Abstract: A multi-port converter includes a hybrid energy storage system (HESS) that provides a faster dynamic response to load changes than prior art systems, and enables either downsizing of the main energy storage system (ESS) to increase the life of the main ESS (e.g. energy battery), or retaining the same size ESS and increasing the range or life of the power source. The multi-port convertor can advantageously result in lower investment and maintenance costs, and can also advantageously provide a path for inputs to directly feed the load. All these benefits can be achieved while reducing the number of active switches and overall component count as compared to prior art systems.

Abstract: A multi-port converter includes a hybrid energy storage system (HESS) that provides a faster dynamic response to load changes than prior art systems, and enables either downsizing of the main energy storage system (ESS) to increase the life of the main ESS (e.g. energy battery), or retaining the same size ESS and increasing the range or life of the power source. The multi-port convertor can advantageously result in lower investment and maintenance costs, and can also advantageously provide a path for inputs to directly feed the load. All these benefits can be achieved while reducing the number of active switches and overall component count as compared to prior art systems.

Abstract: A stator winding includes a plurality of conductors including ducts. The ducts can be connected to a heat pipe or a conduit providing a coolant flow to directly cool the winding. The heat pipe can be connected to a heat exchanger that includes a coolant flow. The stator winding can be produced using additive manufacturing, with hollow ducts extending through leg sections and solid end sections. The heat exchanger can also be additively manufactured. A circuit for driving an electrical machine can be in thermal communication with the heat exchanger, such that the thermal system manages both the stators and the drive circuit.

Abstract: An electric drive system includes a permanent magnet machine having a rotor and a stator and a power converter electrically coupled to the permanent magnet machine and configured to convert a DC link voltage to an AC output voltage to drive the permanent magnet machine. The power converter includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices having a voltage rating that exceeds a peak line-to-line back electromotive force of the permanent magnet machine at a maximum speed of the permanent magnet machine.

Abstract: An AC electric machine that includes a dual magnetic phase material ring is disclosed. The AC electric machine includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly positioned within the stator assembly and configured to rotate relative thereto, the rotor assembly comprising a rotor core including a stack of rotor laminations that collectively form the rotor core, the rotor core including a plurality of rotor poles separated by gaps therebetween. The AC electric machine also includes a dual magnetic phase material ring positioned about the stack of rotor laminations, the dual magnetic phase material ring comprising a first ring portion comprising a magnetic portion and a second ring portion comprising a non-magnetic portion.

Abstract: A fluid extraction system is presented. The fluid extraction system includes a direct current (DC) bus and a plurality of fluid extraction sub-systems configured to be electrically coupled to the DC-bus. At least one fluid extraction sub-system includes an electric machine configured to aid in the extraction of a fluid from a well. The electric machine includes a plurality of phase windings and a rotor. The at least one fluid extraction sub-system further includes a control sub-system to control a rotational speed of the rotor by selectively controlling a supply of a phase current to the plurality of phase windings such that the rotational speed of the rotor of the electric machine is different from rotational speed of a rotor of another electric machine in at least one of other fluid extraction sub-systems. Related method for controlling rotational speeds of electric machines is also presented.

Abstract: A stator lamination for an electric machine has a circular lamination with an annular bore therethrough; winding slots therethrough; and, slot closures disposed adjacent to the winding slots. The stator lamination is formed of a dual magnetic phase material, such that the magnetic property of the lamination can have a first state and a magnetic property in a second state, wherein the second state is different than the first state. The slot closures regions are treated so as to transition to the second state. A method of manufacturing an electric machine component is also disclosed.

Abstract: A control sub-system for controlling an electric machine is presented. The control sub-system includes a phase shift control unit to receive an electric signal indicative of an angular position of a rotor. The phase shift control unit generates a phase shifted electric signal by applying a phase shift to the electric signal. The magnitude of the phase shift is determined based on a speed control signal. The phase shift control unit is configured to generate a phase command signal based on the phase shifted electric signal. The control sub-system also includes a switching unit to control a supply of a phase current to one or more phase windings the electric machine based on the phase command signal such that the rotor is operated at a predetermined rotational speed. Related method of controlling the electric machine is also presented.

Abstract: A magnetic component including first and second regions, and a method of varying the magnetization values in different regions of the magnetic component are disclosed. The first and the second regions are characterized by a nitrogen content that is different from each other. At least one of the first region and the second region is partially-magnetic and has a nitrogen content in a range from about 0.1 weight % to about 0.4 weight % of that region. A concentration of carbon, if present, of both the first and second regions is less than about 0.05 weight % of the respective regions.

Abstract: A magnetic component including at least one region is disclosed. The at least one region includes nitrogen and a concentration of the nitrogen in the at least one region is graded across a dimension of the at least one region. Further, a saturation magnetization in the at least one region is graded across the dimension of the at least one region. Further, a method of varying the magnetization values in at least one region of the magnetic component is disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid extraction system is presented. The fluid extraction system includes a direct current (DC) bus and a plurality of fluid extraction sub-systems configured to be electrically coupled to the DC-bus. At least one fluid extraction sub-system includes an electric machine configured to aid in the extraction of a fluid from a well. The electric machine includes a plurality of phase windings and a rotor. The at least one fluid extraction sub-system further includes a control sub-system to control a rotational speed of the rotor by selectively controlling a supply of a phase current to the plurality of phase windings such that the rotational speed of the rotor of the electric machine is different from rotational speed of a rotor of another electric machine in at least one of other fluid extraction sub-systems. Related method for controlling rotational speeds of electric machines is also presented.

