Abstract: An example electrostatic machine includes a number of stator plates, each having a stator electrode and rotationally fixed to a housing, a shaft at least partially defined within the housing and configured to rotate about an axis, and a number of rotor plates, each having a rotor electrode and rotational fixed to the shaft. The electrostatic machine includes a dielectric fluid disposed in the housing, and that fills a gap between the stator plates and the rotor plates. The electrostatic machine includes a seal associated with the shaft, where the seal includes a material compatible with the dielectric fluid.

Abstract: An example apparatus including a rotor stage of an electrostatic machine, the rotor stage including a rotor plate, at least one rotor via, a rotor power distribution board including at least one rotor power distribution bus, at least one rotor power coupling perforation, and a rotor electrical coupling circuit; a stator stage of the electrostatic machine, the stator stage including a stator plate, at least one stator via, a stator power distribution board including at least one stator power distribution bus, at least one stator power coupling perforation; and a stator electrical coupling circuit structured to electrically couple the at least one stator power distribution bus to at least a portion of the plurality of stator electrodes, wherein the stator electrical coupling circuit extends through the at least one stator via and the at least one stator power coupling perforation.

Abstract: An electrostatic machine including a rotor plate comprising a plurality of rotor electrodes, and rotatably fixed to a shaft; a stator plate comprising a plurality of stator electrodes; an excitation circuit electrically coupled to at least one of the rotor plate or the stator plate at a first end, and electrically couplable to exchange power at a second end with a selected one of an electrical power source or an electrical load; wherein the excitation circuit is configured to: in a first motoring mode, provide excitation power to at least one of the rotor plate or the stator plate, wherein the shaft provides positive torque to the load; and in a second generating mode, wherein the shaft receives negative torque from the load, operably couple at least one of the rotor plate or the stator plate to the electrical power source.

Abstract: An example electrostatic machine includes a number of stator plates, each having a stator electrode and rotationally fixed to a housing, a shaft at least partially defined within the housing and configured to rotate about an axis, and a number of rotor plates, each having a rotor electrode and rotational fixed to the shaft. The electrostatic machine includes a dielectric fluid disposed in the housing, and that fills a gap between the stator plates and the rotor plates. The electrostatic machine includes a seal associated with the shaft, where the seal includes a material compatible with the dielectric fluid.

Abstract: An electrostatic machine includes a drive electrode and a stator electrode. The drive electrode and the stator electrode are separated by a gap and form a capacitor. The drive electrode is configured to move with respect to the stator electrode. The electrostatic machine further includes a housing configured to enclose the drive electrode and the stator electrode. The stator electrode is fixed to the housing. The electrostatic machine also includes a dielectric fluid that fills a void defined by the housing, the drive electrode, and the stator electrode. The dielectric fluid includes a ketone, malonate, or an oxalate.

Abstract: An example system including an electrostatic machine including a rotor plate comprising a plurality of rotor electrodes, and rotatably fixed to a shaft configured to rotate about an axis; a stator plate comprising a plurality of stator electrodes, and rotatably fixed to a housing defining the rotor plate, the stator plate, and at least a portion of the shaft; an excitation circuit electrically; a controller, comprising: a rotor feedback circuit structured to interpret a voltage response value; a rotor position characterizing circuit structured to determine a voltage injection value; and a rotor position circuit structured to determine a calibrated rotor position value in response to the rotor position value; and wherein the excitation circuit is responsive to the voltage injection value to inject a voltage on at least one of the plurality of rotor electrodes or stator electrodes.

Abstract: An example electrostatic machine including a rotor stack comprising a plurality of a rotor plates each including a plurality of rotor electrodes positioned on each side of the rotor plate; and at least one rotor via comprising an electrical connection between the plurality of rotor electrodes on a first side of the rotor plate and the plurality of rotor electrodes on a second side of the rotor plate; and a stator stack comprising a plurality of stator plates, each including a plurality of stator electrodes positioned on each side of the stator plate; and at least one stator via comprising an electrical connection between the plurality of stator electrodes on a first side of the stator plate and the plurality of stator electrodes on a second side of the stator plate.

Abstract: An example electrostatic machine includes a shaft configured to rotate about an axis; a rotor electrode and a stator electrode separated by a gap and forming a capacitor, wherein the rotor electrode is rotationally coupled to the shaft; wherein at least a portion of an exposed surface of the rotor electrode comprises a polished surface, and wherein at least a portion of an exposed surface of the stator electrode comprises a polished surface; a housing configured to enclose the rotor electrode, the stator electrode, and at least a portion of the shaft, wherein the stator electrode is rotationally coupled to the housing; and a dielectric fluid disposed between the rotor electrode and the stator electrode.

