A fluid power conversion apparatus (1) serving fluid pumping and/or power-generation functions, including: (a) an impeller (5) having a hub (8) and a periphery; (b) a housing (13) around the impeller; (e) a diffuser (12) having an outer wall attached to the housing, a diffuser hub (7) axially-aligned with the impeller hub, rotatable support of the impeller being provided only by a bearing assembly (6) internal to the hubs, and at least one stator vane (11) securing the diffuser hub to the outer wall; and (d) a rotating electrical machine with an armature (16) attached to the housing and a rotor (20) attached to the impeller periphery and positioned to form a gap (18) between rotor and armature, the impeller and the rotor form an integrated unit, the armature has radially-inward protrusions having laminations (73) and windings (74), and the rotor has parallel magnetic tings (71) configured to sandwich the protrusions, the rings each having a plurality of magnetic poles configured so each north pole is aligned with a south pole on its neighboring ring(s).
RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/217,808, filed on Sep. 1, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,235,894, issued on Jun. 26, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
