High-efficiency modular electric generator with reduced electromagnetic losses

Abstract

The present invention relates to a high-efficiency electrical energy generator that addresses the problem of energy losses in conventional generators. The invention comprises a stator (2) with modular coil towers (3) and a rotor (10), actuated by an external motor (16), with magnet arrangements (11). Each arrangement includes pair of magnets (12) formed by an inductor magnet (14) and a torque reduction magnet (13). The specific geometric arrangement of these magnets is designed to minimise the opposition torque and cogging torque, resulting in a more efficient conversion of input mechanical energy to output electrical energy. The inherently modular design allows its capacity to be scaled both radially, by adding more towers or magnet arrangements, and axially, by elongating existing towers, which facilitates its scalability and maintenance.

Description

[0001] Title of the invention: A High-Efficiency Modular Electric Generator with Reduction of Electromagnetic Losses

[0002] Technical sector

[0003] The present invention falls within the field of generating electrical energy by electromagnetic induction. More precisely, it concerns the design and operation of a high-efficiency generator that utilizes optimized electromagnetic interaction between arrays of magnets and electrically connected coil towers, arranged in a modular fashion and without physical contact between the moving and fixed elements.

[0004] Previous technique

[0005] There are various methods for generating electrical energy. Electromagnetic technology has developed generators that use rotors with permanent magnets and stators with coils, but most of these systems have limitations in terms of efficiency and complexity. Many traditional solutions require a higher than desired consumption of mechanical energy due to losses inherent in the conversion process, such as electromagnetic resistance (opposing torque) and parasitic torque fluctuations ("cogging torque").

[0006] Brief description of the invention

[0007] The main technical problem this project aims to solve is the loss of efficiency in conventional electric generators. These inefficiencies require a greater consumption of mechanical energy to produce the same amount of electrical energy. Additionally, many designs lack core functionality, hindering their scalability and maintenance.

[0008] Solution to the problem

[0009] The present invention seeks to solve these problems through a geometric arrangement of magnets and coils designed to smooth the magnetic field profile and the integration of modular components that allow for scalable construction. The invention consists of a high-efficiency generator comprising a stator with at least one coil tower and a rotor with at least one magnet array. Each array is composed of magnet pairs, formed by an inductor magnet and a torque-smoothing magnet, strategically positioned to minimize coupling torque fluctuations and associated losses. The system is inherently modular, allowing for scalability of the generator's power output.

[0010] Brief description of the figures

[0011] The following description refers to the drawings accompanying the presentation to clarify its structure and operation. • [Fig.1] Shows a perspective view of the stator (2) (Figure 1a) and a front view of the same (Figure 1b), highlighting the output terminals (9), the tower shaft (17), and the individual coil shafts (18).

[0012] • [Fig.2] Presents diagrams of the behavior of the magnetic field in a tower, illustrating the configuration with maxima (6) and minima (7) (Figure 2a) and the configuration with a single global maximum (22) (Figure 2b).

[0013] • [Fig.3] Offers a perspective view of the rotor (10) (Figure 3a) and a front view of the same (Figure 3b), showing the arrangement of the pairs of magnets (12), the axis of the magnet array (19) and the individual magnet axes (20).

[0014] • [Fig.4] Shows a detailed view of a pair of magnets (12) (Figure 4a), indicating the opposite magnetic direction (15), and views of the interaction of the pair with the adjacent coils (4) (Figure 4b).

[0015] • [Fig.5] Shows a perspective view of the complete system with the motor (16) coupled (Figure 5a) and a perspective view of the stator (2) and rotor (10) assembly (Figure 5b).

[0016] Description of a way of carrying out the invention

[0017] In all figures, the same reference numbers indicate equal or corresponding elements.

[0018] The generator comprises a stator (2) with at least one coil tower (3), the coils of which are equidistant and angularly uniform. Each tower (3) consists of multiple substantially identical coils (4) arranged axially. Optionally, these coils may be wound on a magnetic core (8). The electrical connection between the coils (4) is such that substantially the same current, both in magnitude and direction, flows through all of them, generating magnetic fields oriented in the same direction. This connection results in the output terminals (9). The tower (3) has a substantially uniform separation distance (5) between consecutive coils (4). In a preferred embodiment, the coils (4) are arranged coaxially, such that their individual axes (18) coincide with the axis of the tower (17).

[0019] The configuration of the resulting magnetic field in the tower (3) depends critically on the separation distance (5) between the coils (4). When this distance is relatively large, the field exhibits a profile with local intensity maxima (6) substantially centered on each coil and local minima (7) in the spaces between them, as illustrated in Figure 2a. Conversely, by optimizing and reducing this separation distance (5), the individual magnetic fields of the coils overlap constructively, generating a field with a single global maximum (22) at the center of the tower, as shown in Figure 2b.

[0020] The generator comprises a rotor (10) rotating about the central axis (1), incorporating at least one magnet array (11). Each magnet array (11) comprises magnets arranged in positions corresponding to at least one of the separation spaces (5) of a coil tower (3), and each array comprises at least one pair of magnets (12). Each pair (12) consists of a torque-smoothing magnet (13) and an inductor magnet (14), with opposite magnetization, as shown by reference (15) in Figure 4a. It is contemplated that some separation spaces (5) may contain only a torque-smoothing magnet (13). To optimize the reduction of opposing torque, the inductor magnet (14) and the torque-smoothing magnet (13) may be different from each other.In a preferred embodiment, the axes (20) of the manes (13) and (14) are arranged substantially parallel to the axis of the mane array (19), and in a further preferred embodiment, they are arranged coaxially.

