Abstract: Permanent magnets using high temperature superconductor tapes are disclosed. For example, a magnet may include a superconductor tape having two ends, a slit in the superconductor tape between the two ends that forms two legs, a separation between the legs that forms a loop, and a trapped magnetic field in the superconductor tape.

Abstract: A recovery system is provided to recover energy from heat. In an embodiment, the system includes an evaporator to receive a flow of natural gas at a first temperature and output the flow at a second, lower temperature. The evaporator may receive a flow of cooling media to cool the natural gas and output a flow of heated cooling media. The system may further include: a heat-to-mechanical energy converter coupled to the evaporator to receive the flow of heated cooling media and to output first cooled cooling media; an induction generator coupled to be driven by the heat-to-mechanical energy converter; a medium voltage drive coupled to receive power from the induction generator and to condition the power for output to an electrical distribution system; and a condenser to condense the first cooled cooling media to provide the flow of cooling media to the evaporator.

Abstract: In one aspect, a medium voltage power converter includes a plurality of slices each having: a transformer including a plurality of primary windings to couple to a utility source of input power and a plurality of secondary windings; and a plurality of power cubes coupled to the plurality of secondary windings, each of the plurality of power cubes comprising a low frequency front end stage, a DC link, and a high frequency silicon carbide (SiC) inverter stage to couple to a high frequency load or to a high speed machine.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a high speed induction machine includes: a stator formed of a first plurality of laminations having a thickness of less than approximately 0.01 inch and a winding comprising a coil formed of Litz wire adapted about the stator; and a rotor adapted within the stator. The rotor may include: a rotor core formed of a second plurality of laminations having a second thickness of greater than approximately 0.10 inch and formed of high strength steel and sandwiched between a first end region including at least one first peripheral second lamination and a second end region including at least one second peripheral second lamination, the first end region having a first end ring retained by a first retaining ring adapted there around, the second end region having a second end ring retained by a second retaining ring adapted there around.

Abstract: In one aspect, a medium voltage power converter includes a cabinet having: a power cube bay to house a plurality of power cubes, each of the plurality of power cubes adapted within a corresponding enclosure and comprising a low frequency front end stage, a DC link and a high frequency back end stage, the plurality of power cubes to couple to a high speed machine; and a plurality of first barriers adapted to isolate and direct a first flow of cooling air through one of the plurality of power cubes; and a transformer bay having at least one transformer to couple between a utility connection and the plurality of power cubes, the transformer bay including a plurality of cooling fans to cool the at least one transformer.

Abstract: A recovery system is provided to recover energy from heat. In an embodiment, the system includes an evaporator to receive a flow of natural gas at a first temperature and output the flow at a second, lower temperature. The evaporator may receive a flow of cooling media to cool the natural gas and output a flow of heated cooling media. The system may further include: a heat-to-mechanical energy converter coupled to the evaporator to receive the flow of heated cooling media and to output first cooled cooling media; an induction generator coupled to be driven by the heat-to-mechanical energy converter; a medium voltage drive coupled to receive power from the induction generator and to condition the power for output to an electrical distribution system; and a condenser to condense the first cooled cooling media to provide the flow of cooling media to the evaporator.

Abstract: In one aspect, a medium voltage power converter includes a cabinet having: a power cube bay to house a plurality of power cubes, each of the plurality of power cubes adapted within a corresponding enclosure and comprising a low frequency front end stage, a DC link and a high frequency back end stage, the plurality of power cubes to couple to a high speed machine; and a plurality of first barriers adapted to isolate and direct a first flow of cooling air through one of the plurality of power cubes; and a transformer bay having at least one transformer to couple between a utility connection and the plurality of power cubes, the transformer bay including a plurality of cooling fans to cool the at least one transformer.

Abstract: This disclosure includes anti-reverse rotation apparatuses, rotors for use therein, and related methods. Some apparatuses include a stator defining an interior volume and one or more arcuate contact surfaces within the interior volume, and a rotor rotatably coupled to the stator and at least partially disposed within the interior volume, the rotor having a hub, two or more shoes, each pivotally coupled to the hub and extending between a first end and a second end that is farther from the hub than is the first end, wherein each of the shoes is rotatable relative to the hub between: (a) a first position in which the second end of the shoe contacts at least one of the arcuate contact surface(s) of the stator; and (b) a second position in which the second end of the shoe does not contact the arcuate contact surface(s) of the stator.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a plurality of slices each having a transformer including a primary winding to couple to an input power source and a plurality of secondary windings each to couple to one of a plurality of power cells of the slice. Each of the power cells of a first slice may have an output that is phase rotated with respect to a correspondingly positioned power cell of a second slice.