Abstract: An example apparatus including a rotor stage of an electrostatic machine, the rotor stage including a rotor plate, at least one rotor via, a rotor power distribution board including at least one rotor power distribution bus, at least one rotor power coupling perforation, and a rotor electrical coupling circuit; a stator stage of the electrostatic machine, the stator stage including a stator plate, at least one stator via, a stator power distribution board including at least one stator power distribution bus, at least one stator power coupling perforation; and a stator electrical coupling circuit structured to electrically couple the at least one stator power distribution bus to at least a portion of the plurality of stator electrodes, wherein the stator electrical coupling circuit extends through the at least one stator via and the at least one stator power coupling perforation.

Abstract: An electrostatic machine including a rotor plate comprising a plurality of rotor electrodes, and rotatably fixed to a shaft; a stator plate comprising a plurality of stator electrodes; an excitation circuit electrically coupled to at least one of the rotor plate or the stator plate at a first end, and electrically couplable to exchange power at a second end with a selected one of an electrical power source or an electrical load; wherein the excitation circuit is configured to: in a first motoring mode, provide excitation power to at least one of the rotor plate or the stator plate, wherein the shaft provides positive torque to the load; and in a second generating mode, wherein the shaft receives negative torque from the load, operably couple at least one of the rotor plate or the stator plate to the electrical power source.

Abstract: An example electrostatic machine includes a rotor plate and an adjacent stator plate, where the rotor plate or the stator plate includes a coupled bearing. The other one of the rotor plate or the adjacent stator plate includes a race radially aligned with the coupled bearing. The coupled bearing has a width with a first contact point on the first one of the rotor plate or stator plate and a second contact point on the race on the other one of the rotor plate or stator plate, where the coupled bearing is sized to maintain a minimum separation distance between the rotor plate and the stator plate.

Abstract: An example electrostatic machine includes a number of stator plates, each having a stator electrode and rotationally fixed to a housing, a shaft at least partially defined within the housing and configured to rotate about an axis, and a number of rotor plates, each having a rotor electrode and rotational fixed to the shaft. The electrostatic machine includes a dielectric fluid disposed in the housing, and that fills a gap between the stator plates and the rotor plates. The electrostatic machine includes a seal associated with the shaft, where the seal includes a material compatible with the dielectric fluid.

Abstract: An electrostatic rotating electrical machine employs axially extending electrically conductive electrodes on a rotor interacting with a corresponding set of axially extending electrodes on a stator, where the electrodes are supported at an outer surface of a dielectric sleeve which continues beneath the electrodes to provide a robust support and to minimize electrode weight.

Abstract: An electrostatic rotating electrical machine employs axially extending electrically conductive pegs (for example, on a stator) interacting with the least one of a comparable set of overlapping axially extending pegs on a rotor or a dielectric sleeve which experiences an induced electrostatic charge electrostatically attracted to the stator pegs. A dielectric sleeve may also encase either one or both of the rotor pegs and stator pegs to provide improved electrostatic field shaping and reduced dielectric fluid usage and mechanical susceptibility.

Abstract: A variable speed drive for an electrostatic motor provides feedback control by conversion of measured current phases provided to the motor into a vector in a rotating rotor framework. This vector is used for evaluating corrective voltages and then reconverted to a non-rotating framework for application to the motor electrodes. Current-source drive circuits provide current stabilized outputs making such sophisticated control tractable.

Abstract: A variable speed drive for an electrostatic motor provides feedback control by conversion of measured current phases provided to the motor into a vector in a rotating rotor framework. This vector is used for evaluating corrective voltages and then reconverted to a non-rotating framework for application to the motor electrodes. Current-source drive circuits provide current stabilized outputs making such sophisticated control tractable.

Abstract: An electrostatic rotating electrical machine employs interdigitated axial pegs on opposed rotor and stator plates, the pegs immersed in a high dielectric constant fluid. Peg shape, length and positioning may be varied to tailor a changing aspect profile to a desired power source.

Abstract: An electrostatic rotating electrical machine employs axially extending electrically conductive electrodes on a rotor interacting with a corresponding set of axially extending electrodes on a stator, where the electrodes are supported at an outer surface of a dielectric sleeve which continues beneath the electrodes to provide a robust support and to minimize electrode weight.

Abstract: An electrostatic rotating electrical machine employs axially extending electrically conductive pegs (for example, on a stator) interacting with the least one of a comparable set of overlapping axially extending pegs on a rotor or a dielectric sleeve which experiences an induced electrostatic charge electrostatically attracted to the stator pegs. A dielectric sleeve may also encase either one or both of the rotor pegs and stator pegs to provide improved electrostatic field shaping and reduced dielectric fluid usage and mechanical susceptibility.

Abstract: An electrostatic rotating electrical machine employs interdigitated axial pegs on opposed rotor and stator plates, the pegs immersed in a high dielectric constant fluid. Peg shape, length and positioning may be varied to tailor a changing aspect profile to a desired power source.