Electric motor or generator

An arrangement for controlling the rotational speed, efficiency, torque, and power of a device selected from the group of devices consisting of an electric motor, an electric generator, and a regenerative electric motor, the device including a rotor supported for rotation along a predetermined rotor path about a given rotor axis and a stator having a plurality of dynamically activatable and deactivatable electromagnets including amorphous metal magnetic cores, the electromagnets being spaced apart from one another adjacent to the predetermined rotor path such that movement of a particular point of the rotor from a given point adjacent one electromagnet to a given point adjacent the next successive electromagnet defines one duty cycle, the arrangement comprising:

• a) a position detector arrangement for determining the position and rotational speed of the rotor relative to the stator at any given time in a duty cycle and producing corresponding signals;
• and
• b) a controller responsive to the signals for controlling the activation and deactivation of the electromagnet of the stator using predetermined device control settings such that, for each duty cycle, the controller is able to control any combination of a plurality of activation and deactivation parameters in order to control the speed, efficiency, torque, and power of the device.

A method for controlling the rotational speed, efficiency, torque, and power of a device selected from the group of devices consisting of an electric motor, an electric generator, and a regenerative electric motor, the device including a rotor supported for rotation along a predetermined rotor path about a given rotor axis and a stator having a plurality of dynamically activatable and deactivatable electromagnets including amorphous metal magnetic cores, the electromagnets being spaced apart from one another adjacent to the predetermined rotor path such that movement of a particular point of the rotor from a given point adjacent one electromagnet to a given point adjacent the next successive electromagnet defines one duty cycle, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) determining the position and rotational speed of the rotor relative to the stator at any given time in the duty cycle and producing corresponding signals;
• and
• b) using the signals to select and use predetermined device control settings to control the activation and deactivation of the electromagnet of the stator such that for each duty cycle, the controller is able to control any combination of a plurality of activation and deactivation parameters in order to control the speed, efficiency, torque, and power of the device.

A device for generating electricity comprising the combination of:

• a) a gas turbine engine;
• and
• b) a generator directly driven by the gas turbine engine without reduction gears or other means for reducing the rotational speed at which the turbine engine drives the generator, the generator including a rotor arrangement with at least one rotor super magnet and a stator arrangement with at least one dynamically activatable and deactivatable electromagnet assembly including an amorphous metal magnetic core.

A method of generating electricity, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a gas turbine engine;
• and
• b) directly driving a generator using the gas turbine engine without using reduction gears or other means for reducing the rotational speed at which the turbine engine drives the generator, the generator including a rotor arrangement with at least one rotor super magnet and a stator arrangement with at least one dynamically activatable and deactivatable electromagnet assembly including an amorphous metal magnetic core.

A method of conditioning the electrical output of an electric generator driven by a input drive device, the generator including a stator assembly having at least one dynamically activatable and deactivatable stator coil and a rotor assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) determining the position and rotational speed of the rotor assembly relative to the stator assembly at any given time and producing corresponding signals;
• and
• b) using the signals, variably controlling the activation and deactivation of the stator coil such that the electrical output of the generator is conditioned to a desired electrical output without requiring the use of additional electrical power conditioning devices.

An arrangement for use in an electric generator for conditioning the electrical output of the electric generator, the generator being driven by a input drive device, the generator including a stator assembly having at least one dynamically activatable and deactivatable stator coil and a rotor assembly, the arrangement comprising:

• a) a position detector arrangement for determining the position and rotational speed of the rotor assembly relative to the stator assembly at any given time and producing corresponding signals;
• and
• b) a controller responsive to the signals for variably controlling the activation and deactivation of the stator coil such that the electrical output of the generator is conditioned to a desired electrical output without requiring the use of additional electrical power conditioning devices.