A sensorless electric motor control device is provided that completes a phase detection of a rotor before an activation signal is received, so as to shorten a time period from when the activation signal is received to when the rotor reaches a target number of rotations. The control device for a sensorless electric motor 10 includes an inverter 11 that drives the electric motor 10 and a first processor 18 that serves as a phase detection unit that causes the inverter 11 to perform a phase detection before the inverter 11 receives an activation signal that activates the electric motor 10, wherein the phase detection aligns a magnetic pole of a rotor of the electric motor 10 with a predetermined position with respect to a stator.

A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a propulsor, an engine, and an electrical distribution system. The engine includes a first rotor and a first shaft. The first shaft is connected to the first rotor. The electrical distribution system includes a low-voltage bus, a high-voltage bus, a low-voltage generator, a DC:DC converter, and an electric motor. The low-voltage generator is coupled to the first shaft and electrically connected to the low-voltage bus. The low-voltage generator is configured to generate low-voltage electrical power and supply the low-voltage electrical power to the low-voltage bus. The DC:DC converter is electrically connected to the low-voltage bus and the high-voltage bus. The DC:DC converter is configured to convert the low-voltage electrical power to high-voltage electrical power and supply the high-voltage electrical power to the high-voltage bus. The electric motor is electrically connected to the high-voltage bus. The electric motor is configured to drive rotation of the propulsor.

A vehicle drive includes a gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to the gear set, a second motor/generator at least selectively rotationally engaged with the gear set, an engine at least selectively coupled to the gear set and selectively coupled to the second motor/generator, and a clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the engine. The first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator.

A motor vehicle is configured to include a first battery; a second battery; a first converter configured to step-down an electric power of the first power line and supply the stepped-down electric power to a second power line with which the second battery is connected; a third battery; a solar charging device configured to generate electric power using sunlight and supply the generated electric power to the third battery; and a second converter configured to transmit electric power accompanied with a change in a voltage between the second power line and a third power line with which the third battery is connected. The motor vehicle of this configuration is configured to provide permission for relief charging that is charging of the third battery using an electric power on a first power line side, when a voltage of the second battery is not lower than a predetermined voltage.

A vehicle has an electric traction chain to supply a drive torque to the wheels, and an energy management system comprising: a generator set configured to generate a first supply voltage and mechanically disconnected from the wheels in every operating condition; a battery storage assembly configured to generate a second supply voltage; a control unit that implements operative conditions of the vehicle, including: (i) powering the electrical traction chain with the first supply voltage; (ii) powering the electrical traction chain with the second supply voltage; (iii) recharging the storage assembly with a network voltage external to the vehicle and coming from a catenary; (iv) recharging the storage assembly with the first supply voltage; and (v) recharging the storage assembly with a recovered voltage generated by the traction chain operating as an electrical generator.

A vehicle has an electric traction chain to supply a drive torque to the wheels, and an energy management system comprising: a generator set configured to generate a first supply voltage and mechanically disconnected from the wheels in every operating condition; a battery storage assembly configured to generate a second supply voltage; a control unit that implements operative conditions of the vehicle, including: (i) powering the electrical traction chain with the first supply voltage; (ii) powering the electrical traction chain with the second supply voltage; (iii) recharging the storage assembly with a network voltage external to the vehicle and coming from a catenary; (iv) recharging the storage assembly with the first supply voltage; and (v) recharging the storage assembly with a recovered voltage generated by the traction chain operating as an electrical generator.

A vehicle drive includes a gear set, a first motor/generator coupled to a sun gear of the gear set, a second motor/generator selectively coupled to at least one of (a) a planetary gear carrier of the gear set and (b) a ring gear of the gear set, an engine coupled to the ring gear of the gear set and selectively coupled to the second motor/generator, and a clutch configured to selectively engage the second motor/generator to the engine. The first motor/generator and the second motor/generator are electrically coupled without an energy storage device configured to at least one of (a) provide electrical energy to the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator to power the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator and (b) be charged by electrical energy from the first motor/generator or the second motor/generator.

A method and system using at least two different working fluids to be supplied to an expander to cause it to do mechanical work. The expander is started by providing a compressed gaseous working fluid at a sufficient pressure to the expander. At the same time the compressed gaseous working fluid is provided to the expander, a second working fluid that is liquid at ambient temperatures is provided to a heater to be heated. The second working fluid is heated to its boiling point and converted to pressurized gas Once the pressure is increased to a sufficient level, the second working fluid is injected into the expander to generate power, and the supply of the first working fluid may be stopped. After expansion in the expander, the working fluids are is exhausted from the expander, and the second working fluid may be condensed for separation from the first working fluid. Control circuitry controls the admission of the first and second working fluids responsive to monitoring the load on the expander. Waste heat in the exhaust from the expander can be used to heat or alternatively to dry an element in a device that can be operated as a desiccator to dry air when operated in a summer mode, or to heat air when operated in a winter mode. The air having been dried or alternatively heated is then ducted to an evaporative cooler which cools the dried air in summer mode and humidifies the heated air in winter mode.

A vehicle is operable in three modes of operation. The vehicle includes a first electromagnetic device, a second electromagnetic device electrically coupled to the first electromagnetic device, and an engine coupled to the first electromagnetic device and configured to drive the first electromagnetic device to provide electrical energy. In each of the three modes of operation, whenever the engine drives the first electromagnetic device to provide the electrical energy, the first electromagnetic device operates without providing the electrical energy to an energy storage device.

A vehicle is operable in three modes of operation. The vehicle includes a first electromagnetic device, a second electromagnetic device electrically coupled to the first electromagnetic device, and an engine coupled to the first electromagnetic device and configured to drive the first electromagnetic device to provide electrical energy. In each of the three modes of operation, whenever the engine drives the first electromagnetic device to provide the electrical energy, the first electromagnetic device operates without providing the electrical energy to an energy storage device.