A homopolar multi-core energy conversion device is an apparatus that uses magnetic flux commutation instead of a combination of electrical current commutation and brushes. The apparatus includes a first discontinuous annular stator core, a second discontinuous annular stator core, and a rotor core. The first discontinuous annular stator core is configured to generate a circumferentially-segmented clockwise magnetic flux around the rotor core, while second discontinuous annular stator core is configured to generate a circumferentially-segmented counter-clockwise magnetic flux around the rotor core. The rotor core is configured to radially partition a traversing magnetic flux. The circumferentially-segmented clockwise magnetic flux, the circumferentially-segmented counter-clockwise magnetic flux, and the traversing magnetic flux interact with each other so that the apparatus can function either as a motor or as a generator. The aforementioned components of the apparatus can be configured into different embodiment to achieve the same function.

A homopolar multi-core energy conversion device is an apparatus that uses magnetic flux commutation instead of a combination of electrical current commutation and brushes. The apparatus includes a first discontinuous annular stator core, a second discontinuous annular stator core, and a rotor core. The first discontinuous annular stator core is configured to generate a circumferentially-segmented clockwise magnetic flux around the rotor core, while second discontinuous annular stator core is configured to generate a circumferentially-segmented counter-clockwise magnetic flux around the rotor core. The rotor core is configured to radially partition a traversing magnetic flux. The circumferentially-segmented clockwise magnetic flux, the circumferentially-segmented counter-clockwise magnetic flux, and the traversing magnetic flux interact with each other so that the apparatus can function either as a motor or as a generator. The aforementioned components of the apparatus can be configured into different embodiment to achieve the same function.

Disclosed is a rotating electrical machine with axial air gap, comprising two rotors, each provided with superconducting axial magnetic flux barrier elements around an axis of rotation and having, between them, axial magnetic flux passage areas, at least one armature, comprising windings and a superconducting field coil surrounding the elements and the armature and capable of inducing an axial magnetic field. Each armature is positioned between two of the rotors. The superconducting elements of the rotors are coaxial with one another and also the flux passage areas. A first annular cryogenic enclosure encloses the field coil and a second cryogenic enclosure encloses the two rotors and the armature or only one rotor, with a third cryogenic enclosure around the other rotor without the armature.

A switched reluctance generator and devices and methods for its control are concerned with generators and controls which can operate in an aerospace environment. The generator may have: a rotor having rotor poles; a stator having stator poles; and a controller. Either the rotor or stator poles each have windings to which current can be supplied to energise the poles and from which current can be drawn to a load; and the controller is arranged to: periodically excite each of the windings in turn to a pre-determined level of current; measure the current generated in each winding; cease the excitation when the current generated in each winding exceeds the excitation current; and direct the generated current in each winding to the load. The generator may thereby avoid the need to determine the position of the rotor poles relative to the stator poles to provide the commutation of the generator.

A switched reluctance generator and devices and methods for its control are concerned with generators and controls which can operate in an aerospace environment. The generator may have: a rotor having rotor poles; a stator having stator poles; and a controller. Either the rotor or stator poles each have windings to which current can be supplied to energise the poles and from which current can be drawn to a load; and the controller is arranged to: periodically excite each of the windings in turn to a pre-determined level of current; measure the current generated in each winding; cease the excitation when the current generated in each winding exceeds the excitation current; and direct the generated current in each winding to the load. The generator may thereby avoid the need to determine the position of the rotor poles relative to the stator poles to provide the commutation of the generator.

An electric power generator comprises a rotor and a plurality of stators arranged coaxially and concentrically about a central axis. A first stator is provided concentrically around and adjacent to the rotor, the rotor and the first stator being separated by a rotor-stator airgap and a second stator is provided concentrically around and adjacent to the first stator, the first and second stators being separated by a stator-stator airgap. The rotor includes a plurality of magnetic pole structures configured to provide or generate a plurality of magnetic poles and a radially outer surface of each of the magnetic pole structures is curved with an average radius of curvature which is less than an average distance between the outer surface and the central axis. The rotor-stator airgap thus varies circumferentially in distance, with a shortest distance being at a circumferential centre of each of the magnetic pole structures and longest distance being at circumferential ends of each of the magnetic pole structures. The stator-stator airgap is of uniform thickness.

The rotary electrical machine having a homopolar structure includes a number Npe of electrical phases. The machine includes a juxtaposition, along the rotational axis of the rotary electrical machine, of at least one pair of armatures having a number of poles Np, placed on both sides of at least one inductive coil wound around the rotational axis, two adjacent armatures being angularly offset by any electrical angle θs, preferably between 0° and 180°/Npe, and at least one “passive” inductor of ferromagnetic material, separated from the armatures by an air gap. Either the armatures form the rotor, or the inductor and the other element form the stator.

The rotary electrical machine having a homopolar structure includes a number Npe of electrical phases. The machine includes a juxtaposition, along the rotational axis of the rotary electrical machine, of at least one pair of armatures having a number of poles Np, placed on both sides of at least one inductive coil wound around the rotational axis, two adjacent armatures being angularly offset by any electrical angle θs, preferably between 0° and 180°/Npe, and at least one “passive” inductor of ferromagnetic material, separated from the armatures by an air gap. Either the armatures form the rotor, or the inductor and the other element form the stator.

The disclosure relates to a brushless and magnet-free synchronous electrical machine, wherein it comprises a stator (20) comprising a ring (22), a winding (28) and a tooth system (24) comprising teeth (26) extending parallel to the axis of rotation from the ring (22), said winding being wound around the tooth system (24), a rotor (10), comprising a first portion (12a) extending in p preferred directions (18a), a second portion (12b) extending in p preferred directions (18b) shifted by p with respect to the preferred directions of the first portion (18a), and an intermediate portion (14) linking the first portion (12a) to the second portion (12b), and a coil (40) for exciting the rotor, fixed with respect to the stator, supplied with a DC electric current, positioned around the intermediate portion (14) of the rotor and configured so as to generate an electric flux in the rotor (10) through magnetic induction.

The disclosure relates to a brushless and magnet-free synchronous electrical machine, wherein it comprises a stator (20) comprising a ring (22), a winding (28) and a tooth system (24) comprising teeth (26) extending parallel to the axis of rotation from the ring (22), said winding being wound around the tooth system (24), a rotor (10), comprising a first portion (12a) extending in p preferred directions (18a), a second portion (12b) extending in p preferred directions (18b) shifted by p with respect to the preferred directions of the first portion (18a), and an intermediate portion (14) linking the first portion (12a) to the second portion (12b), and a coil (40) for exciting the rotor, fixed with respect to the stator, supplied with a DC electric current, positioned around the intermediate portion (14) of the rotor and configured so as to generate an electric flux in the rotor (10) through magnetic induction.