Mainspring Energy, Inc.

Etagen, Inc.

John Powers

Christopher David Gadda

Anthony Da Costa

John Lawler

Scott Coakley

Kevin Walters

Matthew J Roelle

David B DeGraaff

Patrick Gorzelic

Matt Svrcek

Andrew H Hancock

Shannon Miller

Jodie Prudhomme

Matthew Svrcek

Cameron Wylie

Alan Crapo

Samuel Sherman

Sam Sherman

David Degraaff

A linear electromagnetic machine includes a stator, a translator, and a bearing system. The bearing system maintains alignment against lateral displacement of the translator relative to the stator, as the translator reciprocates axially. More particularly, the bearing system maintains a motor air gap between the stator and a magnetic section of the translator. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth and windings, which form a plurality of phases. The stator teeth and windings are arranged using a hoop stack with spines to form a stator bore and define the motor air gap. The bearing system can include bearing housings that are configured to form a bearing interface with a surface of the translator. The bearing interface can include a contact bearing or a non-contact bearing, such as a gas bearing. Current is controlled in the phases to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy of the translator.

Linear electromagnetic machine with a stator having stator teeth arranged to provide an anti-clocking force

Systems and methods are provided for braking a translator of a linear multiphase electromagnetic machine. The system detects a fault event. A polarity indicative of an electromotive force in determined in at least one phase of the linear multiphase electromagnetic machine caused by a motion of the translator. In response to detecting the fault event, the system causes, based on the polarity, a current to be applied to a respective phase of the at least one phase to cause a force acting on the translator that opposes an axial motion of the translator to cause the translator to brake. Braking includes causing the translator to reciprocate at a reduced velocity by opposing axial motion over one or more cycles. The system may use one or more of position information, current information, operating parameters, to brake, or may brake the translator independent of such information.

Auto-braking for an electromagnetic machine

An integrated linear generator system includes, for example, a generator assembly, a control system, a frame system, an exhaust system, an intake system, a cooling system, a bearing system, one or more auxiliary systems, or a combination thereof. The generator system is configured to generate power, as controlled by the control system. The generator assembly may include an opposed- and free-piston linear generator, configured to operate on a two-stroke cycle. The intake and exhaust systems are configured to provide reactants to and remove products from the generator assembly, respectively. The cooling system is configured to effect heat transfer, material temperature, or both, of components of the integrated linear generator system. The bearing system is configured to constrain the off-axis motion of translators of the generator assembly without applying significant friction forces. The frame system is configured to manage rigidity, flexibility, and alignment of components of the integrated linear generator system.

Integrated linear generator system

Systems and methods are provided for braking a translator of a linear multiphase electromagnetic machine. The system detects a fault event, and in response to detecting the fault event, causes the translator to brake using an electromagnetic technique. Braking includes causing the translator to stop reciprocating, by applying a force opposing an axial motion, which may occur within one cycle, or over many cycles. The fault event may include, for example, a fault associated with an encoder, a controller, an electrical component, a communications link, a phase, or a subsystem. The system includes a power electronics system configured to apply current to the phases. The system may use position information, current information, operating parameters, or a combination thereof to brake. Alternatively, the system need not use position information, current information, and operating parameters, and may brake the translator independent of such information.

Linear electromagnetic machine system

Linear electromagnetic machine system with bearing housings having pressurized gas

Multiphase electromagnetic machines, such as free-piston engines or compressors, may require, or supply, a pulsed power profile from or to a DC bus, respectively. The pulsed power profile may include relatively large fluctuations in instantaneous power. Sourcing, sinking, or otherwise exchanging power with an AC grid, via an inverter, may be accomplished by using an energy storage device and a DC-DC converter coupled to a DC bus. The energy storage device may aid in smoothing the pulsed power profile, while the DC-DC converter may aid in reducing fluctuations in voltage across a DC bus due to energy storage in the energy storage device.

DC-DC converter in a non-steady system

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Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

John Powers