JP2004023921A - Motive power or electric power generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a motive power or electric power generator where a field system and an armature can be both constituted by superconductive facilities while solving the problem of heat generation. <P>SOLUTION: A superconducting coil 2 and a superconducting bulk rotor 3 are arranged mutually opposedly within an airtight container 1, and this airtight container 1 secures its thermal insulation from a normal-temperature space, by being stored in a vacuum heat-insulating container 7. Moreover, the airtight container 1 is thermally coupled with the cold head 9 of a freezer 8 built-in the vacuum heat-insulating container 7, thus it keeps the whole of the airtight container 1 cold. Then, this generator is provided with a gas charge region 5 which is filled with a gas being not liquefied in a used temperature region such as gas helium or the like, in the space between the airtight container 1 having the built-in superconducting coil 2 and the superconducting bulk rotor 3. Hereby, the heat conduction between the airtight container cooled by the freezer 8 and the superconducting bulk rotor 3 is secured, thus it becomes possible to cool the superconducting bulk rotor 3 down to a specified temperature inclusive of the course of operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a power generator or a power generator that functions as a generator that generates electric power by receiving mechanical power, or conversely, a motor that generates electric power by receiving electric power, and more particularly to a technology that effectively utilizes a superconducting material. is there.
[0002]
2. Description of the Related Art
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a superconducting device having a high magnetic field has been used as a means for improving the performance of a motor or a generator (hereinafter, the term “power or power generation device is used to mean at least one of the motor and the generator”). Various considerations have been given to adopting a coil or a superconducting bulk. In many cases, a superconducting facility is arranged on one of the field side and the armature side, and a normal conducting facility is arranged on the other side. However, in such a configuration, a vacuum heat insulating layer is interposed between the superconducting facility and the normal conducting facility, and the electromagnetic coupling between the field and the armature is weakened. This has resulted in reducing the value of employing a superconducting coil or a superconducting bulk capable of generating a high magnetic field.
[0003]
FIG. 4 shows a conventional configuration example. The superconducting bulk is housed in a vacuum heat insulating tank as a stator, and a normal-conducting armature coil is rotatably arranged outside the vacuum heat insulating tank. Since the vacuum vessel is inevitably interposed between the superconducting bulk and the armature coil, there is a problem that the distance between the two is generated and the magnetic field created by the superconducting bulk cannot be used effectively.
[0004]
If the field and the armature are both constituted by a superconducting coil or a superconducting bulk in order to solve this problem, the cooling method on the rotor side is necessarily difficult. In other words, the simplest method is to immerse both in a low-temperature refrigerant for operation, but in the case of this configuration, the entire device becomes complicated, and the problem of heat generation due to the stirring of the refrigerant also occurs. There were drawbacks.
[0005]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a motive power or power generation device in which both the field and the armature can be constituted by superconducting equipment while solving such a problem of heat generation.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The power or electric power generating device according to claim 1, which is made to achieve the above object, functions as a power generating device that generates electric power by receiving mechanical power or an electric motor that generates mechanical power by receiving electric power. However, both the fixed side member and the moving element are superconductive and arranged inside the heat insulating portion. In this configuration, the fixed-side member can be directly connected to a refrigerator or the like to perform conduction cooling, but the only way to conduct conduction cooling to the moving element is through a conventional bearing or sliding member. It is assumed that the heat transfer capability, including the heat generated by the bearing itself, is insufficient. On the other hand, in the case of the present invention, both the fixed side member and the moving element are arranged in an airtight container, and a gas (for example, helium gas) that is not liquefied at a use temperature is filled in the airtight container, and the charged gas is filled. Thus, heat transfer between the airtight container and the rotor can be performed. With this configuration, the heat transfer characteristics between the hermetic container and the rotor are improved, and the motor can be cooled using the convection effect accompanying the motion of the motor. , And it is easy to form the whole with superconductivity.
[0007]
The pressure of the gas to be charged into the hermetic container can be adjusted as needed to adjust the heat transfer characteristics.
In the case of a rotating machine, the fixed side member inside the heat insulating portion, the moving element that performs a rotational motion by the magnetic action between the fixed side member, the field, the armature, will be configured, Here, not only rotational motion but also sliding motion such as reciprocating motion is assumed, so they are represented as “fixed side member” and “mover”.
