Abstract: A system may be provided that may include a first battery, and an inverter coupled to the battery. The system may also include a first active filter including a first switch element, second switch element, third switch element, and fourth switch element. Each switch element may be coupled to the first battery or the inverter. The first, second, third, and fourth switch elements may be configured to increase or decrease an applied voltage or current of the first battery.

Abstract: A system may be provided that may include a first battery, and an inverter coupled to the battery. The system may also include a first active filter including a first switch element, second switch element, third switch element, and fourth switch element. Each switch element may be coupled to the first battery or the inverter. The first, second, third, and fourth switch elements may be configured to increase or decrease an applied voltage or current of the first battery.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a rotor and a magnet disposed on the rotor. The apparatus also includes a pole cap proximate to the at least one magnet disposed on the rotor. The pole cap is magnetically coupled to the magnet and has a laterally asymmetric profile.

Abstract: A wind turbine is provided having a drivetrain with a gearbox and a gearbox housing, at least one gear stage and an output shaft coupled within the housing. The gear stage exerts an axial thrust force on the output shaft during operation of the wind turbine. A generator includes a generator housing and an input shaft connected to the output shaft of the gearbox. The generator includes a rotor and a stator coupled to the generator housing. The rotor is coupled to the input shaft such that the rotor is positioned radially inward from the stator. At least one bearing is shared between the gearbox output shaft and the generator input shaft, and this bearing carries a portion of the axial thrust force. The generator is skewed to exert an opposing axial thrust force on the input shaft, so that the axial thrust force carried by the bearing is reduced.

Abstract: A wind turbine is provided having a drivetrain with a gearbox and a gearbox housing, at least one gear stage and an output shaft coupled within the housing. The gear stage exerts an axial thrust force on the output shaft during operation of the wind turbine. A generator includes a generator housing and an input shaft connected to the output shaft of the gearbox. The generator includes a rotor and a stator coupled to the generator housing. The rotor is coupled to the input shaft such that the rotor is positioned radially inward from the stator. At least one bearing is shared between the gearbox output shaft and the generator input shaft, and this bearing carries a portion of the axial thrust force. The generator is skewed to exert an opposing axial thrust force on the input shaft, so that the axial thrust force carried by the bearing is reduced.

Abstract: A deflection resistant wind turbine generator having a stator arranged about an axis and a rotor operably mounted with respect to the stator to generate electricity. The rotor is rotatably communicating with wind turbine blades rotating substantially about the axis and the rotor and the stator are configured to maintain an airgap therebetween. The stator and the rotor have selectively engageable surfaces that maintain a substantially stable airgap and permit rotation of the rotor during engagement. The engageable surfaces engage when the rotor deflects to a predetermined amount of deflection.

Abstract: A drive train for a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine comprises a low speed shaft connected to blades of the wind turbine and a higher speed shaft connected to a generator. The drive train also includes a bearing that substantially supports the weight of at least the low speed shaft. A compound planetary gear stage is connected to the low speed shaft and the higher speed shaft, and includes a rotating carrier, a non-rotating ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears, and a rotating sun gear. The sun gear is connected to the higher speed shaft.

Abstract: A cooling system for a wind turbine is provided. The cooling system includes at least one generator having a plurality of external fins disposed around at least a portion of the periphery of the generator. A shroud is disposed around at least a portion of the generator, and is configured to guide air across the external fins so that said air cools the generator.

Abstract: An electrical machine comprising a rotor and a stator is provided. The stator includes a plurality of stator tooth modules configured for radial magnetic flux flow. The stator tooth modules include at least one end plate, and the end plates have extensions for mounting onto a stator frame. The stator is concentrically disposed in relation to the rotor of the electrical machine.

Abstract: A drive train for a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor connected to a low speed shaft, and a low speed shaft connected to a gearbox. The gearbox has a high speed shaft connected to a generator. The drive train includes a bearing interposed between the gearbox and the generator. A gearbox lubrication medium is at least partially contained within the gearbox, and the bearing shares the gearbox lubrication medium with the gearbox.

