Abstract: A system comprises an energy store subsystem connected to an electronic converter subsystem, and a linear motor subsystem connectable to the electronic converter subsystem through a selector switch, the electronic converter subsystem also being connectable to an energy source through the selector switch. The electronic converter subsystem comprises a reversible power converter. In operation, the selector switch first connects the energy source to the electronic converter subsystem for charging at least one energy store in the energy store subsystem and then connects the electronic converter subsystem to the linear motor subsystem to supply power from the energy store subsystem to the linear motor subsystem. Regenerative power from linear motor braking can also be used to recharge the energy store(s) through the electronic converter subsystem. Several systems can be coupled together in parallel to a common energy source.

Abstract: A power-factor correction arrangement incorporates an active inductance source and a passive capacitance source switchably connected in parallel across a source of AC power. The active and passive sources are directly interconnected at their switched ends by a resistance, the value of which is chosen so that, when the passive source is switched into circuit while the active source is already connected to the AC source, the current through the passive source suffers virtually no surge.