Electrically controllable inductor

An electrically controlled inductor comprising:

• a first magnetic core;
• a second magnetic core proximate to the first magnetic core;
• a first coil wound on the first magnetic core;
• and
• a second coil wound on both the first magnetic core and the second magnetic core;
• wherein an inductance of the second coil is varied in dependence upon a flow of direct current through the first coil;
• a first U-shaped core segment having a right leg, a left leg, and a transverse leg, the first U-shaped core segment defining an aperture opposite the transverse leg between the right leg and the left leg;
• and
• a second U-shaped core segment having a right leg, a left leg, and a transverse leg, the second U-shaped core segment defining an aperture opposite the transverse leg between the right leg and the left leg;
• wherein the second U-shaped core segment such that the right leg of the first U-shaped core segment is located alongside the left leg of the second U-shaped core segment.

A system for correcting a power factor of a multi-phase line, the system comprising:

• a shunt network coupled to the multi-phase line, the shunt network having a least one electrically controllable inductor and at least one capacitor, wherein the at least one electrically controllable inductor includes a first magnetic core, a second magnetic core proximate to the first magnetic core, a first coil wound on the first magnetic core, and a second coil wound on both the first magnetic core and the second magnetic core;
• a distortion monitor, coupled to the power line, for making at least one distortion measurement;
• a power factor monitor, coupled to the multi-phase line, for making at least one power factor measurement;
• and
• a processor, responsive to the distortion monitor and the power factor monitor, for applying a direct current to the first coil of the at least one electrically controllable inductor in dependence upon the at least one distortion measurement and for suitably controlling the capacitance of the at least one capacitor in dependence upon the at least one power factor measured;
• wherein the direct current acts to reduce harmonics in the power line by varying an inductance of at least one electrically controllable inductor, and the at least one capacitor acts to correct the power factor as measured by the power factor monitor.

A system for reducing harmonics in a power line, the system comprising:

• a shunt network coupled to the power line, the shunt network having at least one electrically controllable inductor, wherein the at least one electrically controllable inductor includes a first magnetic core, a second magnetic core proximate to the first magnetic core, a first coil wound on the first magnetic core, and a second coil wound on both the first magnetic core and the second magnetic core;
• a distortion monitor, coupled to the power line, for making at least one distortion measurement;
• and
• a processor, responsive to the distortion monitor, for applying a direct current to the first coil of the at least one electrically controllable inductor in dependence upon the at least one distortion measurement;
• wherein the direct current acts to reduce the harmonics in the power line by varying an inductance of the at least one electrically controllable inductor.

A system for reducing harmonics in a multi-phase power line having a plurality of phases, the system comprising:

• an inductor network having a plurality of nodes, the network comprising an interconnection of at least one electrically controllable inductor;
• a plurality of capacitors, each of the capacitors coupled to a corresponding node of the inductor network and directly coupled to a corresponding phase of the multi-phase line;
• a distortion monitor, coupled to the multi-phase line, for making at least one distortion measurement;
• a processor, responsive to the distortion monitor, for applying a direct current to the at least one electrically controllable inductor in dependence upon the at least one distortion measurement;
• wherein the direct current acts to reduce the harmonics in the multi-phase line by varying an inductance of the at least one electrically controllable inductor.

An electrically controllable inductor assembly comprising:

• a first magnetic core including one or more first core components;
• a second magnetic core including one or more second core components proximate to the first magnetic core;
• a first coil wound on the first magnetic core;
• and
• a second coil wound on both the first and the second magnetic cores;
• and
• a low voltage power source connected to the first coil, the low voltage power source having a voltage which may be readily controlled with minimum equipment and complexity, the voltage being variable in either a continuous or step-wise manner;
• wherein the inductance of the second coil may be varied by a factor of at least ten times that of a starting inductance in dependence upon a flow of direct current through the first coil so that the coils and the cores interact to produce a variable inductor which has:
• diminished size in relation to variable inductors of comparable capacity,
• minimal harmonic distortion in relation to conventional variable inductors,
• reduced propensity to generate heat in relation to variable inductors of comparable capacity,
• the inductor being susceptible of assembly according to any size or scale with minimal harmonic distortion being induced by the inductor;
• the assembly producing permeability changes in a minimal portion of any of its core components.

An inductor having an electrically controllable inductance which is infinitely variable between a first non-zero inductance value and a second non-zero inductance value, comprising:

• first and second magnetic core segments constructed and arranged to provide independent magnetic flux paths;
• a first coil wound around both said first and second magnetic core;
• and
• a second coil wound only around said second magnetic core segment, such that the said first and second coils share a common magnetic flux path along said second segment of said magnetic core.