Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic pump for use in pumping molten salts that improves upon existing solutions is disclosed. The magnetohydrodynamic pump utilizes a linear induction motor with a cavity lined with ceramic and an interior piece forcing the molten salt to travel through an annular space where the magnetic. The magnetic field generated by the windings of the linear motor produce a wave of flux that will drive currents in the molten salt thus producing a force that will cause the fluid to pump. It is also an object of the disclosed concept to provide an improved method of operating a magnetohydrodynamic pump.

Abstract: Several embodiments of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system, which system provides highly reliable output power to a load using a slip-ring induction machine and a flywheel combination, are disclosed as well as methods relating thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the UPS system comprises a back-up power source, e.g., an engine and generator, and a slip-ring, or wound-rotor, induction motor and flywheel combination, which are in parallel to a primary power source, e.g., a utility grid. During normal operation of the UPS, the primary power source supplies alternating current and voltage to the load and the UPS compensates for voltage drop across the isolating inductor. Moreover, the primary power source keeps the slip-ring induction machine and flywheel in an excited state, i.e., the rotor of the slip-ring induction machine, the shaft of which is shared by the flywheel, is excited above normal synchronous speed.

Abstract: Several embodiments of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system, which system provides highly reliable output power to a load using a slip-ring induction machine and a flywheel combination, are disclosed as well as methods relating thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the UPS system comprises a back-up power source, e.g., an engine and generator, and a slip-ring, or wound-rotor, induction motor and flywheel combination, which are in parallel to a primary power source, e.g., a utility grid. During normal operation of the UPS, the primary power source supplies alternating current and voltage to the load and the UPS compensates for voltage drop across the isolating inductor. Moreover, the primary power source keeps the slip-ring induction machine and flywheel in an excited state, i.e., the rotor of the slip-ring induction machine, the shaft of which is shared by the flywheel, is excited above normal synchronous speed.

Abstract: A flywheel energy storage device has a central shaft, a flywheel having a flywheel rotor supported by and mounted for rotation around said shaft, and a motor/generator having a stator and a rotor. The rotor is formed integrally with the flywheel rotor. The stator has an outer cylinder that is cooled by a liquid flowing in contact with its cylindrical surface. Preferably, the stator has (i) a cylindrical hub having an outer surface and longitudinal channels formed therein, (ii) a cylinder surrounding said cylindrical hub thereby providing passages through the channels, and (iii) end caps sealing the passages and providing a distribution channel for distributing fluid to said passages, thereby providing fluid cooling passages for said stator. A radial vibration dampener can be positioned at one or both ends of the shaft. The dampener has a plurality of spring members positioned between two cylindrical surfaces, one end of each spring member being attached to each cylindrical surface.

Abstract: In an induction generator, an additional set of stator windings is provided, separate from and secondary to the main stator windings upon which the generator's output voltage is generated and supplied to the load. This separate stator winding is provided for the purpose of supplying the generator with the reactive electrical power it needs to maintain the rotating stator field and supplying any reactive power needed by the load. Thus, there is no need to use a capacitor assembly, for supplying the reactive power needed by the generator. Currents are injected into this separate winding in such a way that only reactive power is supplied to the generator. Specifically, a power measuring circuit measures the power in the additional set of stator windings, and a power error signal is formed by algebraically adding the outputs of the power measuring circuit.

Abstract: A fixed gain electromagnetic actuator for controlling the position of a body including at least two pair of a magnetically permeable pole spaced from the body, bias coils about each pole, separate control coils about each pole, a bias source for the bias coils providing a current in the bias coils producing a steady-state equal strength magnetic field on opposing sides of a body, and a control source for the control coils providing a current in the control coils for producing an increase in the magnetic field on one side of the body and a corresponding equivalent decrease in the magnetic field on the opposing side of the body to compensate for any external upsetting forces acting on the body.

Abstract: A magnetic rotor suspension system including a magnetic rotor having a spin axis, and a generally spherical housing spaced from the rotor. The system includes means attached to the housing for applying magnetic fields to the rotor to fix its lateral and axial position relative to the housing and to adjust the angular orientation of the spin axis of the rotor relative to the housing.