[0008]
For example, a superconducting bulk can be used as the motor (claim 2). The use of a superconducting bulk is advantageous in that there is no need to supply a current from the outside, and there is no need for a slip ring or the like for energizing the rotating body.
Further, as a bearing for supporting the moving element so as to be movable in the airtight container, it is conceivable to adopt a superconducting magnetic bearing using a superconducting bulk on the moving element side, as described in claim 3. By doing so, the airtight container can support the moving element in a non-contact manner, and can prevent heat generation due to mechanical sliding.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a permanent magnet magnetically coupled to a superconducting bulk provided on a mover in an airtight container is disposed outside the heat insulating portion, and the permanent magnet is mechanically coupled to a power transmission shaft. By doing so, a power transmission mechanism may be configured. If the power transmission inside and outside the heat insulating part is realized by the magnetic coupling as described above, power can be transmitted without heat loss as compared with the case where the power transmission is performed via the “mechanical power transmission shaft”, and the “mechanical power transmission shaft” is used. Various problems in the case can be solved. That is, when the power transmission shaft is indispensable, there is a problem that it is necessary to adopt a material having low thermal conductivity and lengthen the power transmission shaft, but such consideration is not necessary. Further, in order to reduce the heat loss while allowing the rotation and sliding of the power transmission shaft, the configuration of the seal portion has been complicated. However, since the seal portion does not exist in the first place, the configuration does not become complicated.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. It is needless to say that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following examples, and can take various forms as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a power or power generation device 1 of the present embodiment. This device 1 is configured as a rotating machine, and uses superconducting equipment for both the field and the armature. In particular, here, a fixed superconducting coil 2 is used as an armature, and a superconducting bulk rotator 3 having a fixed superconducting bulk is used as a field.
[0012]
The superconducting coil 2 and the superconducting bulk rotator 3 in the present device 1 are arranged in the airtight container 1 so as to face each other. Specifically, the superconducting coil 2 is fixed to the inner surface side of the airtight container 1, while the superconducting bulk is fixed to a rotating body rotatably supported via the bearing 6 on the airtight container 1, and the superconducting bulk rotation The body 3 is constituted. Here, "rotatably" means that it is freely rotatable in either left or right direction. The same applies to the following.
[0013]
One end of the rotation shaft of the superconducting bulk rotator 3 extends to the outside of the vacuum heat insulating tank 7 and functions as the power transmission shaft 4. A dynamic seal 10 is provided at a portion where the power transmission shaft 4 extends from the inside of the vacuum heat insulating tank 7 to the outside. The dynamic seal 10 secures heat insulation inside and outside the vacuum heat insulating tank 7 while maintaining the power transmission shaft 4. The rotation of is secured.
[0014]
The superconducting bulk of the superconducting bulk rotator 3 is magnetized by a cooling in a magnetic field or a pulse magnetization method, which is a general excitation method of the superconducting bulk. By supplying an alternating current to the superconducting coil 2 from outside, the superconducting coil 2 can have a role as an armature of a motor or a generator. That is, by applying a torque to the superconducting bulk rotator 3 and transmitting the torque to the outside of the vacuum insulation tank 7 via the power transmission shaft 4, the superconducting bulk rotator 3 can operate as an electric motor. Alternatively, conversely, it can operate as a generator that obtains electric power from the superconducting coil 2 by a magnetic field fluctuation of the superconducting bulk rotator 3 that is rotated via the power transmission shaft 4 by an external power source.
[0015]
The airtight container 1 in which the superconducting coil 2 and the superconducting bulk rotator 3 are accommodated is housed in a vacuum heat insulating tank 7, and heat insulation with a room temperature space is ensured. Further, the hermetic container 1 is thermally connected to a cold head 9 of a refrigerator 8 incorporated in the vacuum heat insulating tank 7 to maintain the entire hermetic container 1 at a low temperature, and to provide the superconducting coil 2 and the superconducting bulk inside. The superconducting function of the rotating body 3 can be exhibited.
[0016]
With such a structure, superconducting coil 2 housed in airtight container 1 is easily cooled by heat conduction. On the other hand, the superconducting bulk rotator 3 has a heat conduction path passing through the bearing 6, but there is a possibility that cooling is delayed or the amount of heat generated cannot be absorbed by this path alone. For this reason, in the present embodiment, a gas filling region 5 filled with a gas such as gas helium which is not liquefied in a use temperature region is provided in a space between the airtight container 1 in which the superconducting coil 2 is incorporated and the superconducting bulk rotor 3. .
