Abstract:
Disclosed are systems and rotor/stator assemblies with improved electrical isolation. An example rotor/stator assembly may include a rotor, a rotor housing, a rotor insulator, a stator, a stator plate, and a stator insulator. The rotor may be electrically isolated from the rotor housing by the rotor insulator, and the stator may be electrically isolated from the stator plate by the stator insulator. The stator may be disposed coaxial to the rotor. In some embodiments, the rotor/stator assembly may function as a motor, and the stator may be configured to cause the rotor to rotate about the stator in response to an input of electrical energy to the stator. Alternatively or additionally, the rotor/stator may function as an electrical generator. The rotor may be configured to rotate about the stator, and the stator may be configured to produce electrical energy in response to rotation of the rotor relative to the stator.
Abstract:
A method may involve transmitting power between a tethered aerial vehicle equipped with wind turbines for generating power and a ground station configured to interconnect the generated power to an electrical distribution network. The power may be transmitted using high voltage, high frequency AC electrical signals, and transformers at the ground station and the aerial vehicle can scale the AC voltage for use at the respective locations. Converters at the ground station and the aerial vehicle can then convert the transformed voltage to DC. The AC voltage may be transmitted through the tether at a resonant frequency of the tether based in part on an internal capacitance between multiple conductive paths on the tether.
Abstract:
While motors or generators stacked in series may allow for higher operating voltages, such motors or generators may also exhibit instability. To minimize instability, the motors or generators may be controlled to have an approximately equal current. An example motor system may include motor stacks connected in series, each motor stack exhibiting a respective stack voltage and a respective differential power (based on a difference in power between motors in the motor stack). A control system may average the stack voltages to generate an average stack voltage and generate a nominal stack power corresponding to each stack voltage. The control system may receive the differential powers, combine each differential power and nominal stack power for the respective motor stack to generate first and a second motor powers, and control each motor stack using the first and second motor powers.
Abstract:
While motors or generators stacked in series may allow for higher operating voltages, such motors or generators may also exhibit instability. To minimize instability, the motors or generators may be controlled to have an approximately equal current. An example motor system may include motor stacks connected in series, each motor stack exhibiting a respective stack voltage and a respective differential power (based on a difference in power between motors in the motor stack). A control system may average the stack voltages to generate an average stack voltage and generate a nominal stack power corresponding to each stack voltage. The control system may receive the differential powers, combine each differential power and nominal stack power for the respective motor stack to generate first and a second motor powers, and control each motor stack using the first and second motor powers.
Abstract:
While motors or generators stacked in series may allow for higher operating voltages, such motors or generators may also exhibit instability. To minimize instability, the motors or generators may be controlled to have an approximately equal current. An example motor system may include motor stacks connected in series, each motor stack exhibiting a respective stack voltage and a respective differential power (based on a difference in power between motors in the motor stack). A control system may average the stack voltages to generate an average stack voltage and generate a nominal stack power corresponding to each stack voltage. The control system may receive the differential powers, combine each differential power and nominal stack power for the respective motor stack to generate first and a second motor powers, and control each motor stack using the first and second motor powers.
Abstract:
While motors or generators stacked in series may allow for higher operating voltages, such motors or generators may also exhibit instability. To minimize instability, the motors or generators may be controlled to have an approximately equal current. An example motor system may include motor stacks connected in series, each motor stack exhibiting a respective stack voltage and a respective differential power (based on a difference in power between motors in the motor stack). A control system may average the stack voltages to generate an average stack voltage and generate a nominal stack power corresponding to each stack voltage. The control system may receive the differential powers, combine each differential power and nominal stack power for the respective motor stack to generate first and a second motor powers, and control each motor stack using the first and second motor powers.
Abstract:
While motors or generators stacked in series may allow for higher operating voltages, such motors or generators may also exhibit instability. To minimize instability, the motors or generators may be controlled to have an approximately equal current. An example motor system may include motor stacks connected in series, each motor stack exhibiting a respective stack voltage and a respective differential power (based on a difference in power between motors in the motor stack). A control system may average the stack voltages to generate an average stack voltage and generate a nominal stack power corresponding to each stack voltage. The control system may receive the differential powers, combine each differential power and nominal stack power for the respective motor stack to generate first and a second motor powers, and control each motor stack using the first and second motor powers.
Abstract:
Disclosed are systems and rotor/stator assemblies with improved electrical isolation. An example rotor/stator assembly may include a rotor, a rotor housing, a rotor insulator, a stator, a stator plate, and a stator insulator. The rotor may be electrically isolated from the rotor housing by the rotor insulator, and the stator may be electrically isolated from the stator plate by the stator insulator. The stator may be disposed coaxial to the rotor. The rotor/stator assembly may function as a motor, and the stator may be configured to cause the rotor to rotate about the stator in response to an input of electrical energy to the stator. Alternatively or additionally, the rotor/stator may function as an electrical generator. The rotor may be configured to rotate about the stator, and the stator may be configured to produce electrical energy in response to rotation of the rotor relative to the stator.
Abstract:
In one aspect, a method is described. The method may include operating a plurality of circuit elements, and operating a plurality of magnetically-coupled power-balancing circuits. Each individual power-balancing circuit may be electrically coupled in parallel to a respective circuit element and each individual power-balancing circuit may include a first switch and a second switch (or perhaps more than two switches). The method may include designating one power-balancing circuit of the plurality of power-balancing circuits as a primary power-balancing circuit, and alternately toggling the first switch and the second switch of the primary power-balancing circuit in accordance with a first duty cycle.
Abstract:
A method may involve transmitting power between a tethered aerial vehicle equipped with wind turbines for generating power and a ground station configured to interconnect the generated power to an electrical distribution network. The power may be transmitted using high voltage, high frequency AC electrical signals, and transformers at the ground station and the aerial vehicle can scale the AC voltage for use at the respective locations. Converters at the ground station and the aerial vehicle can then convert the transformed voltage to DC. The AC voltage may be transmitted through the tether at a resonant frequency of the tether based in part on an internal capacitance between multiple conductive paths on the tether.