US 8,008,826 B2 · Brushless motor/generator with trapped-flux superconductors

Abstract

Apparatus and methods provide for a high specific power electro-dynamo device that utilizes high-temperature superconductors, a dysprosium core, and superconducting coils to provide power. According to various embodiments, a rotor includes a number of rotor arms with a high-temperature superconductor attached to each arm. A stator includes a number of stator arms with stator coils wrapped around each arm. The stator coils may include superconducting wires for providing a charge to the high-temperature superconductors and non-superconducting wires for inducing a voltage from the trapped flux provided by the superconductors during operation in generator mode. The dysprosium core maximizes the magnetic flux saturated by the core while providing additional safety measures during operation. A backup power wheel or permanent magnets positioned in series with the high-temperature superconductors may provide emergency power at non-cryogenic temperatures.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electro-dynamo device, comprising:

a stator comprising a plurality of stator arms and a stator core characterized by ferromagnetic properties at cryogenic operating temperatures and paramagnetic properties at non-cryogenic temperatures;
a plurality of stator coils attached to the plurality of stator arms;
a rotor connected to a rotatable shaft, the rotor comprising a plurality of rotor arms and a rotor core characterized by ferromagnetic properties at cryogenic operating temperatures and paramagnetic properties at non-cryogenic temperatures;
and
a plurality of high-temperature superconductors attached to the plurality of rotor arms,
wherein the rotor is configured to rotate with respect to the stator such that the plurality of high-temperature superconductors interact with the plurality of stator coils to produce a current in the plurality of stator coils when operating in a generator mode and to provide torque on the rotatable shaft when operating in a motor mode.

3 more elements

A electro-dynamo device, comprising:

a rotor comprising a dysprosium rotor core and a plurality of rotor arms;
a plurality of bulk high-temperature superconductors attached to the plurality of rotor arms;
a stator comprising a dysprosium stator core and a plurality of stator arms;
and
a plurality of stator coils attached to the plurality of stator arms, the plurality of stator coils comprising
superconducting wires operative to provide a charging magnetic flux to the plurality of bulk high-temperature superconductors when receiving a current, and
non-superconducting wires operative to produce a current when subjected to a trapped magnetic flux from the plurality of bulk high-temperature superconductors during rotation of the rotor.

4 more elements

A method for providing for electrical generation, comprising:

positioning a rotor comprising a dysprosium core material and a plurality of rotor arms within a cylindrical stator comprising the dysprosium core material and a plurality of stator arms such that the plurality of stator arms is evenly spaced from the plurality of rotor arms;
positioning a plurality of bulk high-temperature superconductors on the plurality of rotor arms proximate to an air gap between each rotor arm and each stator arm;
and
configuring a plurality of stator coils around the plurality of stator arms to provide a magnetic flux to the plurality of bulk high-temperature superconductors for charging via the dysprosium core material when receiving direct current and to create an alternating current when exposed to rotating magnetic fields from the plurality of bulk high-temperature superconductors when the rotor is rotating in generator mode.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Brushless motor/generator with trapped-flux superconductors

Life of this patent

Brushless motor/generator with trapped-flux superconductors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20