[0017]
Thereby, heat transfer between the airtight container 1 cooled by the refrigerator 8 and the superconducting bulk rotator 3 is ensured, and the superconducting bulk rotator 3 can be cooled to a predetermined temperature even during operation. .
In this embodiment, in order to cool the superconducting bulk rotator 3 by the above-described method, if a vacuum state is maintained without supplying gas to the gas filling region 5 in the hermetic container 1 in the pre-cooling stage, the superconducting bulk The cooling rate of the rotator 3 is reduced, and a combination can be created in which the superconducting bulk rotator 3 is not yet in the superconducting state when the superconducting coil 2 enters the superconducting state. In this state, by supplying a direct current to the superconducting coil 2 and gradually supplying the filling gas 5 while generating a magnetic field to cool the superconducting bulk rotating body, a so-called magnetizing method by cooling in a magnetic field can be used. The superconducting bulk of the superconducting bulk rotator 3 can be excited.
[0018]
As described above, in the present apparatus 1, the superconducting coil 2 and the superconducting bulk rotator 3 are both housed in the hermetic container 1, and the inside of the hermetic container 1 is filled with a gas that does not liquefy at the operating temperature to form the gas filling region 5. By doing so, the heat transfer between the airtight container 1 and the superconducting bulk rotator 3 can be performed. With this configuration, the heat transfer characteristics between the hermetic container 1 and the superconducting bulk rotator 3 are improved, and the superconducting bulk rotator 3 can be cooled by utilizing the convection effect accompanying the rotational motion of the superconducting bulk rotator 3. In addition, there is an effect that the cooling of the superconducting bulk rotator 3 is maintained while minimizing the motion loss, and it is easy to form the whole by superconductivity.
[0019]
The correspondence between the configuration of the present embodiment and the terms in the claims will be briefly summarized. The superconducting coil 2 of the present embodiment corresponds to a fixed-side member, and the superconducting bulk rotator 3 corresponds to a motor. Further, the vacuum heat insulating tank 7 corresponds to a heat insulating part, the airtight container 1 corresponds to an airtight container, and the power transmission shaft 4 corresponds to a power transmission shaft.
[0020]
[Another embodiment]
(1) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a mechanical bearing 6 is used in order to make the superconducting bulk rotator 3 rotatable relative to the airtight container 1, but another embodiment shown in FIG. As described above, the superconducting magnetic bearing 16 may be used. The superconducting magnetic bearing 16 is composed of, for example, a superconducting bulk and a permanent magnet. A permanent magnet is fixed to the airtight container 1 side. With such a configuration, the superconducting bulk rotator 3 can be supported in a non-contact manner in a low-temperature portion in the hermetic container 1, and heat generation due to mechanical sliding can be prevented.
[0021]
(2) In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, since the power transmission shaft 4 that extends over the inside and outside of the vacuum heat insulating tank 7 is used, the amount of heat penetration into the low-temperature region increases. If the amount of heat infiltration increases significantly, it becomes a factor that hinders the superconducting power or the original attractiveness of the power generation device. For example, a material having low heat conductivity is used and the power transmission shaft 4 is lengthened. There is no other choice but the overall configuration may be complicated.
[0022]
Therefore, it is conceivable that the power transmission inside and outside the vacuum heat insulating tank 7 is realized not by mechanical transmission but by magnetic coupling. An example in that case is shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is based on the configuration shown in FIG. 2 and further employs a configuration for power transmission by magnetic coupling. Specifically, the power transmission shaft 4 in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2 is connected to the cylindrical rotating body 4 a existing inside the vacuum heat insulating tank 7 and the power transmission shaft existing outside the vacuum heat insulating tank 7. And the shaft 4b. Then, a superconducting bulk is provided on the outer periphery of the rotating body 4a. Since the superconducting bulk for the superconducting magnetic bearing 16 is fixed to the outer periphery of the power transmission shaft 4 in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the superconducting bulk may be extended to the tip of the rotating body 4a.
