Abstract: A balanced switching amplifier for a magnetic bearing assembly may include a first switching amplifier configured to drive a first load of an electromagnet of the magnetic bearing assembly via a first plurality of lead wires. The balanced switching amplifier may also include a second switching amplifier configured to drive a second load of the electromagnet via a second plurality of lead wires. The first switching amplifier and the second switching amplifier may be configured to operate in tandem such that respective voltages in the first plurality of lead wires and the second plurality of lead wires substantially neutralize one another, thereby reducing electromagnetic emissions from each of the first plurality of lead wires and the second plurality of lead wires.

Abstract: A method of concentrating directional radiant energy using reflective optics and receivers that convert that energy wherein the receivers are situated in the body of the reflector on risers parallel to the direction of radiant energy, each said riser bounded by at least one parabolic mirror lying closer and another lying farther from the energy source, where the focus or foci of said mirrors lie substantially in the direction faced by the receiver situated in said riser. The reflector geometries include ones in which the mirrors are parabolic cylinder sections and require only one-axis tacking to focus, and ones in which the mirrors are paraboloid sections and require two-axis tracking to focus sunlight.

Abstract: A system for collecting solar energy using a plurality of energy collection elements arranged in a planar array within a stationary base structure, each comprising: an energy capture unit with optical means of focusing directional sunlight parallel to its axis onto one or more sunlight-to-electricity converters within itself, and means of sensing divergence of its axis from the sun's direction; and an angular positioning unit that orients said capture unit about two nested axes by slidably mounting two arcuate tracks in opposed and perpendicular arcuate slots, a convex track within said energy capture unit and a concave track within said base structure, each said slot equipped with a drive apparatus that engages its respective track and moves the positioner along it. The invention provides methods for determining the shapes and arrangement of such elements so as to maximize aperture efficiency while preventing collisions of adjacent elements.

Abstract: An electric machine is provided including a rotor having a plurality of magnets retained on the rotor. The plurality of magnets are retained via a sleeve. The sleeve is retained via a band. The band includes a stacked plurality of washer laminations. Each of the plurality of washer laminations is electrically insulated from an adjacent washer lamination.

Abstract: A compressed air energy storage (CAES) system is disclosed for the generation of power. The system may include a compressor configured to receive inlet air and output compressed air to an air storage during an off-peak period. During a peak load period, compressed air from the air storage may be released to generate power. A heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the air storage may receive the released compressed air and transfer heat to the compressed air. An air expander may receive the heated compressed air from the heat exchanger, expand the heated compressed air to generate a first power output, and output an exhaust. The system may further include a bypass line configured to circumvent compressed air around the air expander. A second power output may be generated through a turbine configured to receive the compressed air from the air storage and the exhaust from the air expander.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition of matter, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to: via a thrust stator of a magnetic bearing, the thrust stator adapted to be split into sectors so that a shaft of a machine can be removed from the magnetic bearing, producing an axi-symmetric field at each pole face of the thrust stator when the sectors are operatively assembled in the machine; and/or a magnetic bearing thrust stator, comprising a plurality of stator sectors, each of the stator sectors comprising a semi-circumferentially slotted stator portion comprising a plurality of semi-circumferential poles and a first coil portion shaped to fit substantially within the semi-circumferentially slotted stator portion.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a system comprising a channel adapted to guide a coolant, the channel bounded at least in part by an inner channel wall defined by a motor housing adapted to substantially surround a stator of an electric motor, the inner channel wall adapted to conduct, to the coolant, heat generated by the stator.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a switched reluctance machine, comprising a rotor; and a stator encircling said rotor and comprising a plurality of radially distributed stator poles, each of said stator poles comprising a set of coils, each set of coils comprising: a phase coil adapted to be switched to affect a rotation of said rotor; and a field excitation coil adapted to, while said rotor is rotating, generate a magnetic field from a received excitation current.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide an electrical coil for an electromagnetic machine, said coil comprising: a first electrically conductive winding wound about a central axis in a first spiral, said first winding defining a first winding width and a first winding thickness; a first electrically insulating tape wound about the central axis in a second spiral, said first tape defining a first tape width and a first tape thickness, said first tape located width-wise adjacent said first winding; and a corrosion-resistant shell encasing said first spiral and said second spiral.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a capacitive sensing system, comprising a sensing conductor coupleable to a grounded target by a gap capacitance Cd, said grounded target separated from said sensing conductor by a gap having a width. The capacitive sensing system also comprises a circuit connected to said sensing conductor, an input signal having an input frequency fosc provided to said circuit through an input resistance Rd, an output signal of said circuit having an output voltage varying linearly with the width of the gap when the impedance of the gap capacitance 1/(2?foscCd) approaches or exceeds the input resistance Rd.