Fluid-driven alternator having an internal impeller
AssigneeReuter-Stokes, Inc.
InventorsWilliam H. Bauer, Edward C. Fraser, Henry More
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid-driven alternator for use in a downhole well bore having fluid flowing therethrough includes a housing and an internal impeller rotatably mounted in the housing. A stator and rotor are mounted within the housing, and the internal impeller is coupled to the rotor. Fluid flowing through the housing rotates the impeller which in turn rotates the rotor. A flow diverter can be provided to direct fluid into the housing.
Claims20
A fluid-driven alternator for use in a downhole well bore having fluid flowing therethrough, said alternator comprising:
- a housing;
- a flow diverter for diverting flow into said housing;
- an internal impeller rotatably mounted in said housing;
- a stator mounted within said housing;
- and
- a rotor rotatably mounted in said housing and coupled to said impeller, wherein said fluid flowing through said housing rotates said impeller thereby rotating said rotor.
A fluid-driven alternator for use in a downhole well bore having fluid flowing therethrough, said alternator comprising:
- a housing ;
- an upper bearing assembly contained in said housing;
- a lower bearing assembly contained in said housing;
- an impeller contained in said housing, said impeller having an upper end, a lower end and at least one impeller blade, said impeller being rotatably supported at said upper end by said upper bearing assembly and at said lower end by said lower bearing assembly;
- an alternator assembly comprising an alternator rotor and an alternator stator, with said alternator rotor coupled to said impeller;
- at least one entrance opening in said housing near said upper end of said impeller;
- and
- at least one exit opening in said housing near said lower end of said impeller,
- wherein fluid enters said housing through said entrance opening, flows over said impeller blade, and exits said housing through said exit opening, and
- wherein the fluid flowing over said impeller blade rotates said impeller, which rotates said alternator rotor of said alternator assembly.
A fluid-driven alternator, retrievable through a downhole drilling string, comprising:
- an internal impellor;
- housing means for housing and rotatably mounting said internal impeller;
- a flow diverter for diverting flow into said housing means;
- and
- alternator means, including a rotor and a stator, coupled to said internal impeller for generating electricity,
- wherein said internal impeller is rotated by fluid flowing Through said housing means and in turn rotates said rotor.
A fluid-driven alternator, retrievable through a downhole drilling string, comprising:
- internal impeller means;
- housing means for housing and rotatably mounting said internal impeller means;
- flow diverter means for diverting flow into said housing means;
- and
- alternator means coupled to said internal impeller means for generating electricity,
- wherein said internal impeller means is rotated by a fluid flowing through said housing means and actuates said alternator means to generate the electricity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.