Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of an exciterless synchronous generator are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is an exciterless synchronous generator comprising a stator, a rotor, and a startup excitation system. The stator includes a set of stator windings. The rotor includes an energy harvest winding, a DC power supply including a DC bus and coupled to the energy harvest winding, and a field winding coupled to the DC power supply. The startup excitation system comprises one of a magnetic field generation system structured to generate a magnetic field received by the energy harvest winding in response to a rotation of the rotor, wherein the magnetic field is converted to DC power with the DC power supply and transmitted to the field winding; or a rotor DC power source including and diode coupled in series across the DC bus.

Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of an exciterless synchronous machine are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a salient pole rotor for an electric machine comprising one set of pole pairs including a first, second, and third pole pair; a field winding; a set of energy harvest windings, each winding mounted to each of the plurality of pole pairs and structured to receive a harmonic component of AC power from a stator; and a DC power supply structured to receive the harmonic component from the set of energy harvest windings, convert the harmonic component to DC power, and output the DC power to the field winding. The set of energy harvest windings are arranged in a first sequence on the first pole pair, a second sequence on the second pole pair, and a third sequence on the third pole pair, and each sequence is different.

Abstract: An exterior rotor switched reluctance machine includes a stator, a rotor adjacent the stator and adjacent a housing, the housing connected to the stator. The stator further includes a back iron, a set of stator poles connected to the back iron and a set of windings disposed between the set of stator poles. The rotor, connected to a shaft and rotatively coupled to the stator, further includes a set of rotor segments. The set of windings includes a set of phases, each phase experiencing a flux linkage that varies with an angular position of the rotor. The apparatus operates as a motor in response to selectively energizing the set of phases with a set of current pulses. The apparatus operates as a generator in response to rotating the shaft.

Abstract: An assembly that can enhance the power factor of synchronous reluctance (SynRel) machines. The assembly can include one or more pickup coils that are at least proximally adjacent to an outer periphery of a rotor that are structured to harvest energy in an air gap between the rotor and a stator. The harvested energy can be supplied to a rectifier that is electrically coupled to the pickup coils, and which can convert the harvested energy into DC excitation current. The DC excitation current can be provided to one or more DC field windings that extend through the rotor, such as, for example, through flux barriers in the rotor. The flow of the DC excitation current through the DC field windings can generate a flux that can be put in a rotor axis to enhance the power factor and torque rating of the SynRel machine.

Abstract: An exterior rotor switched reluctance machine includes a stator, a rotor adjacent the stator and adjacent a housing, the housing connected to the stator. The stator further includes a back iron, a set of stator poles connected to the back iron and a set of windings disposed between the set of stator poles. The rotor, connected to a shaft and rotatively coupled to the stator, further includes a set of rotor segments. The set of windings includes a set of phases, each phase experiencing a flux linkage that varies with an angular position of the rotor. The apparatus operates as a motor in response to selectively energizing the set of phases with a set of current pulses. The apparatus operates as a generator in response to rotating the shaft.