Abstract: A method of performing de-excitation of a brushless synchronous machine having a stator; and a rotor including: a field winding, an exciter armature, a rectifier having thyristors, the rectifier having input terminals connected to the exciter armature and output terminals connected to the field winding, a field discharge resistor connected in series with the field winding, and a bypass switch connected in parallel with the field discharge resistor, the bypass switch being operable between a closed state in which the field discharge resistor is bypassed, and an open state, wherein the method including: a) controlling the thyristors to fire only during a negative half-cycle of the armature voltage waveforms, and b) controlling the bypass switch to obtain the open state from the closed state to thereby discharge a field winding current through the field discharge resistor.

Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of exciterless synchronous machines are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a fractional slot synchronous machine comprising a rotor including a first pole pair including a first pole including a first plurality of slots having a first center point and arranged on a first outer surface in a slot pattern; a second pole pair including a second pole including a second plurality of slots having a second center point and arranged on a second outer surface in the slot pattern; energy harvest windings arranged in a winding pattern within a portion of the first plurality of slots and arranged in the same winding pattern within a portion of the second plurality of slots, the energy harvest winding being structured to receive a harmonic power from the stator; and a rectifier structured to receive the harmonic power from the energy harvest winding.

Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of exciterless synchronous machines are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a fractional slot synchronous machine comprising a rotor including a first pole pair including a first pole including a first plurality of slots having a first center point and arranged on a first outer surface in a slot pattern; a second pole pair including a second pole including a second plurality of slots having a second center point and arranged on a second outer surface in the slot pattern; energy harvest windings arranged in a winding pattern within a portion of the first plurality of slots and arranged in the same winding pattern within a portion of the second plurality of slots, the energy harvest winding being structured to receive a harmonic power from the stator; and a rectifier structured to receive the harmonic power from the energy harvest winding.

Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of a rotating DC power supply are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment includes a first and second DC bus rail, a first and second leg, and a discharge resistor. The first leg includes a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device coupled in series at a first midpoint connection, the first semiconductor device being coupled to a first point on the first DC bus rail and the first midpoint connection being coupled to a field winding. The second leg includes a third semiconductor device and a fourth semiconductor device coupled in series at a second midpoint connection, the third semiconductor device being coupled to a second point on the first DC bus rail and the second midpoint connection being coupled to the field winding. The discharge resistor is operatively coupled to the first DC bus rail between the first point and the second point.

Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of a rotating DC power supply are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment includes a first and second DC bus rail, a first and second leg, and a discharge resistor. The first leg includes a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device coupled in series at a first midpoint connection, the first semiconductor device being coupled to a first point on the first DC bus rail and the first midpoint connection being coupled to a field winding. The second leg includes a third semiconductor device and a fourth semiconductor device coupled in series at a second midpoint connection, the third semiconductor device being coupled to a second point on the first DC bus rail and the second midpoint connection being coupled to the field winding. The discharge resistor is operatively coupled to the first DC bus rail between the first point and the second point.