Abstract: A monolithic heater body may include a combustor body, a hot-side heat exchanger body, and an eductor body. The combustor body may define a combustion chamber and a conditioning conduit circumferentially surrounding the combustion chamber. The conditioning conduit may fluidly communicate with the combustion chamber at a distal portion of the combustion chamber. The hot-side heat exchanger body may define a hot-side heat exchanger that includes a heating fluid pathway fluidly communicating with a proximal portion of the combustion chamber. The eductor body may define an eduction pathway fluidly communicating with a downstream portion of the heating fluid pathway and a proximal portion of the conditioning conduit.

Abstract: A system including a closed cycle engine having a piston body defining a hot side and a cold side and having a piston assembly movable within the piston body. An electric machine is operatively coupled with the piston assembly. A control system includes one or more sensors operable to detect a piston movement characteristic of the piston assembly movable within the piston body. A controller is communicatively coupled with the one or more sensors and a controllable device. The controller is configured to determine a control command based at least in part on data received from the one or more sensors. The control command is selected based at least in part to cause the electric machine operatively coupled with the piston assembly to generate a preselected electrical power output. The controller provides the determined control command to the controllable device. The controllable device is operable to control an input to an engine working fluid disposed within the piston body.

Abstract: An energy conversion apparatus may include an engine assembly, such as a monolithic engine assembly, that includes a first heater body and a first engine body. The first heater body may define a first portion of a first monolithic body or at least a portion of a first monolithic body-segment. The first engine body may define a second portion of the first monolithic body or at least a portion of a second monolithic body-segment operably coupled or operably couplable to the first heater body. The engine assembly may include a second heater body and/or a second engine body. The second heater body may define a portion of a second monolithic body or a third monolithic body-segment. The second engine body may define a portion of the second monolithic body or a fourth monolithic body-segment operably coupled or operably couplable to the second heater body and/or the first engine body.

Abstract: A monolithic heat exchanger body includes a plurality of heating walls and a plurality of combustion fins. The plurality of heating walls are configured and arranged in an array of spirals or spiral arcs relative to a longitudinal axis. Adjacent portions of the plurality of heating walls respectively define a corresponding plurality of heating fluid pathways therebetween. The plurality of combustion fins are circumferentially spaced about a perimeter of an inlet plenum. The inlet plenum includes or fluidly communicates with a combustion chamber. The plurality of heating fluid pathways fluidly communicate with the inlet plenum. The plurality of combustion fins occupy a radially or concentrically inward portion of the monolithic heat exchanger body. The plurality of heating fluid pathways have a heat transfer relationship with a heat sink disposed about a radially or concentrically outward portion of the monolithic heat exchanger body.

Abstract: A monolithic heat exchanger body includes a plurality of heating walls and a plurality of combustion fins. The plurality of heating walls are configured and arranged in an array of spirals or spiral arcs relative to a longitudinal axis. Adjacent portions of the plurality of heating walls respectively define a corresponding plurality of heating fluid pathways therebetween. The plurality of combustion fins are circumferentially spaced about a perimeter of an inlet plenum. The inlet plenum includes or fluidly communicates with a combustion chamber. The plurality of heating fluid pathways fluidly communicate with the inlet plenum. The plurality of combustion fins occupy a radially or concentrically inward portion of the monolithic heat exchanger body. The plurality of heating fluid pathways have a heat transfer relationship with a heat sink disposed about a radially or concentrically outward portion of the monolithic heat exchanger body.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a system for energy conversion. The system includes a closed cycle engine containing a volume of working fluid. The engine includes an expansion chamber and a compression chamber each separated by a piston attached to a connection member of a piston assembly. The engine further includes a plurality of heater conduits extended from the expansion chamber. The engine includes a plurality of chiller conduits extended from the compression chamber. The expansion chamber and heater conduits are fluidly connected to the compression chamber and chiller conduits via a walled conduit.

Abstract: An electric machine includes at least one rotor module. A rotor module includes a rotor hub having a hub body, and a plurality of first protrusions and a plurality of second protrusions. One or more first protrusions include an elongated portion and a head portion. One or more second protrusions include a wedge-shaped profile. The rotor module further includes a magnetic core having a plurality of core members disposed on the rotor hub. A core member of the plurality of core members is disposed such that the head portion of the first protrusion located between the adjacent second protrusions engages with the core member, and each of the one or more second protrusions extends at least partially in a space between adjacent core members of the plurality of core members. Moreover, the rotor module includes a permanent magnet disposed in a space between the adjacent core members.

Abstract: An electric machine assembly includes a rotor formed from one or more magnetically conductive sheets having elongated magnetic flux barriers separated from each other in radial directions that radially extend away from an axis of rotation of the rotor. The magnetic flux barriers are separated from each other by magnetic flux carrier portions of the one or more magnetically conductive sheets. The assembly also includes a non-magnetic post coupled with the magnetic flux carrier portions of the one or more magnetically conductive sheets on opposite sides of at least one of the magnetic flux barriers. The non-magnetic post is elongated in the radial directions from a first magnetic flux carrier portion to a second magnetic flux carrier portion of the magnetic flux carrier portions on the opposite sides of the at least one magnetic flux barrier.

Abstract: A rotor for a reluctance machine includes a central rotor support rigidly connected to a machine shaft extending laterally along a central axis of the machine. The rotor support has an outer rotor support surface. A non-ferromagnetic channel support is rigidly affixed to the rotor support surface and projects radially relative to the central axis from the rotor support surface to define an outer rotor diameter of the rotor. The rotor also includes an array of arcuate ferromagnetic flux guide channels. The flux guide channels are embedded in the non-ferromagnetic channel support, wherein portions of the channel support abutting the flux guide channels function as non-ferromagnetic flux barriers. The flux barriers provide structural support for the flux guide channels.

Abstract: A magnetic component having a unitary structure, a transverse flux electric machine having the magnetic component, and a method of making the magnetic component are disclosed. The unitary structure of the magnetic component includes a magnetic region and a non-magnetic region. The magnetic region includes a magnetic phase and an electrically insulating phase. The non-magnetic region includes a non-magnetic phase. The magnetic phase includes a metallic material and the non-magnetic phase includes a nitrogenated metallic material formed by a controlled nitrogenation of the metallic material.

Abstract: A method of heat-treating an additively-manufactured ferromagnetic component is presented and a related ferromagnetic component is presented. A saturation flux density of a heat-treated ferromagnetic component is greater than a saturation flux density of an as-formed ferromagnetic component. The heat-treated ferromagnetic component is further characterized by a plurality of grains such that at least 25% of the plurality of grains have a median grain size less than 10 microns and 25% of the plurality of grains have a median grain size greater than 25 microns.

Abstract: A thrust magnetic bearing integrated with an induction machine and methods for using the same for slow roll control of rotors and other rotating components is provided. The rotor can include a shaft and a thrust bearing disk. The thrust magnetic bearing can include thrust bearing stators positioned axially adjacent to the thrust bearing disk and they can be configured to apply axial magnetic forces to the thrust bearing disk. The induction machine can be configured to generate a rotating magnetic field that causes a torque to be applied to the thrust bearing disk in a predetermined rotational direction. In one aspect, the induction machine can include a radial stator positioned adjacent to a circumference of the thrust bearing disk and two or more circumferentially offset windings. In another aspect, the induction machine can position the two or more circumferentially offset windings on the thrust bearing stators.