Abstract: Cooling assemblies and methods, including, for example, at least one bar (e.g., electrically insulated and/or thermally conductive bar(s)), members (e.g., i-beams, rectangular members, and the like), stator laminations, rotor laminations, and/or combinations thereof, such as those configured to cool electric machines (e.g., electric motors and generators).

Abstract: In an embodiment, a power converter includes: a plurality of power amplifier units, each having: a plurality of slice each with a power conversion module including an AC/DC/AC converter; a mains controller to control the plurality of slices; and a feedback conditioning system coupled to the mains controller; a plurality of input contactors and a plurality of output contactors via which each of the plurality of power amplifier units is to couple between a transformer and a load; and a master controller coupled to the plurality of power amplifier units.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a power cell chamber for a drive system includes moveable and fixed portions. The moveable portion includes a rectifier stage to rectify an input signal received from a secondary winding of a transformer to provide a rectified signal and an inverter stage having a plurality of switching devices to receive a DC signal and output an AC signal. This moveable portion can be slidably adapted within a cabinet of the drive system. In turn, the fixed portion includes a DC link having at least one capacitor to receive the rectified signal and provide the DC signal to the inverter stage.

Abstract: Rotors with trapped-field magnet (TFM) bulks, machines with TFM rotors, and methods of activating and/or using machines with TFM rotors.

Abstract: Cooling apparatuses and methods comprising cooling apparatuses, such as those configured to be coupled to and/or cool electric machines (e.g., motors, generators, and the like).

Abstract: Cooling assemblies, such as those configured to cool electric machines (e.g., electric motors and generators) and components of electric machines (e.g., rotors and stators).

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a cooling system is a pumpless passive system, and includes a cold plate configured to receive a flow of liquid coolant and to output a flow of vapor phase coolant, where the cold plate includes at least one heat pipe adapted therein to provide for transfer of the liquid coolant to the vapor phase coolant, a first connection member coupled to the at least one heat pipe, a first conduit coupled to the first connection member, the first conduit extending vertically to enable at least the vapor phase coolant to travel through the first conduit, and a heat exchanger located above and coupled to the first conduit, where the heat exchanger is to transfer the vapor phase coolant to the liquid coolant.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a power cell chamber for a drive system includes moveable and fixed portions. The moveable portion includes a rectifier stage to rectify an input signal received from a secondary winding of a transformer to provide a rectified signal and an inverter stage having a plurality of switching devices to receive a DC signal and output an AC signal. This moveable portion can be slidably adapted within a cabinet of the drive system. In turn, the fixed portion includes a DC link having at least one capacitor to receive the rectified signal and provide the DC signal to the inverter stage.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a drive system includes a transformer enclosed in an enclosure including a heat exchanger to cool a fluid medium. In addition, the system includes a plurality of power cubes each including a rectifier, a DC-link, and an inverter. Each power cube may include a plurality of cold plates each coupled to a corresponding switching device of the inverter, an inlet port in communication with a first one of the plurality of cold plates and an outlet port in communication with a last one of the plurality of cold plates. In turn, a manifold assembly is to couple at least the power cubes to enable two phase cooling of the power cubes and the transformer via one or more heat exchangers.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a medium voltage drive system includes a transformer, multiple power cubes each coupled to the transformer, and a manifold assembly. Each power cube includes cold plates each coupled to a corresponding switching device of the cube, an inlet port in communication with a first one of the cold plates and an outlet port in communication with a last one of the cold plates. The manifold assembly can support an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit and further support first and second connection members to enable blind mating of each of the first connection members to the inlet port of one of the power cubes and each of the second connection members to the outlet port of one of the power cubes to enable two phase cooling of the plurality of power cubes.

Abstract: Permanent-magnet (PM) rotors, rotor components, and machines using PM rotors, where the PM rotors have internally coupled PM bulks and/or are configured to have a non-uniform air gap between the rotor and a stator.