Abstract: A brake-generator system and associated method including: a rotor secured to a vehicle wheel, the rotor including a housing cylinder and a plurality of magnets affixed to an inner surface of the housing cylinder, where the plurality of magnets are radially arranged with alternating polarity; and a stator fixed to a vehicle wheel axle, the stator including a plurality of steel laminations and a plurality of conductor blocks, each conductor block of the plurality of conductor blocks being disposed in a slot formed in a steel lamination of the plurality of steel laminations; where the plurality of conductor blocks include a plurality of windings for carrying selectively-applied electrical current, such that with the rotor disposed around the stator and current being applied to the plurality of windings, a braking of the vehicle wheel results.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, a hydroelectric turbine includes a stator and a rotor disposed radially outward of the stator. The rotor is rotatable around the stator about an axis of rotation. The turbine also includes a generator disposed along the axis of rotation. The generator is stationary and coupled to the stator. The turbine additionally includes a gear disposed along the axis of rotation. The gear is operably coupled to the generator. The turbine further includes a plurality of blades operably coupled to and extending radially outwardly from the gear. The plurality of blades is fixed to the rotor to rotate the rotor in response to fluid flow interacting with the blades.

Abstract: A brake-generator system and associated method including: a rotor secured to a vehicle wheel, the rotor including a housing cylinder and a plurality of magnets affixed to an inner surface of the housing cylinder, where the plurality of magnets are radially arranged with alternating polarity; and a stator fixed to a vehicle wheel axle, the stator including a plurality of steel laminations and a plurality of conductor blocks, each conductor block of the plurality of conductor blocks being disposed in a slot formed in a steel lamination of the plurality of steel laminations; where the plurality of conductor blocks include a plurality of windings for carrying selectively-applied electrical current, such that with the rotor disposed around the stator and current being applied to the plurality of windings, a braking of the vehicle wheel results.

Abstract: An energy conversion system includes a stationary structure and a rotatable structure configured to rotate relative to the stationary structure. The system includes at least one blade member mounted to and extending radially outward from the rotatable structure. The blade member is configured to interact with fluid currents to cause the rotatable structure to rotate about an axis of rotation. The system includes a first magnetic bearing component disposed on the rotatable structure and a second magnetic bearing component disposed on the stationary structure. The magnetic bearing components have an aligned position in which the components are axially aligned along the axis of rotation with respect to each other. Axial displacement of the magnetic bearing components from the aligned position generates a magnetic field between the components that provides an axially-directed restoring force between the rotatable structure and the stationary structure to reposition the components to the aligned position.

Abstract: Rotors with trapped-field magnet (TFM) bulks, machines with TFM rotors, and methods of activating and/or using machines with TFM rotors.

Abstract: An energy conversion system may include a stationary structure, a rotatable structure configured to rotate relative to the stationary structure, wherein the rotatable structure defines an axis of rotation. The system may further include at least one blade member mounted to and extending radially outward from the rotatable structure, the at least one blade member being configured to interact with fluid currents flowing in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation to cause the rotatable structure to rotate about the axis of rotation, and at least one bearing mechanism disposed to provide at least one of a radial and axial bearing between the rotatable structure and the stationary structure as the rotatable structure rotates about the stationary structure. The system may be configured to convert rotation of the rotatable structure to at least one of electricity and hydrogen production.

Abstract: A sealed solenoid, magnetically operated electric power switch is suitable for use as capacitor, line and load switch operating at transmission and distribution voltages that includes no dynamically moving seals through the sealed container housing the contactor portion of the switch. The sealed solenoid switch includes a magnetically operated drive system with an actuator that magnetically couples across the container wall to avoid the use of a moving or sliding seal as part of the drive system. The sealed solenoid switch may also include a ballast resistor and resistor contact located inside the sealed container to avoid another seal as part of the ballast system. A magnetic latch holds the switch in a closed position, and a spring holds the switch in the closed position, to avoid the need for an energizing current to maintain the switch in either position.

Abstract: An energy recovery system may comprise a stationary structure and a rotatable structure configured to rotate relative to the stationary structure about an axis of rotation. The energy recovery system may also comprise at least one blade member mounted to and extending radially outward from the rotatable structure, the at least one blade member being configured to interact with fluid currents flowing in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation to cause the rotatable structure to rotate about the axis of rotation. The energy recovery system may further comprise a magnetic suspension system comprising a plurality of magnets and a plurality of coils, wherein the plurality of magnets and the plurality of coils provide a magnetic force that substantially maintains an axial and radial position of the rotatable structure and the stationary structure as the rotatable structure rotates about the stationary structure.

Abstract: A sealed solenoid, magnetically operated electric power switch is suitable for use as capacitor, line and load switch operating at transmission and distribution voltages that includes no seals through the sealed container housing the contactor portion of the switch. The sealed solenoid switch includes a magnetically operated drive system with an actuator that magnetically couples across the container wall to avoid the use of a moving or sliding seal as part of the drive system. The sealed solenoid switch may also include a ballast resistor and resistor contact located inside the sealed container to avoid another seal as part of the ballast system. A magnetic latch holds the switch in a closed position, and a spring holds the switch in the closed position, to avoid the need for an energizing current to maintain the switch in either position.