Abstract: An electric machine comprising a rotor, a stator, a plurality of bare conductors forming a plurality of windings in at least one of the stator and the rotor, and a fluid in direct physical contact with a plurality of outer surfaces of the plurality of bare conductors, wherein the fluid is electrically insulating and provides direct fluid cooling, to provide cooling for the plurality of bare conductors and electrical insulation between consecutive bare conductors of the plurality of bare conductors

Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor operable with the stator. The rotor includes at least one pole section, the pole section defining a direct axis in a flux barrier having a first end and a second end. Each of the first and second ends are positioned proximate to the stator. The first end defines a first angular position relative to the direct axis and the second end defines a second angular position relative to the direct axis. The first angular position is different in magnitude than the second angular position to reduce a torque ripple or torque oscillation of the electric machine.

Abstract: A motor drive for driving a permanent magnet electrical machine includes an inverter having switches that are selectively operated to control current flow and terminal voltages in the electrical machine and a controller operatively connected to the inverter to control switching of the switches to control the current flow and terminal voltages in the electrical machine. The controller receives inputs regarding at least one of currents and voltages provided to the electrical machine on one or more phases, analyzes the voltages and currents to identify a fault in the electrical machine, and controls switching of the plurality of switches in the inverter to modify current flow and terminal voltages in the electrical machine based on the identified fault, with the modified current flow and terminal voltages in the electrical machine preventing demagnetization of the permanent magnets in the electrical machine.

Abstract: An electric pump powered by an electric motor having a stator disposed within a hollow rotor is provided. Impellers on the rotor outer surface extend into a fluid flow path defined by the pump. One or more torque-producing rotor sections are driven by a plurality of independently controllable stator sections disposed within the rotor cavity. The relative positions of the rotor and stator are maintained by a plurality of bearings configured to allow rotation of the rotor and defining a bearing span. The pump is configured such that the stator and rotor share the same bearing span. Such an arrangement reduces motor windage losses relative to conventional motors in which the rotor is disposed within the stator, owing to a reduction in the diameter of the air gap between the stator and the rotor. In addition, the peripheral speed of the pump is increased owing to an increase in the rotor diameter.

Abstract: A controller for a rotary machine includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory is configured to store operating modes of the controller. The operating modes include a normal operating mode and a fault tolerant operating mode. The controller is configured to receive a signal from at least one sensor and determine an operating state of the rotary machine based on the signal. The controller is also configured to switch the operating modes based on the determined operating state of the rotary machine and regulate at least one electromagnetic bearing and at least one flow control device. The controller is further configured to adjust at least one of the at least one electromagnetic bearing and the at least one flow control device in the fault tolerant operating mode.

Abstract: A method of making a component of a radial or axial flux electrical machine is provided. An additive manufacturing process is used to manufacture a plurality of laminas, including applying beams of energy to a successive plurality of ferromagnetic material particles and fusing them together to form a ferromagnetic helix or spiral, disposing an insulating material on said ferromagnetic helix or spiral, compressing the ferromagnetic helix or spiral to form a compressed ferromagnetic helix or spiral, and fixing the compressed ferromagnetic helix or spiral. A method of making a component of a transverse flux electrical machine is provided, including using an additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: A method of operating a rotary machine. The method includes rotating a rotor; receiving current at at least one electromagnetic bearing supporting the rotor; detecting an operating characteristic of the rotary machine; determining, using a controller, an operating state of the rotary machine based on the detected operating characteristic; retrieving operating modes stored in a memory of the controller, the operating modes including a normal operating mode and a fault tolerant operating mode; switching between the normal operating mode and the fault tolerant operating mode, using the controller, based on the determined operating state of the rotary machine; regulating, using the controller, at least one of a magnetic force and a position of the at least one electromagnetic bearing; and regulating, using the controller, at least one of a position and an opening of at least one fluid flow control device.

Abstract: An assembly includes multiple adjoined rotor sections each having multiple poles and multiple void rows therethrough that are radially distributed in each of the poles. The rotor sections are skewed in a circumferential direction. The assembly also has multiple conductive rings that substantially surround one of the void rows. A method of assembly and electric machines and vehicles using the assembly are also disclosed. Aspects reduce torque ripple in electric machines and allow for encoderless/sensorless operation in an electric machine using the rotor assembly. 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.