Modulation control of power generation system
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a first alternator and a second alternator, each alternator having a rotor and stator, the stator having a plurality of rotor magnetic circuits co-operatively defined between the stator and rotor and a plurality of secondary magnetic circuits, each rotor magnetic circuit encircling a first portion of at least one power winding of the stator, each secondary magnetic circuit encircling a second portion of the power winding disposed outside the rotor magnetic circuits, at least one control winding associated with said secondary magnetic circuits such that a saturating control current through the control winding magnetically saturates at least a portion of said secondary magnetic circuits distinct from the rotor magnetic circuits, the secondary magnetic circuits being paired such that in one secondary magnetic circuit the associated control winding and stator winding second portion are wound around the stator in a same direction while in the other secondary magnetic circuit the associated control winding and stator winding second portion are wound around the stator in opposite directions;
a controlled current source assembly connected to said at least one control winding of each alternator and adapted to provide a periodic DC control current flow thereto, the DC current flow having a maximum amplitude above a saturation level required to saturate said portions of said secondary magnetic circuits;
a first rectifier for converting alternating current from the at least one power winding of said first alternator to a direct current;
a second rectifier for converting alternating current from the at least one power winding of said second alternator direct current; and
a combiner circuit for combining direct current from said rectifiers into an alternating current output.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for producing current with a desired output frequency from one or more fixed or variable speed alternators by varying a saturation level of a portion of the alternator(s) based on a output frequency desired, and preferably then rectifying the output to produce a desired electrical output which may be provided as direct current or alternating current to a suitable load.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a first alternator and a second alternator, each alternator having a rotor and stator, the stator having a plurality of rotor magnetic circuits co-operatively defined between the stator and rotor and a plurality of secondary magnetic circuits, each rotor magnetic circuit encircling a first portion of at least one power winding of the stator, each secondary magnetic circuit encircling a second portion of the power winding disposed outside the rotor magnetic circuits, at least one control winding associated with said secondary magnetic circuits such that a saturating control current through the control winding magnetically saturates at least a portion of said secondary magnetic circuits distinct from the rotor magnetic circuits, the secondary magnetic circuits being paired such that in one secondary magnetic circuit the associated control winding and stator winding second portion are wound around the stator in a same direction while in the other secondary magnetic circuit the associated control winding and stator winding second portion are wound around the stator in opposite directions; a controlled current source assembly connected to said at least one control winding of each alternator and adapted to provide a periodic DC control current flow thereto, the DC current flow having a maximum amplitude above a saturation level required to saturate said portions of said secondary magnetic circuits; a first rectifier for converting alternating current from the at least one power winding of said first alternator to a direct current; a second rectifier for converting alternating current from the at least one power winding of said second alternator direct current; and a combiner circuit for combining direct current from said rectifiers into an alternating current output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of producing alternating current in a power generating system having at least first and a second alternators each having a stator comprising at least one power winding and at least one control winding, each power winding having a plurality of first portions associated with a plurality of rotor magnetic circuits and a plurality of second portions associated with a plurality of secondary magnetic circuits isolated from the rotor magnetic circuits, each control winding wound around at least a portion of each secondary magnetic circuit, said portion of each secondary magnetic circuit being remote from the rotor magnetic circuits, wherein for each secondary magnetic circuit which has its control winding wound in a same direction as the second portion of the stator winding associated therewith there is another secondary magnetic circuit which as has its control winding wound in an opposite direction relative to the second portion of the stator winding associated therewith, said method comprising the steps of:
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driving said first and said second alternators to induce alternating current flow in said power windings; varying in amplitude a control current flow in said control windings of each alternator according to a selected pattern, at least a portion of said selected pattern having a sufficient current amplitude to magnetically saturate said portions of the secondary magnetic circuits to thereby control an amplitude of said induced alternating current flow in the power windings; converting current flow from the power windings of each alternator into a direct current; and combining said direct currents of each alternator to provide an alternating current output having a pattern proportional to the selected pattern. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of generating alternating current output comprising the steps of:
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driving an alternator to produce electricity corresponding to a positive half of an output AC cycle; driving a second alternator to produce electricity corresponding to a negative half of the output AC cycle; rectifying the respective alternator outputs; and summing the alternator outputs to provide the alternating current output. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification