Abstract: An electric generator control apparatus of a vehicle sets respective target values of output voltage and output current for the electric generator of the vehicle, and selectively establishes a voltage control mode for holding the generator output voltage at the target voltage or a current control mode for holding the generator output current at the target current, with the mode selection and the setting of target values being performed based on criteria such as the level of charge of the vehicle battery, the electrical load of the vehicle equipment, etc.

Abstract: A control circuit is for an electric power plant including an asynchronous generator of an AC voltage, a motor to rotate a rotor of the asynchronous generator as a function of a first control signal of a developed motor torque, and a bank of capacitors coupled to the asynchronous generator and having a total capacitance varying as function of a second control signal. The control circuit may include a monitor circuit to monitor at least one parameter of the AC voltage, and a control signal generator circuit cooperating with the monitor circuit to generate the first and second control signals by soft-computing techniques both as a function of the frequency and of a representative value of an amplitude of the AC voltage to make the AC voltage have a desired amplitude and frequency.

Abstract: A system and method for generating power. The system has a first electrode member comprising a first region and a second electrode member comprising a second region. Preferably, the second electrode member is coupled to the first electrode member. An electret is coupled between the first electrode member and the second electrode member. The system has a spatial region provided between the first region of the first electrode member and the second region of the second electrode member. A volume of fluid (e.g., liquid, liquid and solids, gas and liquid, solids and gases) is provided between the first region and the second region and is adapted to move between the first region and the second region to cause a change in an electric field characteristic within a portion of the spatial region by the movement of at least a portion of the fluid within the portion of the spatial region to generate a change in voltage potential between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: An engine control device that controls an engine having a brushless motor as a starter motor, wherein the control device comprises a pickup coil that outputs a pulse signal at a crank angle position set in a crank angle section where a load applied to the brushless motor in cranking the engine is light, said brushless motor including a stator, a rotor and a position detecting device that detects rotational angle positions of the rotor to output position detection signals which represent level changes at fixed crank angle positions of the engine, and the control device being constructed so as to identify a crank angle position corresponding to each position where the level of the position detection signal is changed, based on the output signal of the pickup coil and to obtain crank angle information from the level changes of the position detection signals to control ignition timing or the like.

Abstract: A wave power apparatus includes a plurality of buoyant elongate body members, at least one adjacent pair of body members being interconnected by a linkage unit to form an articulated chain. Each body member of said pair is connected to the respective linkage unit by linkage means permitting relative rotation of the body members. A power extraction means, being located substantially within each linkage unit, is adapted to resist and extract power from the relative rotation.

Abstract: A controller of a generator for a vehicle in the invention includes a battery voltage detecting circuit and an output terminal voltage detecting circuit of an AC generator. A value of a detected voltage of the output terminal voltage of the AC generator is set to be higher than a value of a detected voltage of the battery voltage. A diagnosis alarm signal is outputted when the detected voltage of the battery voltage is lower than the set value while the detected voltage of the output terminal is higher than the set value.

Abstract: The generator includes: elements (4, 10) for generating a magnetic field in a first direction, a hot source (6) and a cold source (8) creating a temperature gradient (?T) in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and at least one element (2; 14) having thermoelectric conversion properties, disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of the temperature gradient (?T). The magnetic field generated is a field of traveling waves moving in the second direction. Each element having thermoelectric conversion properties has a continuous form in the plane perpendicular to the second direction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for producing current with a desired output frequency from one or more fixed or variable speed alternators by varying a saturation level of a portion of the alternator(s) based on a output frequency desired, and preferably then rectifying the output to produce a desired electrical output which may be provided as direct current or alternating current to a suitable load.

Abstract: The present invention provides rocking motion charging device using Faraday's principle. The rocking motion charging device features at least three rocking devices for generating electricity and a gimbaled disk or member coupled to the at least three rocking devices, responsive to a rocking motion, for moving in two dimensions to generate the electricity. The at least three rocking devices may include pivots, linkage or both for pivotally coupling to the gimbaled disk or member; include magnets that pass through stationary coils due to the rocking motion of the gimbaled disk or member and generate electricity due to Faraday's principle; include four rocking devices that are equi-spaced with respect to one another; include one or more devices to store the electricity, including batteries or capacitors; or some combination thereof. The two dimensions include movement both forwards and backwards and side-to-side, including movement caused by the rocking motion of a marine vessel.

Abstract: A vehicle generator control device includes a transistor chopper type exciting circuit for supplying an excitation current to a vehicle-mounted electric generator drivable by an engine of the motor vehicle. The exciting circuit comprises a bridge circuit having a first pair of opposing arms formed of respective power transistors and a second pair of opposing arms formed of respective diodes. One of the power transistors is connected to a ground potential of the vehicle-mounted electric generator and the other power transistor is connected to an output terminal of the vehicle-mounted electric generator. When the engine is in a non-operating state, the one transistor is set in an on state and the other power transistor is set in an off state.

Abstract: Method and apparatus that provide a response to the negative sequence current demands during a disturbance of the grid system connected to power-generating equipment, such as a wind turbine system, provide for tracking components in the grid signal, orienting at least a portion of the signal, and injecting the oriented portion. Controlled injection of negative sequence current provides for extending small-signal control response, and also provides for modifications of the apparent impedance to the grid interconnect of the power conversion equipment.

