Adjustable space block baffle for generator and method for controlling ventilation flow
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorWei Tong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A baffle structure that has a generally curved surface profile so that ventilation windage loss can be significantly reduced is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the orientation and/or the height of the baffle can be adjusted to adjust flow gaps defined between it and the adjacent lamination/stator flange surfaces and/or between it and a facing adjacent space block, so that ventilation flow can be controlled to satisfy varying cooling requirements.
Claims24
An electromagnetic generator comprising:
- a stator structure concentrically disposed to a rotor structure, said stator structure having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, and including stacked laminations and an end flange component mounted to at least one axial end of said stacked laminations;
- a plurality of space blocks mounted between said stacked laminations and said end flange, said space blocks being circumferentially spaced and extending radially to define a plurality of radial flow passages therebetween;
- and
- a baffle structure disposed in a said flow passage and secured to a first said space block for defining first and second air flow gaps respectively between said baffle structure and said end flange and between said baffle structure and said stacked laminations, said baffle having a generally curved peripheral surface for directing air flowing through said flow passage to and through said first and second air flow gaps.
A baffle structure for defining at least one flow gap through a flow passage defined between mutually adjacent space blocks disposed between mutually adjacent stacked generator components, said baffle structure comprising:
- a main body that has a generally curved outer peripheral edge;
- and
- a fastening assembly for fastening a center of said main body to a said space block.
A method for controlling ventilation flow in a generator comprising:
- providing a baffle structure;
- securing said baffle structure to a space block defining, with a space block facing thereto, a flow passage between stacked laminations and an end flange component of a stator structure, the baffle structure having a generally curved peripheral surface for directing radially flowing air to flow path to first and second air flow gaps defined respectively between said stacked laminations and said baffle structure and said end flange and said baffle structure;
- and
- rotating said baffle structure with respect to said space block to determine a size of each of said first and second air flow gaps thereby to control ventilation flow along said flow path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.