Electrical reactor with foil windings

Claim 1

An electrical reactor having improved thermal and dielectric characteristics due to both axial and radial coolant paths, comprising: a casing; an insulating gas in said casing; a magnetic core in said casing, said magnetic core having at least one winding leg; winding support means disposed about said winding leg, said winding support means defining a plurality of circumferential grooves, further defining a plurality of first cooling ducts disposed parallel to the longitudinal direction of said winding leg which direct said insulating gas axially through said winding support means, and further defining in cooperation with said winding leg, a plurality of second cooling ducts disposed parallel to the longitudinal direction of said winding leg which direct said insulating gas axially through said winding support means and along said winding leg; a plurality of spacer members; a plurality of foil windings coaxially spaced along said winding support means, with said spacer members being disposed between adjacent foil windings to maintain the spacing therebetween, said spaced foil windings defining a plurality of third cooling ducts which extend radially outward from said winding support means, said first and third cooling ducts and said circumferential grooves being in fluid flow communication to cooperatively define a plurality of fluid flow paths each of which includes an axial flow path through said winding support means and a radial flow path between adjacent windings; and means electrically connecting said foil windings in parallel.