Abstract: An electromagnetic system having a reaction mass with a field winding embedded therein, a base plate having an inner annular surface and an outer annular surface, and an armature winding coupled to at least a portion of the inner annular surface and at least a portion of the outer annular surface of an upper end portion of the base plate. In operation, directing an electric current in at least one of the field winding and the armature winding causes at least one of the base plate and the reaction mass to move relative to each other. The electromagnetic system can be used for seismic exploration and vibroseis applications, among other uses.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing magnetic electroporation is disclosed. A required electric field for electroporation is generated using a pulsed magnetic field through a closed magnetic yoke, such as a toroid, placed in a flow path of a fluid medium to be processed. The fluid medium flows through the orifice of the magnetic yoke, with the fluid medium flowing through and around the yoke. The required power to send a maximum flux through the magnetic yoke is less than the required power in a conventional apparatus for performing electroporation.

Abstract: An energy conversion system may include a stationary structure, a rotatable structure configured to rotate relative to the stationary structure, wherein the rotatable structure defines an axis of rotation. The system may further include at least one blade member mounted to and extending radially outward from the rotatable structure, the at least one blade member being configured to interact with fluid currents flowing in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation to cause the rotatable structure to rotate about the axis of rotation, and at least one bearing mechanism disposed to provide at least one of a radial and axial bearing between the rotatable structure and the stationary structure as the rotatable structure rotates about the stationary structure. The system may be configured to convert rotation of the rotatable structure to at least one of electricity and hydrogen production.

Abstract: Methods and electroporation devices for electrical treatment of algal cell cultures for release of lipids and proteins are described herein. The method of the present invention exploits the differences in electrical time constants for the media inside the cell and outside the cell to produce a net force to cause cellular lysis and extract cellular components. The method of the present invention can be used in the treatment of flocculated as well as unflocculated algal cell cultures. The device of the present invention provides efficient cell lysing in a low-energy cost set-up.

Abstract: Rotors with trapped-field magnet (TFM) bulks, machines with TFM rotors, and methods of activating and/or using machines with TFM rotors.

Abstract: Two apparatuses capable of performing electroporation are disclosed. The first apparatus uses a Marx generator with a substantial change from its original waveform. The second apparatus does not use a Marx generator.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing magnetic electroporation is disclosed. A required electric field for electroporation is generated using a pulsed magnetic field through a closed magnetic yoke, such as a toroid, placed in a flow path of a fluid medium to be processed. The fluid medium flows through the orifice of the magnetic yoke, with the fluid medium flowing through and around the yoke. The required power to send a maximum flux through the magnetic yoke is less than the required power in a conventional apparatus for performing electroporation.

Abstract: Maglev propulsion systems commonly employ either synchronous fields with a serpentine winding or a linear induction motor winding. Another alternative is a simpler heliical winding, the current for which is injected via a sliding contact. Long stator machines are forced to excite a lot more track than is required at any time and to place expensive switch gear along the track. Short stator induction machines are forced to perform much of the power handling on the vehicle and to deal with entry drag effects. A brush on the vehicle excites a helix winding on the track and eliminates both problems and uses the same magnetic field employed to get lift and guidance to supply propulsion. Because only a small section of the track is excited at a time, the efficiency is very high.

Abstract: A device for cancer treatment and nerve regeneration that induces a non-symmetrical electric field. This electric field is thought to cause electro-osmotic activity around p53 proteins within the body, in addition to altering the transmembrane potential. Both closed and open magnetic field structures can be used towards this end. With a closed magnetic structure, the field is contained within a toroid or similar structure, and the electrical circuit is completed by placing the toroid in a conducting liquid or gel. Using an open circuit, a cut C core of ferromagnetic material is wound with a figure “8” shaped coil and the field is driven into the body. In both cases, the current driving the coil is preferentially asymmetrical, resulting in an induced E field which is not the same in the first half of the cycle as it is in the second. The induced electric field moves organelles into the nerve tip site through the process of electrokinectics.

Abstract: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is now a common diagnostic and treatment for many brain dysfunctions. A rapidly changing magnetic field induces an electric field which initiates an action potential. Ferromagnetic cores increase the efficiency of the stimulator unit. Choosing an optimal core size is a task which involves both the physics of fields as well as the physics of biostimulation. Both the inductance and resistance of the stimulator affect the induced transmembrane voltage. A technique is outlined for using a boundary element method to design an optimal stimulation core and an exemplary core devised by such technique is described.

Abstract: Conventional linear induction motors (LIMS) have been used effectively to get linear thrust. These devices are typically short stator, and thus have entry and exit field effects. When a field enters a coil, there is a braking, drag force. A pulsed linear induction motor (PLIM) pulses the coils so that they push off the secondary shorted coils. Among the advantages gained by the use of these devices is no entry drag effect, simpler electronics required to excite the PLIM, and a smaller winding overhang past the steel structure of the PLIM. This invention describes coil arrangements useful for exciting a continuous array of coils, placed end to end, and coils that are overlapped. Control is realized by selecting the number of pulses to apply during the active excitation window.