Variable electrical generator

• US 8,878,373 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2011
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hagal Technology As
• Original Assignee: Adaptive Generators AS (EXRO Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Thoresen, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US13/636,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20130062889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 310/46, 310/112, 310/156, 310/216, 310/268, 322/89, 290/1.R
• US Class Current: 290/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/12 characterised by using wave or tide energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/255 connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7064 of the alternating current (A.C.) type
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/18 Means for mounting or fastening magnetic stationary parts on to, or to, the stator structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 21/12 with stationary armatures and rotating magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 21/14 with magnets rotating within the armatures
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 21/22 with magnets rotating around the armatures, e.g. flywheel magnetos
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 21/24 with magnets axially facing the armatures, e.g. hub-type cycle dynamos
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2213/12 Machines characterised by the modularity of some components
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/10 for water-driven turbines
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/15 for wind-driven turbines
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/22 Multiple windings; Windings for more than three phases
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/16 using ac to ac converters without intermediate conversion to dc H02P27/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/48 Arrangements for obtaining a constant output value at varying speed of the generator, e.g. on vehicle H02P9/04 - H02P9/46 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4973 Replacing of defective part

Abstract

A variable electrical generator (20) is operable to convert mechanical motion to electrical power. The generator (20) includes at least a stator element (60) and a rotor element (50) including coils (320) and magnets (90). The generator (20) includes a configuration of modules (80) including the coils (320) for generating wavelets (30) in response to the coils (320) interacting magnetically with the magnets (90), and a control arrangement (70) for combining the wavelets (30) for generating a composite synthesized power output (10) from the generator (20). A method of maintaining a variable generator (20) includes steps of: (a) determining operating status of modules (80) of the generator (20); (b) unplugging and replacing one or more defective modules (80) as identified in step (a). The generator (20) is susceptible to being used in renewable energy system, for example in a tidal water turbine, in a wind turbine, in association with an oscillating wind vane, in association with an ocean float, in a hydroelectric turbine, in a steam turbine.

Claims

1. A variable electrical generator (20) for converting mechanical motion to electrical power, wherein the generator (20) includes at least a stator element (60) and a rotor element (50) including coils (320) and magnets (90), wherein the generator (20) includes a configuration of modules (80) including the coils (320) for generating wavelets (30) in response to the coils (320) interacting magnetically with the magnets (90), and wherein the modules (80) are operable to generate wavelets (30) whose duration (d) is shorter than a duration of cycle (D) of an alternating waveform supplied in operation to the output (10), and a control arrangement (70) for selectively combining the wavelets (30) for generating a composite synthesized power output (10) from the generator (20).

2. A variable electrical generator (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modules (80) are spatially collocated with their corresponding coils (320).

3. A variable electrical generator (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stator (60) includes coils (320) and is arranged to remain substantially stationary in operation, and the rotor (50) includes magnets (90) and is arranged to rotate and/or reciprocate in operation relative to the stator (60).

4. A variable electrical generator (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modules (80) are electrically coupled together in a two-dimension switching matrix including at least one series path for adding potentials of the wavelets (30), and at least one parallel path for current spreading between wavelets (30), for generating the output (10).

5. A variable electrical generator (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modules (80) are operable to switch between a non-conductive state, a shorted state, a negative wavelet state and a positive wavelet state when in operation in response to control signals provided from the control arrangement (70, 80).

6. A variable electrical generator (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modules (80) are coupled in communication with the control arrangement (70, 80) via an optical data highway (360) which is operable to selectively direct data between the control arrangement (70) and the modules (80) by way of wavelength division multiplexing and wherein the modules (80) are operable to communicate diagnostic signals regarding their operating status to the control arrangement (70), and to receive control signals from the control arrangement (70) concerning timing information and/or polarity information in respect of their respective wavelets (30).

7. A variable electrical generator (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said modules (80) are arranged to be unplugged and plugged into their respective positions on the stator (60) and/or rotor (50).

8. A variable electrical generator (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modules (20) include solid state switching devices (330, 340) for switching at least half-cycles of induced electrical signals induced within the coils (320) in operation.

9. A variable electrical generator (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control arrangement (70) includes an input for use as a reference when synchronizing and/or adjusting an amplitude and/or phase of the output (10) during operation.

10. A module (80) for use in a variable generator (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module (80) includes a microcontroller (350) for providing local control of the module (80), a coil (320) coupled to a switching arrangement (330, 340) for generating wavelets (30) under control of the microcontroller (350), and an optical communication interface (260) for receiving control data for controlling the module (80) and/or for communicating diagnostic information from the module (80).

12. A renewable energy system (500) for converting linear and/or rotating motion of mechanical apparatus (510) into electrical energy, wherein the apparatus (500) is operable to cause relative movement between a rotor (50) and a stator (60) of a variable generator (20) as claimed in claim 1 for generating a power output (10) from the system (500).

13. A renewable energy system (500) as claimed in claim 12, wherein said mechanical apparatus includes at least one of:

a tidal water turbine, a wind turbine, an oscillating wind vane, an ocean float, a hydroelectric turbine, a steam turbine.

14. A method of maintaining a variable generator (20) as claimed In claim 1, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining operating status of modules (80) of the generator (20); and

(b) unplugging and replacing one or more defective modules (80) as identified in step (a).

15. A method of providing responsive load stabilization to an electrical distribution grid by using a variable electrical generator (20) as claimed in claim 1, the generator (20) being coupled to the grid, wherein the method comprises:

(a) sensing one or more parameters indicative of a degree of electrical loading being experienced by the grid; and

(b) adjusting wavelet (30) selection in the generator (20) to absorb or inject electrical power into the grid so as to assist to stabilize the grid against deviations in voltage and/or frequency of said grid resulting from said degree of electrical loading.

11. A method of using a variable electrical generator (20) for converting mechanical motion to electrical power, wherein the generator (20) includes at least a stator element (60) and a rotor element (50) including coils (320) and magnets (90), wherein the method comprises:

(a) generating wavelets (30) whose duration (d) is shorter than a duration of cycle (D) of an alternating waveform supplied in operation to the output (10), in a configuration of modules (80) including the coils (320) for generating wavelets (30) in response to the coils (320) interacting magnetically with the magnets (90); and

(b) using a control arrangement (70) to selectively combine the wavelets (30) for generating a composite synthesized power output (10) from the generator (20).