# US 10,312,772 B2 · Axial gap generator for powering a magnetic bearing

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- Number: US 10,312,772 B2
- Document ID: US10312772B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/857,495
- Filed: 2017-12-28
- Published: 2019-03-21
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-20
- Assignees: Upwing Energy, LLC
- Applicants: Upwing Energy, LLC
- Inventors: Patrick McMullen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312772B2

## CPC

- H02K 7/09: with magnetic bearings
- E21B 4/003: {Bearing, sealing, lubricating details (for roller bits E21B10/22)}
- E21B 4/02: Fluid rotary type drives
- E21B 4/04: Electric drives (E21B4/12 takes precedence)
- E21B 17/028: {Electrical or electro-magnetic connections}
- E21B 41/0085: {Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes}
- E21B 43/121: {Lifting well fluids (monitoring of down-hole pump systems E21B47/008)}
- E21B 47/008: Monitoring of down-hole pump systems, e.g. for the detection of "pumped-off" conditions
- E21B 47/01: Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like
- E21B 47/06: Measuring temperature or pressure
- E21B 47/09: Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells {, e.g. the position of an extending arm}; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes
- E21B 47/12: Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
- F04B 17/03: driven by electric motors
- F04B 47/04: the driving means incorporating fluid means
- F04D 3/00: Axial-flow pumps (priming or boosting F04D9/00)
- F04D 13/026: {Details of the bearings}
- F04D 13/0633: {Details of the bearings}
- F04D 13/064: {Details of the magnetic circuit}
- F04D 13/08: for submerged use
- F04D 13/086: {the pump and drive motor are both submerged}
- F04D 13/10: adapted for use in mining bore holes
- F04D 25/0666: {a sensor is integrated into the pump/motor design}
- F04D 29/041: Axial thrust balancing
- F04D 29/046: Bearings
- F04D 29/048: magnetic; electromagnetic
- F04D 29/051: Axial thrust balancing
- F16C 32/0402: {combined with other supporting means, e.g. hybrid bearings with both magnetic and fluid supporting means}
- F16C 32/0406: {Magnetic bearings}
- F16C 32/0444: {Details of devices to control the actuation of the electromagnets}
- F16C 32/0446: {Determination of the actual position of the moving member, e.g. details of sensors}
- F16C 32/0451: {Details of controllers, i.e. the units determining the power to be supplied, e.g. comparing elements, feedback arrangements with P.I.D. control}
- F16C 32/0455: {including digital signal processing [DSP] and analog/digital conversion [A/D, D/A]}
- F16C 32/0457: {Details of the power supply to the electromagnets}
- F16C 32/0474: {for rotary movement}
- F16C 32/0476: {with active support of one degree of freedom, e.g. axial magnetic bearings}
- F16C 32/048: {with active support of two degrees of freedom, e.g. radial magnetic bearings}
- F16C 32/0489: {with active support of five degrees of freedom, e.g. two radial magnetic bearings combined with an axial bearing}
- F16C 37/005: {of magnetic bearings}
- G01B 7/14: for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B7/30 takes precedence)
- H02H 7/005: {for remote controlled apparatus; for lines connecting such apparatus}
- H02K 1/2796: where both axial sides of the rotor face a stator
- H02K 3/42: Means for preventing or reducing eddy-current losses in the winding heads, e.g. by shielding
- H02K 5/132: Submersible electric motors (H02K5/128 takes precedence)
- H02K 7/14: Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans (with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06)
- H02K 7/1807: {Rotary generators (H02K7/006 takes precedence)}
- H02K 11/20: for measuring, monitoring, testing, protecting or switching (rectifiers H02K11/04; power electronics H02K11/33)
- H02K 11/21: Devices for sensing speed or position, or actuated thereby (specially adapted for machines having non-mechanical commutating devices H02K29/06, H02K29/14)
- H02K 11/225: Detecting coils
- H02K 11/27: Devices for sensing current, or actuated thereby (overcurrent protection responsive to temperature of the machines or parts thereof, e.g. windings, H02K11/25)
- H02K 11/30: Structural association with control circuits or drive circuits
- H02K 21/14: with magnets rotating within the armatures
- H02P 29/40: Regulating or controlling the amount of current drawn or delivered by the motor for controlling the mechanical load
- E21B 33/12: Packers; Plugs (used for cementing E21B33/134, E21B33/16)
- E21B 43/128: {Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives}
- E21B 43/168: {Injecting a gaseous medium}
- E21B 47/07: Temperature
- F04D 29/0473: {for radial pumps}
- F16C 32/044: {Active magnetic bearings}
- F16C 2352/00: Apparatus for drilling
- F16C 2360/44: Centrifugal pumps
- F16C 2380/26: Dynamo-electric machines or combinations therewith, e.g. electro-motors and generators
- F16F 15/03: using {magnetic or} electromagnetic means (F16F9/53, {F16F15/005} take precedence)
- H02K 1/2793: Rotors axially facing stators
- H02K 5/128: using air-gap sleeves or air-gap discs
- H02K 15/03: having permanent magnets
- H02K 2201/12: Transversal flux machines
- H02K 2205/03: Machines characterised by thrust bearings
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H)
- H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION

