Abstract: A power control system for a turbogenerator which provides electrical power to one or more pump-jack oil wells. When the induction motor of a pump-jack oil well is powered by three-phase utility power, the speed of the pump-jack shaft varies only slightly over the pumping cycle but the utility power requirements can vary by four times the average pumping power. This power variation makes it impractical to power a pump-jack oil well with a stand-alone turbogenerator controlled by a conventional power control system. This power control system comprises a turbogenerator inverter, a load inverter, and a central processing unit which controls the frequency and voltage/current of each inverter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for starting a turbogenerator having a sensorless magnetic rotor supported for rotation in a stator by a compliant foil fluid film bearing, the method comprising energizing the stator to generate a continuously rotating magnetic field to capture the magnetic rotor and thereafter accelerating the rotational speed of the magnetic field to substantially minimize the time required for the magnetic rotor to reach a liftoff speed associated with the compliant foil fluid film bearing.

Abstract: A power controller provides a distributed generation power networking system in which bi-directional power converters are used with a common DC bus for permitting compatibility between various energy components. Each power converter operates essentially as a customized bi-directional switching converter configured, under the control of the power controller, to provide an interface for a specific energy component to the DC bus. The power controller controls the way in which each energy component, at any moment, will sink or source power, and the manner in which the DC bus is regulated. In this way, various energy components can be used to supply, store and/or use power in an efficient manner. The various energy components include energy sources, loads, storage devices and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides integrated turbogenerators having a turbine wheel, a compressor impeller, and a motor generator mounted to or mechanically constrained to a common shaft, and improved components and configurations thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for modular control of a multi-fuel turbogenerator include separate controllers for controlling fuel supplied to the combustor and power output from the generator. The power controller generates a fuel command based on the required turbine exhaust temperature, where the fuel command is independent of the particular fuel being used. Fuels may include natural gas, diesel, propane, waste gas, or gasoline, for example. The power controller communicates the fuel command and the airflow or calculated air/fuel ratio to the fuel controller which selects an appropriate mode of operation for the injectors. Injector operating modes include one or more pilot modes where fuel is not mixed with air prior to combustion, and one or more premix modes where fuel is highly mixed with air prior to combustion.

Abstract: A method of capturing a sensorless magnetic rotor for acceleration and rotation with a rotating magnetic field generated by a stator is used in a turbogenerator including a compliant foil fluid film radial bearing. The method includes energizing the stator to generate a magnetic field and slowly rotating the magnetic field approximately 360° to capture the magnetic rotor. The rotational speed of the magnetic field is quickly accelerated to quickly accelerate the magnetic rotor, thereby quickly reaching a liftoff speed associated with the compliant foil fluid film radial bearing to prevent damage thereof.

Abstract: A method of controlling a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor includes providing a protected load connected in parallel with the turbogenerator/motor through a pulse width modulated inverter configured in a first operating mode to supply controlled current from the turbogenerator/motor to a utility electrical power source, and selectively connected to the utility electrical power source through an isolation device, monitoring the utility electrical power source, and automatically disconnecting the protected load from the utility electrical power source while reconfiguring the pulse width modulated inverter in a second operating mode to supply controlled voltage to the protected load when a fault is detected in the utility electrical power source.

Abstract: A low emissions combustion system with a plurality of tangential fuel injectors to introduce a fuel/air mixture at the combustor dome end of an annular combustion chamber in two spaced injector planes. Each of the spaced injector planes includes multiple tangential fuel injectors delivering premixed fuel and air into the annular combustor. A generally skirt-shaped flow control baffle extends from the tapered inner liner into the annular combustion chamber downstream of the fuel injector planes. A plurality of air dilution holes in the tapered inner liner underneath the flow control baffle introduce dilution air into the annular combustion chamber while another plurality of air dilution holes in the cylindrical outer liner introduces more dilution air downstream from the flow control baffle.

Abstract: A system and method for modular control of a multi-fuel turbogenerator include separate controllers for controlling fuel supplied to the combustor and power output from the generator. The power controller generates a fuel command based on the required turbine exhaust temperature, where the fuel command is independent of the particular fuel being used. Fuels may include natural gas, diesel, propane, waste gas, or gasoline, for example. The power controller communicates the fuel command and the airflow or calculated air/fuel ratio to the fuel controller which selects an appropriate mode of operation for the injectors. Injector operating modes include one or more pilot modes where fuel is not mixed with air prior to combustion, and one or more premix modes where fuel is highly mixed with air prior to combustion.

Abstract: A magnet machine includes a magnet rotor. The rotor includes a sleeve and a magnet. The magnet is positioned within the sleeve. A highly electrically conductive, nonmagnetic shield surrounds the magnet. The shield reduces rotor eddy current losses and lowers rotor operating temperature, thereby improving efficiency of the machine.

