Abstract: An apparatus for powering a unipolar motor may include a solid oxide fuel cell having a plurality of sub-modules, a unipolar generator having a plurality of armature turns, and a plurality of jumpers. Each of the sub-modules may produce fuel cell electric power at the fuel cell terminals. Each of the armature turns may produce generator electric power at the generator terminals. The jumpers may interconnect the fuel cell terminals with the generator terminals in order to provide a configurable voltage-current profile for the unipolar motor. The fuel cell may have a fuel cell housing and the generator may have a generator housing. The fuel cell terminals may be located outside of the fuel cell housing and the generator terminals may be located outside of the generator housing. Each of the sub-modules and each of the armature turns may produce a voltage. The jumpers may interconnect the fuel cell terminals in series with the generator terminals in order to sum the voltages for the unipolar motor.

Abstract: A composite brush to shunt attachment wherein a volatile component of a composite but mostly metallic brush, used for current collection purposes, does not upon welding or brazing, adversely affect the formation of the interfacial bond with a conductive shunt which carries the current from the zone of the brush. The brush to shunt attachment for a brush material of copper-graphite composite and a shunt of copper, or substituting silver for copper as an alternative, is made through a hot isostatic pressing (HIP). The HIP process includes applying high pressure and temperature simultaneously at the brush to shunt interface, after it has been isolated or canned in a metal casing in which the air adjacent to the interface has been evacuated and the interfacial area has been sealed before the application of pressure and temperature.

Abstract: A MHD turbomachine includes a rotary ferromagnetic rotor, a stationary ferromagnetic stator surrounding the rotor and defining axially-spaced annular cavities which extend circumferentially about and radially from the rotor, and axially-spaced annular ferromagnetic disks surrounding the rotor and mounted for rotation with the rotor. The disks are disposed in the stator cavities so as to define a pair of annular passages on opposite sides of each disk which are connected in flow communication with one another at inner and outer peripheries of the disk. An electrically conductive fluid occupies the passages and is capable of flowing along an endless path through the passages. A pair of electrodes mounted to the stator radially conduct a flow of electrical current through the fluid between the outer and inner peripheries of the disk. A field coil mounted to the stator generates a magnetic field in axial relation to the stator and disk and transversely across the fluid within the passages.

Abstract: An oil slinger is held in place on a shaft by an O-ring which serves as a detent when the shaft is at rest and as a static seal when the shaft is rotating. Because the slinger is held only by a detent action in the rest position, the slinger can be moved aside during assembly and disassembly of the companion bearing and seal structure and thereby provide greater access.

Abstract: A turbomachine lubricating oil system comprising a casing having a relatively large diameter member rotatably mounted therein with a chamber defined thereby. A support for said casing includes a generally hollow structural member defining a quiescent plenum. Lubricating oil flows from said casing chamber to the quiescent plenum. Oil flows from the quiescent plenum to a lubricating oil reservoir.

Abstract: A turbomachine seal system includes first and second seal members spaced axially about the shaft to define therebetween a first annular chamber. One of the seal members limits the flow of oil from a first portion of the turbomachine towards a second portion thereof. The second seal member limits the flow of process gas from the second portion of the turbomachine towards the first portion thereof. Pressure reducing means is connected to the chamber for reducing the pressure therein below the pressure in the first and second portions of the turbomachine for preventing oil from flowing from the first portion from migrating into the second portion.