Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for initiating rotation of blades of a wind turbine when wind speed is less than a cut-in speed. A solar powered wind turbine apparatus includes a solar dome with photovoltaic cells, operably connected to a rotor assembly, and an electric motor. The photovoltaic cells convert solar energy from incident sunlight into electrical energy. The electric motor electrically connected to the photovoltaic cells rotates the blades of the rotor assembly using the electrical energy from the photovoltaic cells. The electric motor powered by the photovoltaic cells initiates the rotation of the blades of the rotor assembly when wind speed is less than the cut-in speed, and therefore reduces or eliminates the cut-in speed required to rotate the blades. The blades of the rotor assembly thereafter continue to rotate in response to a force of wind on the blades and/or the powered electric motor.

Abstract: A high building power generation device includes a plurality of water storage tanks and at least one power generation unit. The water storage tanks are arranged at specific floors of a high building so that a predetermined vertical distance is provided between adjacent ones of the water storage tanks. The water storage tanks are connected to each other with pipes. A control valve is mounted at a connection of each water storage tank with the pipes. The power generation unit is arranged at a bottom floor of the high building. The pipes connecting with the water storage tanks have a lower opening that is located above the power generation unit. The water storage tanks accumulate and store used water from multiple floors and the control valves are openable to release the used water to impact and drive the power generation unit to generate electrical power.

Abstract: A marine turbine comprising a stator, a rotor, the rotor being able to be driven in rotation around an axis or rotation by a stream of a liquid, and at least one first bearing for supporting the rotor, the or each first bearing, comprising a magnetic stator element secured to the stator and magnetic rotor element secured to the rotor. The marine turbine further comprises at least one second bearing for supporting the rotor, the or each second bearing comprising at least one rolling element.

Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a system and method for operating a wind turbine. The method includes measuring, via one or more temperature sensors, a local temperature of a component of the wind turbine for a predetermined time period. The method also includes determining a power capability of the wind turbine as a function of the local temperature. Another step includes measuring, via one or more sensors, a power output of the wind turbine for the predetermined time period. A further step includes determining a power margin of the wind turbine as a function of the power capability and the measured power output and controlling the power output of the wind turbine based, at least in part, on the power margin.

Abstract: An electrical machine comprising a stator and a member arranged to move relative to said stator. The stator comprises a first stator structure incorporating a first plurality of windings disposed along the direction of relative motion and displaced from the movable member in a direction perpendicular to the direction of motion, and a second stator structure incorporating a second plurality of windings displaced in a second direction from the movable member, so that the movable member lies between the two stator structures. The movable member is arranged to electrically couple with the windings. The first plurality of windings includes a single phase winding connected to a first single-phase ac supply, and the second plurality of windings includes a single phase winding of the same pole pitch being displaced in the direction of relative motion from first plurality of windings and connected to a second single-phase ac supply whose phase is displaced from that of the first supply.

Abstract: A double fed induction generator (DFIG) converter, methods and computer readable mediums are presented in which rotor side current spikes are attenuated by selectively activating at least one series damping circuit to conduct current through a series damping circuit resistance coupled in series between one or more DFIG rotor leads and a grid side converter in response to a grid fault occurrence or a grid fault clearance, and selectively bypassing the series damping circuit resistance after activating the series damping circuit.

Abstract: A voltage regulator system for regulating an output voltage of a genset includes a voltage regulator for reducing terminal voltage in response to a reduction in terminal frequency. A plurality of under-frequency roll-off (UFRO) states is provided in the voltage regulator, with each UFRO state being configured to implement a UFRO characteristic. An operational signal indicative of an operating condition of the genset forms the basis for selection of the UFRO characteristic.

Abstract: Hydroconveyors are described which utilize magnetic levitation or magnetic suspension to support a collection of conveyor elements. The hydroconveyors are located above or partially within a flowstream such as a river. Additional versions of the hydroconveyors are described which include velocity increasing waterways located upstream of an end of the hydroconveyor. The various hydroconveyors can be used in conjunction with electrical generators to provide electrical power.

Abstract: An electronic power converter includes a storage circuit (101) capable of storing electrical energy that is determined by an electrical quantity, voltage or current, of the storage circuit. The electronic power converter includes an electronic power converter stage (102) connected to the storage circuit and a regulator (103) for controlling the electronic power converter stage to regulate the electrical quantity at least partly on the basis of deviation of the electrical quantity from its reference level. The regulator is configured to weight the deviation with a first gain coefficient when the deviation is positive, and to weight the deviation with a second gain coefficient when the deviation is negative. The first gain coefficient has a value different from that of the second gain coefficient because the reference level is typically not in the middle of the allowed range of variation of the electrical quantity.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle has an engine, a starter motor that starts the engine, a driving motor that transmits a motor torque to the engine and a drive wheel, a starting motor selective control unit that starts the engine using the starter motor in response to a driving force request by a driver of the hybrid vehicle during a selected mode of operation in which the driving motor serves as the driving source, and that starts the engine using the driving motor in response to a system request.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a renewable energy system based on actual reactive power capability of the renewable energy system are provided. The reactive power output of the renewable energy system can be controlled based at least in part on an initial reactive power limit. The initial reactive power limit can be determined based on rated reactive power for the power generation units in the renewable energy system. When a difference between a reactive power demand and the actual reactive power production of the renewable energy system fall outside a threshold, the initial reactive power limit can be adjusted to a corrected reactive power limit that is closer to the actual reactive power capability of the renewable energy system.

