Superconducting motors and components thereof

An electric machine, comprising:

• a primary component comprising a plurality of superconducting coils;
• a secondary component positioned adjacent to the primary component, the secondary component entirely separated from the primary component by an air gap;
• and
• wherein the plurality of superconducting coils comprise a first layer of superconducting tape having a rectangular cross section defined by long edges and corresponding first and second short edges, wherein first short edges are located near an outer extent of the air gap, wherein the long edges extend away from the outer extent of the air gap with second short edges spaced from the air gap, and wherein lateral side surfaces of the superconducting tape, which are defined by the long edges, are spaced from each other;
• wherein the plurality of superconducting coils comprise a second layer of superconducting tape having a rectangular cross section defined by long edges and corresponding first and second short edges, wherein first short edges are located near the second short edges of the first layer of superconducting tape, and wherein lateral side surfaces of the superconducting tape, which are defined by the long edges, are spaced from each other;
• and
• wherein the first layer of superconducting tape produces a first magnetic flux and the second layer of superconducting tape produces a second magnetic flux, the second magnetic flux passing through spaces between the lateral side surfaces of the first layer of superconducting tape and/or lateral side surfaces of the second layer of superconducting tape, wherein the second magnetic flux is superimposed upon the first magnetic flux to define an aggregate flux;
• and
• wherein a portion of the lateral side surfaces are not normal to the curvature of the outer extent of the air gap.

A method of controlling an electric machine comprising a primary component and a secondary component separated from the primary component by an air gap, the primary component comprising at least one superconducting coil formed of a layer of superconducting tape having a rectangular cross section defined by a long edges and corresponding short edges, first short edges located near an outer extent of the air gap, wherein the long edges extend away from the outer extent of the air gap;

• wherein the at least one superconducting coil comprises:
• a first layer of superconducting tape having a rectangular cross section defined by long edges and corresponding first and second short edges, wherein first short edges are located near an outer extent of the air gap, wherein the long edges extend away from the outer extent of the air gap with second short edges spaced from the air gap, and wherein lateral side surfaces of the superconducting tape, which are defined by the long edges, are spaced from each other;
• a second layer of superconducting tape having a rectangular cross section defined by long edges and corresponding first and second short edges, wherein first short edges are located near the second short edges of the first layer of superconducting tape, and wherein lateral side surfaces of the superconducting tape, which are defined by the long edges, are spaced from each other;
• and
• wherein the first layer of superconducting tape produces a first magnetic flux and the second layer of superconducting tape produces a second magnetic flux, the second magnetic flux passing through spaces between the lateral side surfaces of the first layer of superconducting tape and/or lateral side surfaces of the second layer of superconducting tape, wherein the second magnetic flux is superimposed upon the first magnetic flux to define an aggregate flux;
• wherein a portion of the lateral side surfaces are not normal to the curvature of the outer extent of the air gap;
• and
• initially energizing the primary component to create a magnetic field that interacts with the secondary component to begin rotation of the secondary component.

An electric machine, comprising:

• a primary component comprising a plurality of magnetic coils;
• a secondary component having at least one coil, the secondary component positioned adjacent to the primary component and separated from the primary component by a gap, the primary component configured to create an electromagnetic force that interacts with the secondary component to move the secondary component;
• wherein the plurality of magnetic coils comprise a first layer of superconducting tape having a rectangular cross section defined by long edges and corresponding first and second short edges, wherein first short edges are located near an outer extent of the gap, wherein the long edges extend away from the outer extent of the gap with second short edges spaced from the gap, and wherein lateral side surfaces of the superconducting tape, which are defined by the long edges, are spaced from each other;
• wherein the plurality of magnetic coils comprise a second layer of superconducting tape having a rectangular cross section defined by long edges and corresponding first and second short edges, wherein first short edges are located near the short edges of the first layer of superconducting tape, and wherein lateral side surfaces of the superconducting tape, which are defined by the long edges, are spaced from each other;
• and
• wherein the first layer of superconducting tape produces a first magnetic flux and the second layer of superconducting tape produces a second magnetic flux, the second magnetic flux passing through spaces between the lateral side surfaces of the first layer of superconducting tape and/or lateral side surfaces of the second layer of superconducting tape, wherein the second magnetic flux is superimposed upon the first magnetic flux to define an aggregate flux, wherein the plurality of magnetic coils comprise:
• a first magnetic coil comprising a first elongated portion and a second elongated portion, first ends of which are interconnected by a first end turn, and second ends of which are interconnected by a second end turn, the first elongated portion is further defined by a first lateral side and a second lateral side, and the second elongated portion is further defined by a third lateral side and a fourth lateral side;
• a second magnetic coil comprising a third elongated portion and a fourth elongated portion, first ends of which are interconnected by a third end turn, and second ends of which are interconnected by a fourth end turn, the third elongated portion is further defined by a fifth lateral side and a sixth lateral side, and the second elongated portion is further defined by a seventh lateral side and an eighth lateral side;
• a third magnetic coil comprising a fifth elongated portion and a sixth elongated portion, first ends of which are interconnected by a fifth end turn, and second ends of which are interconnected by a sixth end turn, the fifth elongated portion is further defined by a ninth lateral side and a tenth lateral side, and the sixth elongated portion is further defined by an eleventh lateral side and a twelfth lateral side
• wherein the second lateral side engages the fifth lateral side, the sixth lateral side engages the ninth lateral side, the tenth lateral side engages the third lateral side, the fourth lateral side engages the seventh lateral side, and the eighth lateral side engages the eleventh lateral side, to define slotless engagements between the first magnetic coil, the second magnetic coil, and the third magnetic coil;
• and
• wherein the first end turn, second end turn, third end turn, fourth end turn, fifth end turn, and sixth end turn have bends configured to allow portions of the first end turn and third end turn, portions of the third end turn and fifth end turn, portions of the second end turn and fourth end turn, and portions of the fourth end turn and sixth end turn to selectively interconnect.