Abstract: An AC electric machine that includes a dual magnetic phase material ring is disclosed. The AC electric machine includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly positioned within the stator assembly and configured to rotate relative thereto, the rotor assembly comprising a rotor core including a stack of rotor laminations that collectively form the rotor core, the rotor core including a plurality of rotor poles separated by gaps therebetween. The AC electric machine also includes a dual magnetic phase material ring positioned about the stack of rotor laminations, the dual magnetic phase material ring comprising a first ring portion comprising a magnetic portion and a second ring portion comprising a non-magnetic portion.

Abstract: A stator assembly that includes a graphite sheet-like element that has fold(s) so as to define at least two planar sections. The face of one of the planar section abuts a surface of a heat generating location(s) of the stator assembly and a face of another planar section abuts one the tooth or the slot bottom of the stator assembly. Also, a subassembly that includes an electrical machine stator assembly that includes a sheet-like element of a material having high thermal conductivity, wherein a portion of the element abuts the end winding(s) such that the sheet-like element conducts heat to the magnetic core, the stator housing, and/or a winding heat conduction element.

Abstract: A system and method for heating ferrite permanent magnets in an electrical machine is disclosed. The permanent magnet machine includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly, with a plurality of ferrite permanent magnets disposed within the stator assembly or the rotor assembly to generate a magnetic field that interacts with a stator magnetic field to produce a torque. A controller of the electrical machine is programmed to cause a primary field current to be applied to the stator windings to generate the stator magnetic field, so as to cause the rotor assembly to rotate relative to the stator assembly. The controller is further programmed to cause a secondary current to be applied to the stator windings to selectively generate a secondary magnetic field, the secondary magnetic field inducing eddy currents in at least one of the stator assembly and the rotor assembly to heat the ferrite permanent magnets.

Abstract: An electric machine that includes a rotor core made of magnetic steel; a stator configured with stationary windings therein; openings disposed within or on the rotor core; and a rotor circuit that is configured to introduce saliency based on an orientation of part of the rotor circuit in relationship to a pole location of the electric machine, where the rotor circuit is made of a conductive, non-magnetic material. A rotor component and various embodiments of electric machines are also disclosed. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.

Abstract: A rotor component that comprises a rotor circuit configured for use with either an interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine or a synchronous reluctance machine (SRM) that includes a pole circuit made of a conductive, non-magnetic material and has a midpoint that substantially aligns with a d-axis of the IPM or SRM. An electric machine with a similar rotor component therein or having a loop or ring of a conductive, non-magnetic material that is substantially concentric about a d-axis of the electric machine.

Abstract: An electric drive system includes a permanent magnet machine having a rotor and a stator and a power converter electrically coupled to the permanent magnet machine and configured to convert a DC link voltage to an AC output voltage to drive the permanent magnet machine. The power converter includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices having a voltage rating that exceeds a peak line-to-line back electromotive force of the permanent magnet machine at a maximum speed of the permanent magnet machine.

Abstract: An electric drive system includes a permanent magnet machine having a rotor and a stator and a power converter electrically coupled to the permanent magnet machine and configured to convert a DC link voltage to an AC output voltage to drive the permanent magnet machine. The power converter includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices having a voltage rating that exceeds a peak line-to-line back electromotive force of the permanent magnet machine at a maximum speed of the permanent magnet machine.

Abstract: A system and method for heating ferrite permanent magnets in an electrical machine is disclosed. The permanent magnet machine includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly, with a plurality of ferrite permanent magnets disposed within the stator assembly or the rotor assembly to generate a magnetic field that interacts with a stator magnetic field to produce a torque. A controller of the electrical machine is programmed to cause a primary field current to be applied to the stator windings to generate the stator magnetic field, so as to cause the rotor assembly to rotate relative to the stator assembly. The controller is further programmed to cause a secondary current to be applied to the stator windings to selectively generate a secondary magnetic field, the secondary magnetic field inducing eddy currents in at least one of the stator assembly and the rotor assembly to heat the ferrite permanent magnets.

Abstract: An electric machine, such as an Internal Permanent magnet or Synchronous Reluctance machine, having X phases, that includes a stator assembly, having M slots, with a stator core and stator teeth, that is further configured with stator windings to generate a stator magnetic field when excited with alternating currents and extends along a longitudinal axis with an inner surface that defines a cavity; and a rotor assembly, having N poles, disposed within the cavity which is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis, wherein the rotor assembly includes a shaft, a rotor core located circumferentially around the shaft. The machine is configured such that a value k=M/(X*N) wherein k is a non-integer greater than about 1.3. The electric machine may alternatively, or additionally, include a non-uniformed gap between the exterior surface of the rotor spokes and the interior stator surface of the stator.