Abstract: A cooling system for a wind turbine is provided. The cooling system includes at least one generator having a plurality of external fins disposed around at least a portion of the periphery of the generator. A shroud is disposed around at least a portion of the generator, and is configured to guide air across the external fins so that said air cools the generator.

Abstract: A wind turbine is provided having at least one generator, and at least one blower motor connected to the generator. The blower motor is configured to rotate the fan for circulating air to the generator. The blower motor is connected to the generator so that a variable power output of the generator results in a variable power output of the blower motor and a variable speed of the fan.

Abstract: A drive train for a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor connected to a low speed shaft, and a low speed shaft connected to a gearbox. The gearbox has a high speed shaft connected to a generator. The drive train includes a bearing interposed between the gearbox and the generator. A gearbox lubrication medium is at least partially contained within the gearbox, and the bearing shares the gearbox lubrication medium with the gearbox.

Abstract: A wind turbine is provided having at least one generator, and at least one blower motor connected to the generator. The blower motor is configured to rotate the fan for circulating air to the generator. The blower motor is connected to the generator so that a variable power output of the generator results in a variable power output of the blower motor and a variable speed of the fan.

Abstract: A cooling system is provided for supplying cryogenic cooling fluid to a thermal load. The system includes a cryogenic refrigeration system, a cryogenic cooling fluid coupled to the thermal load, and a primary power supply for providing power to the cryogenic refrigeration system. A backup power supply provides power to the cryogenic refrigeration system in the event that the primary power supply is unable to provide sufficient power to the cryogenic refrigeration system.

Abstract: A deflection resistant wind turbine generator having a stator arranged about an axis and a rotor operably mounted with respect to the stator to generate electricity. The rotor is rotatably communicating with wind turbine blades rotating substantially about the axis and the rotor and the stator are configured to maintain an airgap therebetween. The stator and the rotor have selectively engageable surfaces that maintain a substantially stable airgap and permit rotation of the rotor during engagement. The engageable surfaces engage when the rotor deflects to a predetermined amount of deflection.

Abstract: An electrical machine comprising a rotor and a stator is provided. The stator includes a plurality of stator tooth modules configured for radial magnetic flux flow. The stator tooth modules include at least one end plate, and the end plates have extensions for mounting onto a stator frame. The stator is concentrically disposed in relation to the rotor of the electrical machine.

Abstract: A drive train for a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine comprises a low speed shaft connected to blades of the wind turbine and a higher speed shaft connected to a generator. The drive train also includes a bearing that substantially supports the weight of at least the low speed shaft. A compound planetary gear stage is connected to the low speed shaft and the higher speed shaft, and includes a rotating carrier, a non-rotating ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears, and a rotating sun gear. The sun gear is connected to the higher speed shaft.

Abstract: A wind generator includes: a nacelle; a hub carried by the nacelle and including at least a pair of wind turbine blades; and an electricity producing generator including a stator and a rotor carried by the nacelle. The rotor is connected to the hub and rotatable in response to wind acting on the blades to rotate the rotor relative to the stator to generate electricity. A cooling system is carried by the nacelle and includes at least one ambient air inlet port opening through a surface of the nacelle downstream of the hub and blades, and a duct for flowing air from the inlet port in a generally upstream direction toward the hub and in cooling relation to the stator.

Abstract: A method is provided to facilitate optimizing a winding and lamination configuration an electric machine. The method employs a computer including a microprocessor for executing computer functions, a database for storing optimization data, and a two-level optimization algorithm that has a first optimization module and a second optimization module. The method includes generating a plurality of data sets utilizing the first determining an optimum response surface based the data sets, utilizing the second module, determining an optimum data set based on the optimum response surface, utilizing the first module, and outputting an optimum winding and lamination configuration based on the optimum data set.