US 10,770,942 B2 · Environmentally robust electromagnets and electric motors employing same for use in nuclear reactors

Abstract

An electromagnet comprises a plurality of nested freestanding electrically insulating former layers, and electrically conductive wire wrapped around the outsides of the freestanding electrically insulating former layers to define a multilayer electrical coil in which adjacent layers of the multilayer electrical coil are spaced apart by intervening freestanding electrically insulating former layers. Electrically energizing the multilayer electrical coil generates a magnetic field inside the multilayer electrical coil. In some embodiments the electrically conductive wire is bare wire not having electrical insulation. In some embodiments the former layers comprise a ceramic material. In some such embodiments the electromagnet further comprises a ferromagnetic core disposed inside the multilayer electrical coil. An electric motor employing such an electromagnet as a stator pole is also disclosed. Control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) and coolant pump embodiments are also disclosed employing such a motor, for use in a nuclear reactor.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

(1) providing a plurality of nested freestanding electrically insulating former layers, each having a height in a direction parallel to its central axis;
(2) helically wrapping electrically conductive wire around a first freestanding electrically insulating former layer with the helical turns of the helical wrapping spaced apart from each other to form a first electrical coil layer;
(3) nesting the first electrical coil layer inside a next freestanding electrically insulating former layer to form a nest, the height of the first freestanding electrically insulating former layer being greater than the height of the next freestanding electrically insulating former layer;
(4) helically wrapping electrically conductive wire around the next freestanding electrically insulating former layer of the nest with the helical turns of the helical wrapping spaced apart from each other to form a next electrical coil layer
wherein a multilayer electrical coil including at least two electrical coil layers is formed by a process including at least the operations (1), (2), (3), and (4).

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Environmentally robust electromagnets and electric motors employing same for use in nuclear reactors

Life of this patent

Environmentally robust electromagnets and electric motors employing same for use in nuclear reactors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8