Abstract: The present invention is a liquid cooled electric machine (10) having enhanced cooling of the end turns (22) by providing intimate contact between the end turns and coolant fluid flowing through a first annular flow channel (34) and a second annular flow channel (50). Furthermore, a cylindrical liner (62) which is force fit within the annulus of the stator 12 forms part of the first and second annular flow channels and further provides support against radially inward deflection of the end turns (22). Furthermore, the invention is a cooling system (200) for an exciter generator in a self-excited electric power generator which has a liquid coolant circuit (216) which splits coolant flow between an inside surface (222) of a fullwave rectifier assembly (214) and an outside surface (226) of the fullwave rectifier assembly which absorbs heat from the rotor of the exciter generator.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) in accordance with the invention includes first and second heat conductive, spaced apart plates (12 and 14) and a heat conductive sheet (16) disposed between the plates and having repeating ridges (18) in thermal contact with the plates with successive ridges facing a different one of the plates and sections (22) of the sheet between successive ridges being inclined with respect to the axis of fluid flow and containing at least one aperture (32, 34 and 38) extending between the opposed surfaces of the section for passing fluid flow through the at least one aperture when fluid flows along the axis of fluid flow with fluid flow through the at least one aperture of the plurality of sections producing jets of fluid contacting one of the plates.

Abstract: This invention relates to a thermal energy device for receiving and storing externally applied thermal energy. The thermal energy device includes a thermal energy receiver which is adapted to receive the intermittent externally applied thermal energy to heat and expand a fluid in the thermal energy receiver. A thermal energy store is in fluid communication with the thermal energy receiver to receive and store the heated and expanded fluid received from the thermal energy receiver. The thermal energy store is responsive to the receiving and storing of the heated and expanded fluid such that, as the heated and expanded fluid is received and stored, the thermal energy store delivers more of the fluid to the thermal energy receiver to continue accommodating the intermittent externally applied thermal energy.

Abstract: Lack of uniformity in liquid cooling the end turns of a dynamoelectric machine can be avoided in a structure including a stator (14) having a rotor receiving opening (22) and opposed end faces (18) and (20). Slots (24) in the stator (14) extend between the end faces (18) and (20) and a plurality of electrical conductors (28) are located in each of the slots (24) such that interstices exist between adjacent conductors (28) and define coolant flow passages within the slots (24) from one face (18) to the other (20). The conductors (18) exit the slots (24) at the end faces (18 and 20) and are redirected into another one of the slots (24) to thereby define end turns (30) at each end face (18 and 20). Two tubes (32 and 34) are located on each end turn (30) and adjacent ends (36, 38) of each tube (32, 34) are slightly spaced to defined a gap (40) and remote ends (42, 44) of each tube (32, 34) are sealed to the associated end face (18, 20) about the periphery of the associated slot (24).

Abstract: A protective apertured shield for use about an inlet to a solar apparatus which includesd a cavity receiver for absorbing concentrated solar energy. A rigid support truss assembly is fixed to the periphery of the inlet and projects radially inwardly therefrom to define a generally central aperture area through which solar radiation can pass into the cavity receiver. A non-structural, laminated blanket is spread over the rigid support truss in such a manner as to define an outer surface area and an inner surface area diverging radially outwardly from the central aperture area toward the periphery of the inlet. The outer surface area faces away from the inlet and the inner surface area faces toward the cavity receiver. The laminated blanket includes at least one layer of material, such as ceramic fiber fabric, having high infra-red emittance and low solar absorption properties, and another layer, such as metallic foil, of low infra-red emittance properties.