AC generator with independently controlled field rotational speed
First Claim
1. A generator system, comprising:
- a main generator rotor configured to rotate at a variable rotational speed, the main generator rotor having a plurality of main generator rotor windings wound thereon that, upon electrical excitation thereof, generate an electromagnetic flux;
an exciter rotor configured to rotate at the variable rotational speed and having a plurality of exciter rotor windings wound thereon, the exciter rotor windings electrically connected to the main generator rotor windings and configured, upon electrical excitation thereof, to supply the electrical excitation to the main generator rotor windings;
an exciter stator surrounding at least a portion of the exciter rotor, the exciter stator having a plurality of exciter stator windings wound thereon, the exciter stator windings configured, upon electrical excitation thereof, to electrically excite the exciter rotor windings; and
an exciter controller electrically coupled to at least the exciter stator windings, the exciter controller configured to determine the rotational speed of the main generator rotor and the exciter rotor and, based on the determined rotational speed, to supply electrical excitation to the exciter stator windings that results in the main generator rotor windings generating the electromagnetic flux at a substantially constant, predetermined frequency.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A generator system is configured to supply relatively constant frequency AC power when driven by a variable speed prime mover, by independently controlling the main rotor flux rotational speed. The generator system includes an exciter stator that induces current in the exciter rotor windings at a desired frequency and phasing. The exciter rotor windings are electrically connected to the main rotor windings, and are thus electrically excited at the same frequency and phasing. Excitation is supplied to the exciter stator from an exciter controller, which controls the frequency and phasing of the exciter excitation, based on the rotational speed of the generator, to maintain a constant output frequency.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A generator system, comprising:
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a main generator rotor configured to rotate at a variable rotational speed, the main generator rotor having a plurality of main generator rotor windings wound thereon that, upon electrical excitation thereof, generate an electromagnetic flux;
an exciter rotor configured to rotate at the variable rotational speed and having a plurality of exciter rotor windings wound thereon, the exciter rotor windings electrically connected to the main generator rotor windings and configured, upon electrical excitation thereof, to supply the electrical excitation to the main generator rotor windings;
an exciter stator surrounding at least a portion of the exciter rotor, the exciter stator having a plurality of exciter stator windings wound thereon, the exciter stator windings configured, upon electrical excitation thereof, to electrically excite the exciter rotor windings; and
an exciter controller electrically coupled to at least the exciter stator windings, the exciter controller configured to determine the rotational speed of the main generator rotor and the exciter rotor and, based on the determined rotational speed, to supply electrical excitation to the exciter stator windings that results in the main generator rotor windings generating the electromagnetic flux at a substantially constant, predetermined frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A generator system, comprising:
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a housing;
a shaft rotationally mounted within the housing and configured to rotate at a variable rotational speed;
a main generator stator mounted within the housing and having a plurality of main stator windings wound thereon;
a main generator rotor mounted on the shaft and disposed at least partially within the main stator, the main generator rotor having a plurality of main generator rotor windings wound thereon that, upon electrical excitation thereof, generate an air gap flux;
an exciter rotor mounted on the shaft, the exciter rotor having a plurality of exciter rotor windings wound thereon, the exciter rotor windings electrically connected to the main generator rotor windings and configured, upon electrical excitation thereof, to supply the electrical excitation to the main generator rotor windings;
an exciter stator surrounding at least a portion of the exciter rotor, the exciter stator having a plurality of exciter stator windings wound thereon, the exciter stator windings configured, upon electrical excitation thereof, to electrically excite the exciter rotor windings; and
an exciter controller electrically coupled to at least the exciter stator windings, the exciter controller configured to determine the rotational speed of the shaft and, based on the determined rotational speed, to supply electrical excitation to the exciter stator windings that results in the main generator rotor windings generating the air gap flux at a substantially constant, predetermined frequency. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A generator system, comprising:
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a housing;
a shaft rotationally mounted within the housing and configured to rotate at a variable rotational speed;
a main generator stator mounted within the housing and having a plurality of main stator windings wound thereon;
a main generator rotor mounted on the shaft and disposed at least partially within the main stator, the main generator rotor having a plurality of main generator rotor windings wound thereon that, upon electrical excitation thereof, generate an air gap flux;
an exciter rotor mounted on the shaft, the exciter rotor having a plurality of exciter rotor windings wound thereon, the exciter rotor windings electrically connected to the main generator rotor windings and configured, upon electrical excitation thereof, to supply the electrical excitation to the main generator rotor windings;
an exciter stator surrounding at least a portion of the exciter rotor, the exciter stator having a plurality of exciter stator windings wound thereon, the exciter stator windings configured, upon electrical excitation thereof, to electrically excite the exciter rotor windings;
a speed signal source configured to supply a speed signal representative of the rotational speed of the shaft; and
an exciter controller electrically coupled to at least the exciter stator windings and coupled to receive the speed signal, the exciter controller configured, in response to the speed signal, to determine the rotational speed of the shaft and, based on the determined rotational speed, to supply electrical excitation to the exciter stator windings that results in the main generator rotor windings generating the air gap flux at a substantially constant, predetermined frequency.
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Specification