Abstract: A method for detecting a fault in an exciter circuit, suitable for use in a brushless generator, the exciter circuit including (a) an exciter armature winding, having a plurality of armatures, arranged to generate a multiphase AC signal, each armature of the plurality of armatures providing a respective sub-signal component of the multiphase AC signal, and (b) a rectifier circuit for receiving the sub-signals via the respective armatures, the rectifier circuit comprising a plurality of components arranged to rectify the sub-signals to provide a rectified output signal, wherein the method includes the steps of: acquiring a respective operational sub-value for a first characteristic of each of at least two of the respective sub-signals; deriving an operational value indicative of a relationship between the acquired respective operational sub-values; determining whether a fault has occurred in the exciter circuit on the basis of the derived operational value.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus configured to convert kinetic energy of wind flow into electric energy. The apparatus includes a mast, a primary electric generator mounted on the mast, a secondary electric generator mounted on the mast in a tandem arrangement with the primary electric generator, blades affixed to a rotor shaft of the primary electric generator, a driving clutch affixed to the rotor shaft of the primary electric generator, a driven clutch affixed to a rotor shaft of the secondary electric generator, and endless elongated member connecting the driving clutch with the driven clutch. The apparatus is configured to convert a kinetic energy of a wind flow into an electric energy at one or both of the primary and secondary electric generators.

Abstract: A method for directly converting wind energy into electrical energy is provided. An air stream is ionized and then routed through the electrical field of a collection electrode providing an opposing field for the air ions. The ions are collected on a collection electrode. The electrical potential of the collection electrode is higher than the ionizer, and discharged. A counter-electrode in front of the collection electrode has an electrical potential higher than the collection electrode. Ionized air molecules overcome the electrical field emanating from the counter-electrode via wind power. An apparatus for carrying out the method is provided. An optional retaining electrode, located in front of the ionizer electrode, drives ionized air in the counter-electrode and collection electrode direction. The apparatus is expediently located in a flow channel, with inlet and outlet electrodes at respective ends. A plurality of flow channels combine to form a flow generation module.

Abstract: An alternator-starter assembly for an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft and a drive member operatively connected to the crankshaft. The alternator-starter assembly includes an electric machine, a transmission assembly, and a controller. The electric machine includes a stator and a rotor that is configured for rotation relative to the stator. The transmission assembly includes a first drive shaft operatively connected to the rotor, a second drive shaft operatively connected to the drive member, and a gear assembly operatively connected to the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft. The controller is connected to the electric machine and is configured to operate the electric machine as a generator when the gear assembly is in a first gear configuration and to operate the electric machine as a motor when the gear assembly is in a second gear configuration.

Abstract: A hybrid power system including one or more base members configured to be installed at the seabed, one or more connecting members each coupled to a corresponding base member so as to be slidable in a vertical direction which is perpendicular to a top surface of the corresponding base member, a buoy configured to move in the vertical direction by receiving at least one of the wave force and current force, the buoy coupled to the top of the connecting member to move in conjunction with the one or more connecting members, and a power generation unit configured to generate electricity using vertical movement of the connecting members, the power generation unit installed in at least one of the one or more base members.

Abstract: A gas compressor includes a compressor unit having a compressor body for compressing gas and an electricity-generation device generating electricity by obtaining a driving force by vaporizing a working fluid utilizing exhaust heat generated by a compressing action in the compressor body and expanding the working fluid so as to utilize the power generated by the electricity-generation device as a power source, and includes a switch device switching between power from the electricity generation device and power from a commercial power supply to supply power to the power consumption equipment, and a control device detecting an electricity-generation amount or a value correlative to the electricity generation amount and switching between the powers by the switch device, thereby generating the power using exhaust heat as a heat source to surely drive an auxiliary machine by a simple configuration regardless of a shortage of the electricity generation amount.

Abstract: One exemplary method of renewable energy storage includes converting a part of the electrical energy, from a generator, in accordance with an electrical grid; and using a control system to steer another part of the electrical energy, from the generator, to a heating module, to heat a substance in a tank, thereby increasing a pressure in the tank. The method also includes using the control system to introduce a transmission agent into a heat exchanger in the tank, and using the heated transmission agent to drive a turbine. A sensor provides information, about a renewable energy stream, to the control system. The control system, responsive to the information, acts to control a valve coupled between the heat exchanger and the turbine, thereby enabling a constant transfer of energy to the electrical grid.

Abstract: A wind power generator has a nacelle; a hub rotatable about an axis of rotation with respect to the nacelle; at least two blades fitted to the hub; an electric machine which is fitted to the nacelle, is bounded by an inner surface extending about the axis of rotation, and has a rotor and a stator; and a cooling system for airflow cooling the electric machine, and which has a deflector body for defining a gap between the deflector body and the electric machine and guiding the airflow into the gap.

Abstract: A closed-loop apparatus for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy utilizes a closed-loop channel including sections of different cross-section (including a first group of sections having a constrained cross-section and a second group sections having an enlarged cross-section). An energy-producing configuration (such as coils and/or electrodes) is formed to surround at least a portion of the channel. A closed-loop chain of energy-producing elements is positioned in channel such that when the chain moves along the channel, the mechanical motion generates electrical energy. The chain is formed to include a set of expandable assemblies that change in dimension as they pass through the different cross-section areas of the channel. An inert fluid is injected into the channel at one or more locations by a mechanical force, resulting in the creation of a pressure-induced force differential that initiates and maintains the movement of the chain with respect to the channel.