Abstract: A generator is provided including a rotatable pressure vessel with an inner and outer surface. Electromagnets are disposed on the inner surface of the pressure vessel. A biasing structure is configured to rotate within, and independently of, the pressure vessel and extends at least partly along a lengthwise dimension of the pressure vessel. The biasing structure has an axis of rotation that is within the circumference of the pressure vessel, and may be substantially parallel and coincident with a center axis of the pressure vessel. The biasing structure has a center of gravity at a radius away from the center axis of the pressure vessel. Armature coils are disposed on an outer portion of the biasing structure, and are positioned such that a relative motion between the electromagnets and the plurality of armature coils induces a current in the armature coils when a current is applied to the electromagnets.

Abstract: Electric vehicle charging methods, battery charging methods, electric vehicle charging systems, energy device control apparatuses, and electric vehicles are described. In one arrangement, an electric vehicle charging method includes receiving information regarding charging of an electric vehicle with energy from an electric power grid, determining an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device coupled to the electric power grid, and controlling a transfer of the energy stored by the energy storage device to the electric power grid using the information regarding the charging of the electric vehicle. Other arrangements are described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method generate electric current within a specified frequency range from a rotor operating within a broad range of rotational speeds by reducing the number of poles of the generator at higher rotational speeds. At higher rotational speeds, the generator circuit is altered so that a flow of current through half of a plurality of windings is reversed and the polarity in the said half of the windings is reversed. Two adjacent windings with the same polarity create a single pseudo pole, which effectively reduces the number of poles in the generator by half, and reduces the frequency of the electric current produced by the generator. Thus, the generator is operable to produce current within a specified frequency range from a rotor operating within a broad range of rotational speeds.

Abstract: A wind system (1) is described for converting energy comprising at least one kite (2) that can be driven from ground immersed in at least one wind current (W) and at least one module (5) adapted to translate on at least one rail (6; 7) placed next to the ground, such module (5) being connected through at least one rope (4) to the kite (2), in order to drag the module (5) on the rail (6; 7) and to perform a conversion of wind energy into electric energy through at least one electric energy generating system cooperating with module (5) and rail (6; I) 1 such rope (4) being adapted both to transmit mechanical energy from and to the kite (2) and to control the flight trajectory of the kite (2).

Abstract: This invention provides a control device for automobile battery-charging generators, adapted to supply a plurality of sets of specifications in a highly reliable and stable form by simple switching between electrical characteristics assigning and limiting functions so as to meet various needs of users. In accordance with a voltage of a battery B, a voltage control IC regulator 120 controls a field current flowing through a field winding FL. The voltage control IC regulator 120 has a plurality of functions for assigning electrical characteristics limits or electrical characteristics beforehand. The voltage control IC regulator 120 also has switch terminals SW1 and SW2 that switch the plurality of functions that assign the electrical characteristics limits or the electrical characteristics. Electric potential levels of the switch terminals SW1 and SW2 can be changed by cutting cutoff portions CP1 and CP2 of an intermediate terminal 150 or leaving these cutoff portions connected.

Abstract: A pre-charge circuit limits in-rush currents on a direct current (DC) link that includes a first DC link bus and a second DC link bus. The pre-charge circuit includes a switching device connected in series with the first DC link bus. The switching device has an ON state in which power flow is enabled on the DC link and an OFF state in which power is disabled on the DC link. A controller selectively modulates the state of the switching device to limit in-rush currents on the DC link.

Abstract: A method for controlling a wind energy system is provided wherein the method comprises determining the effective wind speed taking into account the load on the rotor blades of said wind energy system exerted by the wind is provided. A computer-readable medium is provided that provides instructions which when executed by a computing platform cause the computing platform to perform operations wherein the operations include the method according to embodiments described herein. Further, a wind energy system having a calculation unit adapted for calculating the effective wind speed by taking into account the load on the rotor blades of said wind energy system exerted by the wind is provided. Further, a wind speed sensor free wind energy system having a generator for generating electric energy and a controller for shutting down and/or starting the electric energy generation in dependence of the wind speed is provided.

Abstract: An energy harvesting device is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the energy harvesting device is that it is adapted for insertion into a human blood vessel for converting pulsatile pressure in the blood vessel into electrical energy. The energy harvesting device can provide electrical energy to another electronic or electromechanical on or in the human body. The energy harvesting device can include an electrostatic generator. Methods associated with use of the energy harvesting device are also covered.

Abstract: A wind turbine generator includes a synchronous generator that generates electric power via rotation of a rotor provided with blades that receive wind and that supplies the generated electric power to a utility grid, and a sea water resistor in which sea water serves as a resistive element. When the output power of the synchronous generator drops suddenly because of a momentary power interruption caused by a fault occurring on the utility grid, thus producing surplus energy, the sea water resistor consumes, in the form of electric power, the surplus energy that cannot be supplied to the utility grid from among the electric power generated at the synchronous generator. Because the sea water resistor uses sea water as the resistive element, the problem of heat generation hardly ever arises, and because the sea water can be easily exchanged, it is not affected by lifetime or on-time limitations.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring load angle in a synchronous generator is disclosed. The synchronous generator is of a type comprising a main machine, an exciter for exciting the main machine, and a permanent magnet machine for exciting the exciter. The apparatus comprises means for sensing a waveform produced by the permanent magnet machine, means for sensing a waveform produced by the main machine, and means (20) for comparing the waveform produced by the permanent magnet machine with the waveform produced by the main machine to produce a measure of load angle. The measure of load angle may be used to provide a warning of potential pole slip.