Abstract: A magnetic bearing system for enabling translational motion includes a carriage and a shaft for movably supporting the carriage; a first magnetic bearing fixed to one of the carriage and shaft and slidably received in a first channel of the other of the carriage and shaft. The first channel is generally "U" shaped with two side walls and a back wall. The magnetic bearing includes a pair of spaced magnetic pole pieces, each pole piece having a pair of electromagnetic coils mounted on poles on opposite ends of the pole piece proximate the side walls, and a third electromagnetic coil mounted on a pole of the pole piece proximate the backwall; a motion sensor for sensing translational motion along two axes and rotationally about three axes of the carriage and shaft relative to each other; and a correction circuit responsive to the sensor for generating a correction signal to drive the coils to compensate for any misalignment sensed between the carriage and the shaft.

Abstract: A magnetic suspension system for a rotary machine including two magnetic actuators spaced from each other. Each actuator includes a stator which has a support shell with a plurality of coil windings, and a rotor which has an inclined annular gap for rotatably receiving the shell and a device for providing a magnetic field in the gap. The system selectively excites the coils to interact with the magnetic field in each gap and produce Lorentz forces for suspending the rotor of each actuator.

Abstract: An energy storage attitude control and reference system for a craft including at least two flywheels with their angular momenta balanced to produce zero net angular momentum and at least two motor/generator units each including one of the flywheels in its rotor structure. The system further includes one pair of bearings for supporting each of the flywheels, means for measuring the position of each flywheel relative to its bearings, means for resolving current to and from said motor/generator units, means for applying torques to each flywheel through its respective bearings for controlling attitude of the craft about two mutually perpendicular axes, and means for exerting torques to each flywheel through its respective motor/generator to provide attitude control of the craft about a third axis perpendicular to the first two and for controlling the energy storage level of the flywheels.

Abstract: A magnetic suspension system including a first control coil for establishing circumferential current flow, and second and third control coils for establishing axial current flow. A support member of magnetic material has a gap for receiving the coils and there is a magnet for producing a magnetic field in the support member through the gap in the coils for generating Lorentz forces to support the coils in the axial and two mutually perpendicular radial directions.

Abstract: An inertial energy storage device including a synchronous rotary electrical machine for bidirectional conversion between mechanical and electrical energy including: a stator having two axially spaced sets of circumferentially spaced teeth; field excitation means disposed on the stator to provide an axially polarized magnetic field; stator windings including a plurality of coils, each of which surrounds at least one tooth from each set; and a rotor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth facing the stator teeth, and a circumferential flywheel mass radially spaced from its rotational axis; and a motor control circuit including sensor means for sensing the position of the rotor relative to the stator; means, responsive to the sensor means, for generating a waveform for driving the machine when it is operating as a motor; a voltage control circuit for controlling the amplitude of the waveform for driving the machine; and a current control circuit for controlling amplitude of the current provided to t

Abstract: A self-regulating energy storage system including: an a.c.

Abstract: An optimum efficiency control system for a variable torque/speed rotary a.c.

Abstract: A power conversion system for converting between electrical power at different frequencies, including a rotary electrical machine including a rotor, a stator, first and second independently controllable field windings, and at least one armature winding for each phase; a switching circuit including a plurality of switching devices and having first terminal means interconnected with the armature winding which carries a high frequency signal established by the machine, and a second terminal for interconnection with an impedance establishing a lower frequency signal; the first field control circuit for monitoring the machine to sense phase difference between the optimum zero crossings and actual zero crossings of the higher frequency signal for driving the first field winding to adjust the phase of the higher frequency signal to minimize the phase difference; a second field control circuit for modulating the higher frequency signal carried by the armature winding with the lower frequency signal and for monitoring

Abstract: A closed cycle-high energy density heat generating system. In the heat generating system hydrogen peroxide is fed from a vessel at a controlled rate through a catalytic converter to produce water vapor and oxygen. A first reaction heat transfer vessel receives the water vapor and oxygen mixture from the converter and combines hydrogen provided by a second reaction heat transfer with the received oxygen in a combustion reaction which produces water and heat. The water produced by the first reaction heat transfer vessel is applied to the second reaction heat transfer vessel in which it reacts with an active metal to produce a metal hydroxide, hydrogen which is recycled to the first reaction heat transfer vessel, and further heat. The flow of gases and liquids in the system is controlled by diverse temperature and pressure sensors placed throughout the system to control heat generation and system stability.