Permanent-magnet switched-flux machine

A permanent-magnet switched-flux (PMSF) device, comprising:

• a ferromagnetic outer stator mounted to a shaft about a central axis extending axially through the PMSF device;
• a first plurality of permanent-magnets mounted in a first permanent magnet circle radially outwardly in a first transverse plane extending transversely from a first section of the central axis adjacent to an inner surface of the ferromagnetic outer stator;
• a second plurality of permanent-magnets mounted in a second permanent magnet circle radially outwardly in a second transverse plane extending transversely from a second section of the central axis adjacent to the inner surface of the ferromagnetic outer stator;
• and
• a ferromagnetic inner rotor coupled to the shaft and comprising:
• a rotor core having a core axis co-axial with the central axis;
• a first disc having a serrated outer edge comprising a plurality of top rotor poles mounted in a first rotor pole circle radially outwardly from the rotor core axis in the first transverse plane;
• and
• a second disc having a serrated outer edge comprising a plurality of bottom rotor poles mounted in a second rotor pole circle radially outwardly from the rotor core axis in the second transverse plane,
• said first plurality of permanent-magnets and said second plurality of permanent magnets each comprising permanent magnets of alternating polarity from one permanent-magnet to an adjacent permanent-magnet in the corresponding plurality of permanent-magnets.

A permanent-magnet switched-flux (PMSF) apparatus, comprising:

• a wind turbine assembly coupled to a shaft;
• and
• a plurality of permanent-magnet switched-flux (PMSF) devices, wherein each PMSF device comprises:
• a non-ferromagnetic outer rotor coupled to the shaft, wherein the non-ferromagnetic outer rotor comprises a plurality of permanent-magnets coupled to an inner surface of the non-ferromagnetic outer rotor;
• an inner stator rotatably disposed in the non-ferromagnetic outer rotor, wherein the inner stator comprises a stator core and multiple serrated edges forming multiple stator poles distal from the stator core, and wherein the multiple stator poles are configured to interface with the plurality of permanent-magnets, the stator having a pole pitch equal to 360 degrees divided by the number of stator poles;
• and
• a coil disposed on the stator core between the multiple stator poles, wherein the coil is coupled to the plurality of permanent-magnets, wherein a magnetic flux of the plurality of permanent-magnets is operable to pass through the coil, and wherein the magnetic flux is configured to switch to an opposite direction in response to a rotation of the non-ferromagnetic inner rotor, wherein the coil of each PMSF device is shifted with respect to each adjacent PMSF device by a value equal to the pole pitch divided by the number of PMSF devices.