Abstract: A kinetic energy collection device is mounted on a vehicle body. The vehicle body includes drive disks rotated synchronously with wheels of the vehicle body. The kinetic energy collection device includes transmission units, a lift out unit, electrical generators, and an electrical storage. The transmission units are slidably mounted on the vehicle body and include friction disks. The lift out unit includes a braking controller, a pull rod connected with the braking controller, and connection rods rotatably connect the pull rod to the transmission units. The braking controller drives the pull rod to move in response to user's operations, so as to drive the connect rods to rotate, and thus to drive the friction disks of the transmission units to engage or disengage with the drive disks correspondingly. The transmission units drive the electrical generators to generate power. The electrical storage unit stores power generated by the electrical generators.

Abstract: The tidal power generator includes a hollow container, an impeller designed for unidirectional rotation, an electric generator fixed in the container, and a chargeable power source. A first opening and an opposite second opening are defined in the container. The impeller is positioned at the second opening and configured for unidirectionally rotating pushed by air flow. The electric generator includes a stator and a rotor extending from the stator. The rotor is fixedly connected to the impeller. The rotor rotates with rotation of the impeller so that the stator outputs electrical energy. The power source is configured for storing the output electrical energy.

Abstract: A resonance damping system for a wind turbine having a generator connected to a power grid, the resonance damping system comprising an adaptive resonance damper, operable to provide a control signal for the generator, wherein the variable torque signal of the adaptive resonance damper is automatically adjusted according to a parameter which represents a grid condition.

Abstract: A method of controlling at least one wind turbine, comprising selecting a first effective operational curve from a plurality of operational curves, and applying the first effective operational curve to control at least one wind turbine. The operational curves may be operational curve segments.

Abstract: Biasing unit, a spindle member, and a link mechanism of a windmill for a wind power generator vary an angle of a blade in a first stage where the angle is made nearly parallel to the wind so that the blade easily rotates in light winds, a second stage where the angle is made nearly perpendicular to the wind so that the blade easily rotates at high speed when the wind speed increases, and a third stage where the blade is pushed back from the state of being nearly perpendicular to the wind to the state of being nearly parallel to the wind so as to prevent the excessive rotation in strong winds, without electrical control being not required. Accordingly this wind power generator has an excellent starting performance and can control the excessive rotation at low cost.

Abstract: A system and method for generating electrical energy from continental shelf mass involves moving continental shelf mass onto a conveyor at a first elevation at or near sea level. The mass is moved on the conveyor system to a second elevation well below sea level. Ideally, the second elevation is the bottom of a continental trench. The conveyor is then used to convey a liquid, preferably seawater, to a third elevation higher than the first elevation. The liquid is then passed into a reservoir and through a hydroelectric generator. The conveyor system may include a bucket chain enclosed in a pipeline.

Abstract: An exciter assembly for supplying a field current to the rotor windings of a superconducting synchronous machine includes a pulse transformer having a stationary primary winding, a secondary winding and a tertiary winding. A switched mode power supply supplies a pulsed voltage to the primary winding of the pulse transformer. The pulsed voltage developed at the secondary winding of the pulse transformer is supplied to the rotor windings through a pair of transfer leads. A controller controls synchronous rectification of the pulsed voltage supplied to the rotor windings based on a signal from the tertiary winding of the pulse transformer.

Abstract: A wave energy conversion system or device includes a float and base on top of which there is a power take-off system. The float, its base and the machine room are inserted in a main column supported by legs and corresponding leg supports on the bottom floor in shallow waters (seas or lakes). In deeper waters, the main column may be supported by column supports attached to an underwater float. The machine room is separated of the float frame through a rotary joint which allows the float and base to rotate in any horizontal direction while maintaining the machine room fixed in the same horizontal direction. The rotary joint separating the float frame and the machine room also allows for the vertical up and down movement when interacting with incoming waves. The distance between the machine room and the float frame is always the same. The device includes flaps or blades for the absorption of kinetic energy derived from the back and forth movement of water generated by waves.

Abstract: The inventive technology described herein generally relates to the field of wind power generation. More specifically, methods and apparatus for an RPM controlled power generation system utilizing perhaps multiple generators coupled through a radius adjustable coupler to at least one rotational movement element. This coupled connection may be static or dynamically adjustable across the surface of the rotational movement element so as to maintain an electrical output at a constant generator rotation(s) per minute (RPM) according to the varying rotational velocity along the radius of the rotational movement element. In some embodiments such coupled generators may be controlled through the implementation of a variety of novel RPM adjusting applications directed to system elements so as to increase electrical output yield while maintaining a constant or near constant generator rotation(s) per minute.

Abstract: A controller (28) for a doubly fed induction generator (12,20) adjusts control signals to a rotor side converter (24) and line side converter (22) to adjust rotor current when a voltage transient on a utility grid (10) occurs, so that the doubly fed induction generator can ride through the transient. The controller can also turn off the transistors of the rotor side converter (24) to reduce rotor current and/or activate a crowbar (42) to reduce the voltage of the DC link (26) connecting the converters (22, 24) when significant voltage transients occur on the grid (10). This permits continued operation of the DFIG system without disconnecting from the grid.