Abstract: A system and method for maintaining an axial compression load associated with a tie bolt assembly. A tie bolt couples a compressor to a turbine. A sleeve is supported on the tie bolt. The tie bolt compresses the compressor and sleeve against the turbine during operation thereby causing an axial compressive force. At least a portion of the sleeve is made of a less thermally sensitive material such that during rotation of the tie bolt assembly, the sleeve resists deformation and maintains the axial compressive load.

Abstract: A crossing spiral compressor or pump having a cylindrical rotor rotating within a cylindrical stator bore. Both the outer surface of the rotor and the bore of the stator include a plurality of spiral fluid flow channels separated by narrow blades, with the spiral fluid flow channels of the stator bore spiraling in the reverse or opposite direction relative to the spiral fluid flow channels of the rotor. The fluid flow channels on the rotor and in the bore have open sides that face the annular gap between the rotor and stator with the channels crossing each other at many locations to facilitate fluid exchange between rotor channels and bore channels.

Abstract: A system and method for modular control of a multi-fuel turbogenerator include separate controllers for controlling fuel supplied to the combustor and power output from the generator. The power controller generates a fuel command based on the required turbine exhaust temperature, where the fuel command is independent of the particular fuel being used. Fuels may include natural gas, diesel, propane, waste gas, or gasoline, for example. The power controller communicates the fuel command and the airflow or calculated air/fuel ratio to the fuel controller which selects an appropriate mode of operation for the injectors. Injector operating modes include one or more pilot modes where fuel is not mixed with air prior to combustion, and one or more premix modes where fuel is highly mixed with air prior to combustion.

Abstract: A permanent magnet rotor cooling system and method in which the rotor end cap includes an axially extending bore with a plurality of radially extending holes aligned with holes in the sleeve around the permanent magnet to provide cooling air flow to the air gap between the permanent magnet sleeve and the stator. A second smaller diameter extended bore, with a second plurality of radially extending holes, offset from the first plurality of holes, may also be provided.

Abstract: A system and method resulting in a balanced minimization of detrimental hydrocarbon, CO and NOx emissions by regulating the air to fuel ratio in a combustor. The turbogenerator system includes a recuperator which separates air flow into a primary passage and a dilution passage. A combustor is connected to the recuperator. The cumbustor has a primary zone and a dilution zone. A controlled air valve is disposed in the air flow such that air to fuel ratio in the primary zone of the combustor is regulated at a predetermined level which minimizes the emissions.

Abstract: A method of combining an impeller and a shroud includes selecting a rotatable impeller having impeller blades with radially extending distal ends defining a predetermined outer impeller diameter. A shroud element is then selected having an inner diameter less than the outer impeller diameter. The shroud element is then attached to at least some of the radially extending distal ends of the impeller blades by forming an interference fit between the inner shroud diameter and the outer impeller diameter.

Abstract: A random-wound winding for an electrical machine including interconnected wire layers, wherein the interconnected wire layers include randomly wound wires and are configured upon placement in the electrical machine to have substantially the same impedance. Accordingly, the random wound windings can include a first coil having layers of wires randomly wound on the first coil with the layers configured in a first layering order, a second coil having layers of wires randomly wound on the second coil with the layers configured in a second layering order transposed relative to the first layering order, and at least one electrical interconnection configured to serially connect the layers of the first coil to the layers of the second coil such that an average axial position of all interconnected layers is substantially the same.

Abstract: An exhaust silencing device and method for silencing a turbogenerator includes a housing, an intake manifold, at least two exhaust outlet ports and flow channels which extend in a bifurcated path from the intake manifold to the exhaust outlet ports and which provide a length to height (or diameter) ratio permitting a compact fluid flow profile.

Abstract: A turbogenerator cooling system is disclosed that has a cylindrical heat sink with generally axially extending fins on both the outside and inside of a hoop section. The hoop section is solid except for holes adjacent to the rear end thereof. The generator stator is press-fitted into the heat sink in contact with the internal fins. The generator rotor is fitted with a small fan for directing heated air away from the inlet of the engine. Cooling air passes along the external fins to the rear of the generator, flows through the holes in the hoop section passes forward between the inside of the hoop section and the external surface of the stator to cool the stator and along an alternate path to cool the rotor hollow sleeve and permanent magnetic shafts as well as the stator.

Abstract: A compound shaft coupling having a flexible disk shaft, with two flexible diaphragms, and two shafts. One flexible disk diaphragm is coupled with an interference fit to the first shaft, while the other flexible disk diaphragm is removably coupled by a female multi-lobe connector to a matching multi-lobe male connector on the second stiff shaft. Alternatively, the male connector may be on the flexible disk diaphragm and the female connector on the second stiff shaft. A quill shaft connects the two flexible disk diaphragms. The first shaft maybe a hollow sleeve with a magnet mounted therein and the second shaft may include a compressor wheel, a bearing rotor, and a turbine wheel removably mounted on a tie bolt shaft. The turbine wheel may be solid with the tie bolt attached thereto or formed integral therewith.