## Abstract

A device includes a rotor to rotate about a longitudinal axis, a magnetic bearing actuator, and an axial gap generator including a stator assembly adjacent to the rotor, the axial gap generator to generate an amount of power as a function of a gap spacing between the stator assembly and the rotor, the gap spacing parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the axial gap generator to supply the amount of power to a control coil of the magnetic bearing actuator.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device, comprising:
a rotor configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis;
a magnetic bearing actuator comprising a control coil positioned adjacent to the rotor and configured to impart a force on the rotor parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
an axial gap generator comprising a stator assembly adjacent to the rotor and electrically connected to the control coil of the magnetic bearing actuator with a wired connection, the axial gap generator configured to generate an amount of power as a function of a gap spacing between the stator assembly and the rotor, the gap spacing parallel to the longitudinal axis, the axial gap generator configured to supply the amount of power to the control coil of the magnetic bearing actuator over the wired connection, where the control coil is a recipient of the amount of power from the axial gap generator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, where the stator assembly is positioned adjacent a first side of the rotor and the control coil is positioned adjacent a second side of a rotor pole of the rotor opposite the first side, and in response to a displacement of the rotor in a first longitudinal direction that decreases the gap spacing, the amount of power from the stator assembly to the control coil increases and the magnetic bearing actuator is configured to apply a force on the rotor in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first longitudinal direction based on the amount of power received by the control coil.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, comprising a rectifier connected to the wired connection between the axial gap generator and the magnetic bearing actuator, the rectifier configured to convert the amount of power from the axial gap generator from an alternating current output to a direct current output.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, comprising an amplifier connected to the wired connection between the axial gap generator and the magnetic bearing actuator, the amplifier configured to amplify the amount of power from the axial gap generator to the magnetic bearing actuator.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, where the stator assembly comprises a first stator assembly adjacent a first longitudinal side of the rotor and a second stator assembly adjacent a second longitudinal side of the rotor opposite the first longitudinal side, the gap spacing comprising a first gap spacing between the first stator assembly and the first longitudinal side of the rotor and a second gap spacing between the second stator assembly and the second longitudinal side of the rotor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, where the first stator assembly and the second stator assembly are connected to the magnetic bearing actuator, and the axial gap generator is configured to generate the amount of power from the first stator assembly and the second stator assembly as a function of the first gap spacing and the second gap spacing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, where the first stator assembly is electrically connected to the second stator assembly, and the axial gap generator is configured to combine a first output from the first stator assembly and a second output from the second stator assembly to generate the amount of power.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, where the combined first output and second output is zero when the first gap spacing and the second gap spacing are the same, and the generated amount of power from the axial gap generator is positive or negative based on an increase or decrease in the first gap spacing and the second gap spacing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, where the first stator assembly of the axial gap generator is configured to increase the amount of power generated as the first gap spacing decreases, and configured to decrease the amount of power generated as the first gap spacing increases.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, where the second stator assembly of the axial gap generator is configured to increase the amount of power generated as the second gap spacing decreases, and configured to decrease the amount of power generated as the second gap spacing increases.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, where the first stator assembly is connected to a first coil of the control coil on the magnetic bearing actuator, the first coil configured to selectively apply a force on the rotor in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis based on an amount of power from the first stator assembly.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The device of claim 11, where the first coil is configured to apply a force on the rotor in the first direction in response to a movement of the rotor in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first direction, where the movement of the rotor in the second direction decreases the first gap spacing and increases the amount of power generated by the first stator assembly.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12, where the second stator assembly is connected to a second coil of the control coil on the magnetic actuator, the second coil configured to selectively apply a force on the rotor in the second longitudinal direction based on an amount of power from the second stator assembly.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13, where the second coil is configured to apply a force on the rotor in the second direction in response to a movement of the rotor in the first direction, where the movement of the rotor in the first direction decreases the second gap spacing and increases the amount of power generated by the second stator assembly.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The device of claim 14, comprising a first rectifier connected between the first stator assembly and the first coil and a second rectifier connected between the second stator assembly and the second coil, each of the first rectifier and the second rectifier configured to convert the amount of power from an alternating current output to a direct current output.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, where the stator assembly comprises a first stator assembly adjacent a first longitudinal side of the rotor and a second stator assembly adjacent a second longitudinal side of the rotor opposite the first side of the rotor, the gap spacing comprises a first gap spacing between the first stator assembly and the first longitudinal side of the rotor and a second gap spacing between the second stator assembly and the second longitudinal side of the rotor, the axial gap generator configured to generate a first amount of power from the first stator assembly as a function of the first gap spacing and generate a second amount of power from the second stator assembly as a function of the second gap spacing.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The device of claim 16, where, in response to a displacement of the rotor in a first longitudinal direction that modifies the first gap spacing, the magnetic bearing actuator is configured to provide a force on the rotor in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first longitudinal direction based on the first amount of power from the first stator assembly.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, where the control coil is a direct recipient of the amount of power from the axial gap generator.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, comprising a rotating device that comprises the rotor, the rotating device comprising at least one of a motor, pump, compressor, or blower.

