Brushless Synchronous Machine Rotor Excitation via Induction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Synchronous electric machines face challenges with high costs and complexity due to the use of rare earth magnets and mechanical brushes, which lead to increased manufacturing costs and maintenance requirements, while also posing environmental concerns and reliability issues.

Innovation Solution

A synchronous electric machine design without brushes or magnets, utilizing a rotor with a specific configuration and a stator with a winding and toothing arrangement, and an excitation coil for magnetic induction, which simplifies the structure, reduces costs, and enhances reliability by eliminating mechanical interactions and heat-related losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If permanent magnets are used in synchronous machines, then torque density and rotor loss performance are improved, but manufacturing cost increases and manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque densityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the permanent magnets from the synchronous machine structure, replacing them with an excitation coil system. This eliminates the need for rare earth magnets while maintaining the magnetic field generation capability through electromagnetic induction, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and complexity associated with magnet procurement and installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the permanent magnet-based magnetic field generation with an electromagnetic induction system using excitation coils. This substitution transitions from a static magnetic field source to a dynamically controllable electromagnetic field, eliminating the need for expensive permanent magnets while maintaining torque density performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Power

If permanent magnets are used in synchronous machines, then torque density and rotor loss performance are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque densityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the permanent magnets from the synchronous machine structure, replacing them with an excitation coil system. This eliminates the need for rare earth magnets while maintaining the magnetic field generation capability through electromagnetic induction, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and complexity associated with magnet procurement and installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the permanent magnet-based magnetic field generation with an electromagnetic induction system using excitation coils. This substitution transitions from a static magnetic field source to a dynamically controllable electromagnetic field, eliminating the need for expensive permanent magnets while maintaining torque density performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If brush systems are used for rotor excitation, then electrical connection is achieved, but maintenance requirements increase and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidmaintenance requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical brush-and-commutator system with a contactless electromagnetic induction system. The excitation coil generates a magnetic field that induces current in the rotor windings without requiring physical contact, thereby eliminating wear, sparks, and maintenance associated with brush systems while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the stator excitation coil and the rotor windings. This magnetic field serves as the medium for transferring energy and generating excitation current without requiring direct electrical contact, thereby eliminating the need for brushes and improving system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If multi-stage generators with rotating transformers are used, then brushless operation is achieved, but device complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrushless operationVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the complex multi-stage generator structure including rotating transformers and rotating rectifier bridges. Instead, it employs a simplified single-stage design where the excitation coil directly generates the magnetic field for rotor excitation, maintaining brushless operation while dramatically reducing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional multi-stage approach by using a single-stage electromagnetic induction system. Rather than generating AC power at the rotor and then rectifying it through multiple stages, the excitation coil directly creates the magnetic field needed for rotor excitation, simplifying the overall architecture while achieving brushless operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables a compact, reliable, and cost-effective synchronous electric machine that can operate as both a motor and generator, with reduced maintenance needs, lower dependence on rare earth materials, and improved service life of components, while maintaining high torque density and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a rotor excitation coil, fixed with respect to the stator, supplied with a direct electric current , arranged around the intermediate part of the rotor and configured to generate a magnetic flux in the rotor by magnetic induction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3782270B1Synchronous electrical machine
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWER
  • EP3782270B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~3b
  • EP3782270B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~7
  • EP3782270B1 patent drawingFigure 8~10

AI summary

The invention relates to a brushless and magnet-free synchronous electrical machine, characterized in that it comprises a stator (20) comprising a ring (22), a winding (28) and a tooth system (24) comprising teeth (26) extending parallel to the axis of rotation from the ring (22), said winding being wound around the tooth system (24), a rotor (10), comprising a first portion (12a) extending in p preferred directions (18a), a second portion (12b) extending in p preferred directions (18b) shifted by p with respect to the preferred directions of the first portion (18a), and an intermediate portion (14) linking the first portion (12a) to the second portion (12b), and a coil (40) for exciting the rotor, fixed with respect to the stator, supplied with a DC electric current, positioned around the intermediate portion (14) of the rotor and configured so as to generate an electric flux in the rotor (10) through magnetic induction.