Abstract: The vehicle-generator control device for controlling an output voltage of a vehicle generator by on/off-controlling an excitation current flowing into an excitation winding of the vehicle generator, includes an excitation current detecting circuit detecting an excitation current flowing into the excitation winding, and a computation circuit having a first function of correcting the excitation current detected by the excitation current detecting circuit on the basis of a current flowing into an electrical load applied with the output voltage of the vehicle generator, and a second function of calculating an output current of the vehicle generator on the basis of the excitation current.

Abstract: A vibration damping technique for a wind turbine system is described. The wind turbine system includes a vibration damper, which provides a variable signal to control torque produced by a generator of the wind turbine system. The variable signal is based on generator speed and has a first local peak value based on a resonant frequency of tower side-to-side oscillation.

Abstract: Converters and method for intermittent forces energy conversion into electric power and damping excessive forces are presented. The converters employ various exemplified electromagnetic controllable transducers comprising multi-magnets inductors and multi-teeth armature, transforming sea wave's and wind's motion into electricity; base, impelling, and control means. The transducers are combinable with means translating the motion into linear, revolving, swinging movements. Transducer's cooling subsystems are exemplified. The base means are described, including fixed, floatable, and containing virtual vessels of variable parameters and expandable extensions. The impellers include floatable, fixed, adjustable. The control means include sensors measuring wave's and converter's parameters; control units adaptively regulating electric power production, and absorbing the excessively powerful waves' energy, depending on their changing parameters.

Abstract: There is provided an electric power generating device which includes a generator which is constituted by an interior permanent magnet (IPM) synchronous generator, and is connected to a steam turbine without interposition of a reduction gear, cooling means which flows a liquid coolant used to cool the generator, and a frequency converter which converts an electric power generated by the generator into an electric power at a commercial frequency, and outputs the converted electric power, the cooling means includes a circulation passage to which a tank which is used to store the liquid coolant (oil), a cooler which cools the liquid coolant, and a pump which pressure-feeds the liquid coolant are connected, and through which the liquid coolant circulates, and this configuration enables the generator to operate at a high rotational speed, thereby efficiently utilizing the steam energy.

Abstract: A renewable electric power system includes a high temperature superconducting wind turbine using high temperature superconducting yttrium-barium-copper oxide for the rotor and stator windings as well as a superconducting bearing. Power from the turbine is stored in a high temperature superconducting magnetic storage system that also uses HTS YBCO. Also included is a regenerative solid oxide fuel cell/electrolyzer with steam turbine cogeneration. The system operates on a managed day/night cycle. During daytime, the energy produced by the wind turbines and fuel cells is transmitted to the grid. During nocturnal hours, the wind turbine is used to provide low cost electricity to the reversible fuel cells operating in the electrolysis mode producing hydrogen and oxygen that is stored for later use. Alternatively, the fuel cells can remain in electrolysis mode producing hydrogen and oxygen for the market. A modified interactive system generates power on a continuous twenty-four hour cycle.

Abstract: A system and for generating power associated with a hybrid vehicle or electrically propelled vehicle comprises a mode selector for selecting at least one of an operational mode and a power generation mode. A controller activates one or more switches to disconnect an inverter output from a drive electrical path to a drive motor and to connect the inverter output to a power generation path if the vehicle is in the power generation mode. An inverter inverts a direct voltage signal to an alternating current signal with a desired frequency in the power generation path. A transformer increases a voltage level of the alternating current signal to a desired voltage level.

Abstract: A floating wind turbine in which a floating barge having a doughnut shape with an open center rigidly supports a plurality of airfoils such that a wind produces a rotation of the blades and the barge. The airfoil and barge assembly is connected to a rigid shaft that extends into a generator housing that houses a generator. Anti-rotation fins extend from the generator housing and into the water to limit rotation of the generator housing as the blades and barge rotates in the wind. Rotation of the rigid shaft due to the wind also rotates the generator shaft to produce electricity. The floating turbine supports the blades for rotation without the need for bearings so the turbine can be extremely large. The blades are supported by the floating barge so the blades can also be extremely large. The barge is doughnut shaped to limit viscous forces due to rotation of the barge within the water. A second floating wind turbine rotates within the first floating turbine but in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A Switched Reluctance (SR) generator having improved efficiency at low and high speed is disclosed. The SR generator includes a step-up converter for controlling an excitation voltage of an excitation capacitor capable of providing a phase winding with an excitation current. Therefore, the SR generator can control the excitation current, and can provide a phase winding with a sufficient excitation current, thereby improving efficiency. The step-up converter is arranged between a battery capable of storing generated power and the excitation capacitor, boosts a voltage of the battery, and provides the excitation capacitor with the boosted voltage. Therefore, the SR generator does not include an additional power-supply unit for a boosting function, resulting in simplification of an overall structure and reduction of a production cost.

Abstract: Disclosed is an SR (switched reluctance) generator with improved generation capability in a low-speed range. The SR generator is configured such that an inductance of a phase winding wound around a stator is increased in a low-speed range and is reduced in a high-speed range. Accordingly, a variation rate of the inductance relative to a phase angle is increased in a low-speed range, resulting in an increased output energy in a low-speed range and an improved generation efficiency. The phase winding of the stator may be configured to have a single phase. Accordingly, since the generator is configured with the reduced number of switches, it can be manufactured inexpensively and simply.