### Claim 20

A method, comprising:
rotating a rotor about a longitudinal axis;
generating, with a stator assembly of an axial gap generator positioned adjacent to the rotor, an amount of power as a function of a gap spacing between the stator assembly and the rotor, the gap spacing parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
supplying, with the axial gap generator, the amount of power to a control coil of a magnetic bearing actuator positioned adjacent to the rotor over a wired connection electrically connecting the control coil to the axial gap generator, where the control coil is a recipient of the amount of power from the axial gap generator.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, where generating an amount of power as a function of a gap spacing between the stator assembly and the rotor comprises generating a voltage output as a function of the gap spacing between the stator assembly and the rotor; and
supplying the amount of power to a control coil of a magnetic bearing actuator comprises altering a current supplied to the control coil based at least in part on the voltage output from the axial gap generator.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, where supplying the amount of power to the control coil of the magnetic bearing actuator comprises, in response to a displacement of the rotor in a first longitudinal direction that modifies the gap spacing, applying a force on the rotor with the magnetic bearing actuator based on the amount of power received by the control coil in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first longitudinal direction.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, where the stator assembly comprises a first stator assembly adjacent a first longitudinal side of the rotor and a second stator assembly adjacent a second longitudinal side of the rotor opposite the first side of the rotor, the gap spacing comprises a first gap spacing between the first stator assembly and the first longitudinal side of the rotor and a second gap spacing between the second stator assembly and the second longitudinal side of the rotor.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, where generating an amount of power comprises combining a first output signal from the first stator assembly with a second output signal from the second stator assembly to generate a combined output signal, the amount of power comprising the combined output signal.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, where generating an amount of power comprises generating a first amount of power from the first stator assembly as a function of the first gap spacing and generating a second amount of power from the second stator assembly as a function of the second gap spacing; and
where supplying the amount of power to the control coil of the magnetic bearing actuator comprises, in response to a displacement of the rotor in a first longitudinal direction that modifies the first gap spacing, supplying the first amount of power to the control coil of the magnetic bearing actuator and applying a force on the rotor with the magnetic bearing actuator in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first longitudinal direction based on the first amount of power received by the control coil.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, where supplying the amount of power to the control coil of the magnetic bearing actuator further comprises, in response to a displacement of the rotor in the second longitudinal direction that modifies the second gap spacing, supplying the second amount of power to the control coil of the magnetic bearing actuator and applying a force on the rotor with the magnetic bearing actuator in the first longitudinal direction based on the second amount of power received by the control coil.

### Claim 27 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, where the stator assembly comprises a first stator assembly adjacent a first longitudinal side of the rotor and a second stator assembly adjacent a second longitudinal side of the rotor, the gap spacing comprises a first gap spacing between the first stator assembly and the first longitudinal side of the rotor and a second gap spacing between the second stator assembly and the second longitudinal side of the rotor, and the control coil comprises a first control coil and a second control coil of the magnetic bearing actuator;
where generating an amount of power comprises generating, with the first stator assembly, a first amount of power as a function of the first gap spacing and generating, with the second stator assembly, a second amount of power as a function of the second gap spacing; and
supplying the amount of power comprises supplying, with the axial gap generator, the first amount of power to the first control coil of the magnetic bearing actuator and supplying, with the axial gap generator, the second amount of power to the second control coil of the magnetic bearing actuator, the first control coil to apply a force on the rotor in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis based on the first amount of power, and the second control coil to apply a force on the rotor in a second direction opposite the first direction and parallel to the longitudinal axis based on the second amount of power.

### Claim 28 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising converting, with a rectifier connected between the axial gap generator and the magnetic bearing actuator, the amount of power from an alternating current output to a direct current output.

### Claim 29 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising amplifying, with an amplifier connected between the axial gap generator and the magnetic bearing actuator, the amount of power from the axial gap generator to the magnetic bearing actuator.