High frequency rotary transformer for synchronous electrical machines

A rotary transformer power supply system comprising:

• an inverter module configured to receive a DC input and a rotor current command;
• a rotor having a rotor winding provided therein;
• a rotary transformer, the rotary transformer comprising:
• a primary transformer component having a primary transformer winding, the primary transformer winding configured to be coupled to the inverter module;
• and
• a secondary transformer component having a secondary transformer winding coupled to the winding of the rotor;
• an AC-DC component interconnected between the secondary transformer component and the rotor,
• wherein each of the primary and secondary transformer components are mechanically coupled to either the stator or the rotor;
• and wherein the secondary transformer component is configured to rotate with respect to the primary transformer component to produce a magnetic flux via the primary transformer winding and the secondary transformer winding.

A method of providing power to an electrical machine having a rotor and a stator, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a high frequency rotary transformer, an AC signal indicative of a rotor current command;
• coupling the AC signal through the high frequency rotary transformer by rotating a secondary winding of the high frequency rotary transformer with respect to a primary winding of the high frequency rotary component to produce a magnetic flux;
• converting the coupled AC signal to a DC via an AC-DC component that is interconnected between the high frequency rotary transformer and the rotor winding;
• providing the DC signal to a winding of the rotor.