Voltage converter-controlled damless hydrokinetic river turbines

A control and power generating assembly for controlling variable rotational speed input such that an output of the control assembly provides a constant speed output from the variable rotational speed input, the control assembly for outputting a baseload value of electric power to a variable load at a constant electric frequency, the control and power generating assembly comprising:

• a voltage regulator and a central processing unit for receiving an electrical input signal from an energy harnessing module connected to a generator, the energy harnessing module responsive to one of a variable input wind and water flow speed and direction,
• the generator for outputting the electrical input signal to the voltage regulator and the central processing unit and to a variable voltage transformer,
• a control motor for receiving an electrical control signal from the voltage regulator and the central processing unit and for outputting a rotational speed output to a shaft of the variable voltage transformer,
• the variable voltage transformer for receiving the electrical input signal from the generator connected to the energy harnessing module and for outputting a regulated electrical output signal of the variable voltage transformer to a motor and generator set for outputting the baseload value of electric power at the constant electrical frequency to the variable load,
• the baseload value of electric power at the constant electrical frequency being a feedback voltage signal to the voltage regulator and the central processing unit, the central processing unit for comparing the feedback voltage signal and the electrical input signal from the energy harnessing module connected to the generator, the electrical input signal from the energy harnessing module connected to the generator being a feedforward signal to the voltage regulator and the central processing unit.

A control and power generating assembly for controlling variable rotational speed input such that an output of the control and power generating assembly provides a constant speed output from the variable rotational speed input, the control assembly for outputting a predetermined value of electric energy to a variable load at a constant electric frequency, the control and power generating assembly comprising:

• an input motor having an input shaft for connecting a first and a second ring gear and carrier gear assembly through a spur/helical gear assembly, the input shaft for receiving a variable rotational input speed received from the input motor via an energy harnessing module connected to a generator responsive to one of an input wind and water flow speed and direction,
• the second ring and carrier gear assembly of the first and second ring and carrier gear assemblies and the spur/helical gear assembly connected to a generator shaft of an output generator,
• the output generator for converting a control rotational speed input of a control motor connected to the first and the second ring gear and carrier gear assembly by a first sun gear of a control shaft of the control motor and a control rotational speed output of the spur/helical gear assembly by a second sun gear of the control shaft of the control motor to a constant rotational speed output of the second ring and carrier gear assembly to the output generator,
• the control motor for receiving an electrical control signal from a series-connected voltage regulator and a variable voltage transformer,
• the control motor, voltage regulator and variable voltage transformer for controlling a rotational speed of the generator shaft of the output generator to a constant rotational speed via a feedback rotational speed received from the output generator by the spur/helical gear assembly.