[0021] The invention is particularly suited for construction in relatively large dimensions. In a preferred embodiment for such applications, the magnets are composite magnets, formed from a plurality of smaller magnetic pieces assembled to form a single magnetic unit whose magnetic field has a controlled range. This control allows the torque-smoothing magnet (13) to be positioned functionally without inducing current. An additional advantage is that the direct magnetic repulsion interaction between the two magnets of the same pair is minimized to zero or negligible.

[0022] Functional positioning is key: the inductor magnet (14) is located close to a coil, while the torque smoothing magnet (13) is positioned to pass at or near the midpoint of the gap (5). For optimal operation, the magnetic orientation of the torque smoothing magnet (13) is kept substantially uniform along the array, while the relative position of the inductor magnet (14) can be either uniform or non-uniform.

[0023] The generator is driven by a mechanism or motor (16), which causes each inductor magnet (14) to rotate relative to the coils (4), inducing an electric current in the generator by causing a change in the magnetic flux. The precise arrangement of the magnet pair is designed so that the torque-smoothing magnet (13) interacts with the overall field of the tower in a way that smooths the opposing torque profile. This significantly reduces cogging torque and vibrations, resulting in greater overall efficiency.

[0024] The generator architecture is inherently modular. Generation capacity can be scaled radially by modifying the number of coil towers (3) and / or magnet arrangements (11), and / or axially by adding or subtracting coils (4) with the corresponding addition or subtraction of magnets. Furthermore, in a multi-tower configuration, the output terminals (9) can be electrically interconnected.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 09 January 2025 (09.01.2025)

1. An electric power generator, characterized in that it comprises: • a stator including at least one coil tower (3), distributed around a central axis (1), where each tower (3) comprises multiple substantially identical coils (4), arranged axially, wound on a magnetic core (8) forming the structure of the tower (3), electrically connected in such a way that substantially the same current flows through all of them in both magnitude and direction, and magnetic fields are generated oriented in the same direction, and separated by a substantially uniform distance (5) ensured by said tower structure (3); • a rotor (10) configured to rotate about said central axis (1), including at least one magnet arrangement (11) that rotates solidly with the rotor without physical contact with the stator, wherein each magnet arrangement (11) comprises magnets arranged in at least one of the separation spaces (5), such that in at least one of said occupied spaces there is a pair of magnets (12) formed by an inductor magnet (14) and a torque smoothing magnet (13) with magnetization in substantially opposite directions, the remaining separation spaces (5), if occupied by magnets, being able to contain a pair of magnets (12) or only a torque smoothing magnet (13); • a structural configuration in which said torque smoothing magnet (13) is arranged to pass at or near the midpoint of the gap (5) and said inductor magnet (14) is arranged to pass closer to one of the coils (4) adjacent to said gap.

2. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that said tower structure (3) comprises a longitudinally arranged tower shaft (17), along which the coils (4) and magnetic cores (8) are arranged.

3. The generator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said coils (4) are arranged coaxially.

4. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that a pair of magnets (12) is arranged in substantially each separation space (5).

5. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the separation spaces (5) contains a pair of magnets (12) and at least one other of the separation spaces (5) contains only a torque smoothing magnet (13).

6. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the axes (20) of the magnets (13) and (14) in a pair are arranged substantially parallel to the axis of the magnet arrangement (19).

7. The generator according to claim 6, characterized in that said magnets in a pair are arranged coaxially.

8. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the inductor magnet (14) and the torque smoothing magnet (13) are different from each other in at least one of their physical or magnetic properties.

9. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnets (13, 14) are composite magnets made up of a plurality of smaller magnetic pieces assembled to form a single magnetic unit, said structural configuration providing a controlled magnetic field range.

10. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the torque smoothing magnets (13) are arranged in the magnet arrangement (11) with a substantially uniform magnetic orientation in the same direction.

11. The generator according to claim 10, characterized in that the relative position of the inductor magnet (14) with respect to the torque smoothing magnet (13) is uniform in all pairs along the magnet arrangement (11).

12. The generator according to claim 10, characterized in that the relative position of the inductor magnet (14) with respect to the torque smoothing magnet (13) is non-uniform in at least one pair along the magnet arrangement (11).

13. The generator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a modular architecture that allows scaling of the generation capacity by means of: • a) the addition or subtraction of coil towers (3) in the stator and / or of magnet arrangements (11) in the rotor; and / or • b) axial scaling by adding or subtracting coils (4) in a tower and the corresponding addition or subtraction of magnets in each magnet arrangement (11).

14. The generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the output terminals (9) of at least two coil towers (3) are electrically interconnected. [0001]DECLARATION ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 19 (1 ) [0002]The modifications introduced in the statement of claims have the main objective of providing the invention with greater technical and structural precision, responding to the observations of clarity and descriptive sufficiency raised in the International Search Report. [0003] Claim 1 has been restructured to define the stator not as a set of isolated elements, but as a rigid structural unit made up of coils (4) and magnetic cores (8) integrated into a tower (3). This clarification, together with the incorporation of the longitudinal axis (17) in Claim 2, technically resolves any doubt about the mechanical stability of the assembly (avoiding the "cantilever" effect). [0004]Furthermore, the functional language has been replaced by objective construction parameters. The asymmetrical location of the magnets (13, 14) with respect to the separation spaces (5) is defined, and the configuration of the composition magnets for field range control is specified. These changes ensure that a person skilled in the art can implement the invention based on the disclosed electromagnetic architecture. [0005]The amendments do not add new material, as they are supported literally and graphically by the original description and drawings. The impact on the description is clarifying, harmonizing the technical terminology with the new claims without altering the essence of the inventive concept.

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