchange cavity to maintain the electromagnetic element at or below the critical temperature,
- wherein the cooler includes a first heat exchange element within the heat exchange cavity, and a second heat exchange element outside the heat exchange cavity and structured to pump heat to a fluid storage volume of a fluid storage vessel, and the cooler is structured to pump heat from the first heat exchange element to the second heat exchange element.
4 more elements
A method of operating a fluid system comprising:
- pumping heat from a coolant in heat transference contact with a drive mechanism of a pumping system submerged in a stored fluid within a storage vessel in the fluid system;
- cooling an electromagnetic element of the drive mechanism by way of the pumping of the heat from an ambient temperature of the stored fluid to or below a critical temperature of a material forming the electromagnetic element;
- energizing the electromagnetic element while cooled to or below the critical temperature;
- and
- pumping the heat from the coolant into the stored fluid by way of a cooler having a first heat exchange element in heat transference contact with the coolant and a second heat exchange element in heat transference contact with the stored fluid.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.