[0023]
The vacuum heat-insulating tank 7 has a cylindrical portion in which the rotating body 4a is housed, and a cylindrical outer cylinder 20 with a bottom is disposed outside the cylindrical portion via a bearing 22. I have. Therefore, the outer cylinder 20 is rotatable around the vacuum heat insulating tank 7. The outer cylinder 20 is provided with a permanent magnet 21 facing the superconducting bulk fixed to the rotating body 4a. As the permanent magnet 21, for example, a strong neodymium-based magnet can be employed. The power transmission shaft 4b described above is attached to a bottom portion of the outer cylinder 20. When the outer cylinder 20 rotates around the vacuum heat insulating tank 7, the power transmission shaft 4b also rotates. I have.
[0024]
With such a configuration, for example, when a force for rotating the power transmission shaft 4b is received from outside, the outer cylinder 20 rotates around the vacuum heat insulating tank 7 by the rotating force. This rotation also causes the permanent magnet 21 to rotate around the vacuum adiabatic tank 7, but since the permanent magnet 21 is provided so as to face the superconducting bulk on the outer periphery of the rotating body 4a, the permanent magnet 21 is magnetically coupled to each other. The rotating motion is transmitted to the rotating body 4a. Therefore, the rotating body 4a rotates, and electric power can be generated by mechanical power transmitted from the outside. Conversely, when the superconducting bulk rotator 3 and the rotator 4a are rotated by energizing the superconducting coil 2, the rotation is transmitted to the outer cylinder 20 by magnetic coupling, and mechanical power is generated via the power transmission shaft 4b. Can be done.
[0025]
In the case shown in FIG. 3, the cylindrical rotary member 4 a is employed as a configuration in the vacuum heat insulating tank 7 in the magnetic coupling. However, from the viewpoint of power transmission capability, a larger diameter is preferable, Alternatively, a rotating body having a larger diameter may be provided, and a superconducting bulk may be provided around the rotating body.
[0026]
Although FIG. 3 is based on the configuration using the superconducting magnetic bearing 16 shown in FIG. 2, a configuration for power transmission by magnetic coupling is adopted, but the mechanical bearing 6 shown in FIG. Assuming the configuration used, a configuration for transmitting power by magnetic coupling may be further employed.
[0027]
(3) In the above embodiment, the example in which the superconducting bulk rotator 3 on the field side is formed in a disk shape is shown. However, the basic concept is the same when the superconducting bulk rotator 3 is arranged in a cylindrical shape.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the rotating machine has been described as an example. However, the rotating machine may be configured to perform a sliding motion such as a reciprocating motion instead of a rotating motion.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a power or power generation device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a power or power generation device according to another embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration in a case where power transmission inside and outside a vacuum heat insulating tank is realized by a magnetic coupling.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Power or electric power generator 2 ... Superconducting coil 3 ... Superconducting bulk rotating body 4 ... Power transmission shaft 5 ... Gas filling area 6 ... Bearing 7 ... Vacuum insulation tank 8 ... Refrigerator 9 ... Cold head 10 ... Dynamic seal 16 ... Superconductivity Magnetic bearing

Claims (4)

A power generator or a power generator that functions as at least one of a generator that generates electric power by receiving mechanical power, or a motor that generates electric power by receiving electric power,
An airtight container arranged inside the heat insulating unit and cooled by a refrigerator or a refrigerant,
A fixed side member fixed to the airtight container and made superconductive,
A superconducting motion element that performs a rotational motion or a sliding motion by a magnetic action between the fixed-side member and the airtight container,
A power transmission mechanism for transmitting the motion of the motor to the outside of the heat insulating unit,
With
A power or electric power generator, wherein a gas that does not liquefy at a use temperature is filled in the airtight container, and heat transfer between the airtight container and the rotor is enabled by the charged gas. The power or power generator according to claim 1,
A power or electric power generating device, wherein a superconducting bulk is used as the motor. The power or power generation device according to claim 1 or 2,
A power or power generation device, wherein a superconducting magnetic bearing using a superconducting bulk is provided on the side of the moving element as a bearing for supporting the moving element so as to be movable in the airtight container. The power or power generation device according to claim 1,
A permanent magnet that is magnetically coupled to a superconducting bulk provided on a mover in the hermetic container is disposed outside the heat insulating portion, and the permanent magnet is mechanically coupled to a power transmission shaft, thereby enabling the power transmission mechanism to operate. A motive power or power generation device characterized by comprising.

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