Taco, Inc.

Robert F Birkenstock, Jr

Vladislav Milchev Stakev

Di Wu

David Sweet

Steve Thompson

Douglas Bird

A highly efficient circulator system is provided, useful for hydronic systems, including both heating and cooling systems. The stand-alone circulator motor is controllable by input from certain sensors, preferably thermal sensors, which provide data enabling the controller of the brushless pump motor to vary its flow output to meet changes in systems loads. The circulator has a ceramic permanent magnet rotor, such as a ferrite, with an electronically, preferably sinusoidally, commutated, electro-magnetic stator controlling the input of electrical power.

High efficiency hydronic circulator with sensors

The brushless DC motor of the present invention comprises a permanent magnet rotor rotating coaxially with and inside of the stator containing the electric windings, separated by a radial, axially extending gap. The rotor can be formed of four or more permanent, e.g., ferrite ceramic magnets, spaced substantially equidistantly circumferentially around the rotor and extending radially along the axial length of the rotor. The preferred ferrite magnets are substantially corrosion resistant, and thus durable in the wet rotor environment, in which it may be used, sufficient to withstand the effects of even hot salt water. Preferably, four of the permanent magnets are bar magnets, i.e., rectangular in cross-section, extending radially and perpendicularly to the adjacent magnets. Most preferably, the bar magnets are separated by generally wedge-shaped, or quadrant-shaped, sections of magnetic material. The permanent magnets are polarized so that the north-south flux lines extend transversely to each adjacent magnet, most preferably forming a so-called Halbach Array. This brushless DC motor is especially useful for driving wet rotor pumps, wherein the particular combination of elements forming the rotor results in a highly efficient, effective and durable motor.

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Bedford, NH, United States of America

Robert F Birkenstock, Jr