Abstract: The present invention constitutes a heat treatment apparatus like a fluidized-bed dryer for heat treating a particulate material in a low temperature, open-air process. Preferably, available waste heat sources within the surrounding industrial plan operation are used to provide heat to the dryer. Moreover, conveyor means contained within the dryer can remove larger, denser particles that could otherwise impede the continuous flow of the particulate material through the dryer or plug the fluidizing dryer. This invention is especially useful for drying coal for an electricity generation plant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for preventing the settlement of or for removing attached mollusks and/or their larvae on the surface of a structure exposed to the aquatic habitat of the mollusks. The method comprises heating the surface with heating means, such as induction coils or resistance heaters, to an elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient to kill the mollusks and/or their larvae. The heating means and/or the power source may be movable so that they can be used to heat different components periodically to remove the mollusks or to prevent settlement.

Abstract: In a dynamoelectric machine, a fan diffuser and collector combination is part of the cooling system of the machine. The fan diffuser and collector is located in the annular chamber defined by the inner and outer end plate shields at one end of the machine. The fan diffuser includes a disk disposed in the radially inner portion of the annular chamber. An inboard surface of the disk is parallel to the adjacent surface of one of the shields. Both surfaces define a diffuser channel which receives substantially all of the gas flow expelled by a fan radially coextensive with the annular chamber. The disk is mounted on the other shield but has an outboard surface spaced away from that latter shield. The disk is foreshortened with respect to a frame wrapper which surrounds the stator and rotor of the dynamoelectric machine thereby forming a collector.

Abstract: Terminal boxes for large dynamoelectric machines provide a housing for high voltage terminal bushings which connect the dynamoelectric machine with a power grid. The stray flux from the terminal bushings induces eddy and circulating currents in the terminal box walls and consequent heating of the walls. To limit wall temperatures water is circulated through sealed flow channels fabricated to the terminal box walls and in series with the terminal bushings flow circuit. A preferred wall construction comprises an outer wall of stainless steel clad carbon steel and an inner wall of stainless steel.

Abstract: An improved air gap baffle is disclosed for a dynamoelectric machine of the type having an air-tight casing filled with a cooling gas, a stator core, a rotor defining an air gap with the stator core, and a means for recirculating the cooling gas through the stator core and the rotor. The baffle is an annular member which is disposed in the air gap between the stator core and the rotor for defining air gap zones having different cooling gas pressures and/or gas flow in opposing directions. The baffle comprises a flexible abradable member having a serrated tip in sealing relationship with the rotor. The baffle improves sealing between adjacent air gap zones by minimizing running clearances and by providing a labyrinth seal. The flexible nature of the baffle reduces the possibility of damage to either the baffle or the rotor during assembly and thereby allows the dynamoelectric machine to be assembled with minimal running clearances between the baffle and the rotor.

Abstract: A reverse flow, gas cooled dynamoelectric machine includes a rotor mounted fan at each machine end for circulating gas coolant throughout the machine. Improved pressure and efficiency for the fan is achieved by positioning stationary guide vanes upstream from the fan for directing gas coolant into the fan blades at an optimum angle. The invention is directed toward an improved guide vane assembly construction and composition.

Abstract: An integral nozzle-shield assembly for a gas-cooled dynamoelectric machine such as a large turbine-driven generator is described. The nozzle-shield assembly is formed of a non-conductive, non-magnetic material such as molded fiberglass and resin and serves to channel hydrogen gas between a heat exchanger and a rotor-mounted fan used to pump the gas through coolant passages in the dynamoelectric machine, and the assembly also provides a labyrinth seal over the fan blade tips. In one embodiment, the nozzle-shield assembly includes two 180-degree halves whose thickness varies circumferentially and which may be installed in a generator by bolting their outer edges to a stator frame member of the generator and bolting the halves together at the two radial joints between halves using flat metal plate connectors.

Abstract: A terminal box for a dynamoelectric machine utilizes a flux shield system wherein a plurality of flux shields are interposed between the wall of the terminal box and a high voltage bushing. Cooling fluid is passed through the flux shield system to maintain all parts at a safe, low temperature. In one embodiment of the invention, a first inner flux shield member of high electrical conductivity and low magnetic permeability is spaced from but surrounding the bushing. A second outer flux shield member of low electrical conductivity and high magnetic permeability is spaced between the first shield member and the terminal box wall. Passages and openings are provided to allow cooling fluid to circulate over the respective shield members and the wall of the terminal box without providing a path for transmission of flux from the area surrounding the bushing to the terminal box wall.

Abstract: A reverse flow cooled dynamoelectric machine is provided with duplex gas coolers disposed in a side-by-side relationship. The coolers are baffled such that a portion of the gas flowing through both coolers is channeled to both the end portion of the rotor and to the stator and the body portion of the rotor so that both areas may be effectively cooled under reduced load operating conditions in the event of the failure of one of the coolers. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, first and second U-shaped baffles are disposed between the coolers and the inner walls of a removable dome, and a planar baffle engages adjacent free ends of the U-shaped baffles. The baffle components are dimensioned to ensure satisfactory flow of cooling gas to the body portion of the rotor. Aligned stator and rotor baffles are provided to segregate inlet zones and outlet zones in the gap between the stator and the rotor to better ensure effective cooling of the body portion of the rotor.

Abstract: A reverse flow cooled dynamoelectric machine is provided with an annular baffle disposed in the gap thereof and spaced from stepped core laminations at the end region for improving the cooling of those laminations. The baffle directs a flow of cooling gas across the laminations increasing the velocity of the flow. The baffle is mounted on the stator and comprises an annular member of electrically non-conducting material having a generally triangular cross section with a rounded nose. The baffle may be formed from a plurality of arcuate segments for ease of installation.

Abstract: A reverse flow cooled dynamoelectric machine is provided with guide vanes and a guide vane mounting assembly comprising means for mounting and positioning the guide vanes, and means for directing the flow of cooling gas from the fan to the cooler. A fan nozzle ring is attached to the machine stator. An outer vane support ring is fixed to the fan nozzle ring and is provided with a circumferentially extending dovetail recess along its inner face. An inner vane support ring is spaced radially inwardly from the outer support ring and is also provided with a dovetail recess along its inner face. A plurality of guide vanes having inner and outer dovetail end portions mating with the dovetail recesses of the inner and outer support rings are held in place by the support rings. An annular rub strip is disposed adjacent to the outer support ring and is fixed to the fan nozzle ring. The rub strip includes a serrated inner face which, with the tips of the fan blades, produces a seal.

Abstract: An improved apparatus is provided to cool the flux shields of dynamoelectric machines. In one embodiment of this invention, cooling fins are attached to a flux shield at localized areas of heating of the flux shield referred to as hot spots to reduce the temperatures there to acceptable levels. These fins may be provided with a tapered portion which minimizes the fluid losses associated with the flow of cooling gas over the fins. In another embodiment of the present invention, an annular rim, bored to provide cooling gas passages therethrough, is fixed to the flux shield along an inner portion thereof, to effect the transfer of heat from the flux shield to a flow of the cooling gas through the passages. Finally, in a third embodiment of the present invention, an electrically non-conducting annular baffle is disposed around the flux shield adjacent an inner surface thereof to direct a flow of cooling gas across the inner surface of the flux shield thereby cooling the same.