Polyphasic multi-coil generator

Abstract

A polyphasic multi-coil generator includes a driveshaft, at least first and second rotors rigidly mounted on the driveshaft so as to simultaneously synchronously rotate with rotation of the driveshaft, and at least one stator sandwiched between the first and second rotors. The stator has an aperture through which the driveshaft is rotatably journalled. A stator array on the stator has an equally circumferentially spaced-apart array of electrically conductive coils mounted to the stator in a first angular orientation about the driveshaft. The rotors and the stator lie in substantially parallel planes. The first and second rotors have, respectively, first and second rotor arrays.

1 . A method of operating a generator, said generator comprising:
 a driveshaft;   a first rotor rotatable by said driveshaft, said first rotor having a first array of magnets mounted thereon;   a first stator having a first plurality of electrically conductive coils mounted thereon, wherein rotation of said first rotor relative to said first stator induces a current in at least some of said electrically conductive coils;   said method comprising controlling an output voltage of said generator by dynamically modifying an electrical connection between coils of said first plurality of electrically conductive coils.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a series-parallel electrical connection between coils is modified to provide a substantially constant output voltage over a range of driveshaft rotation speeds. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein:
 when said first rotor is rotated by said driveshaft at a first rate of rotation, said first plurality of coils are connected in series to obtain an output voltage; and 
 when said rate of rotation of said first rotor is increased to a second rate of rotation that is higher than said first rate of rotation, at least some of said plurality of coils are connected in parallel to maintain substantially the same output voltage. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein when said first rotor is rotated by said driveshaft at a first rate of rotation said plurality of coils are connected in series to obtain an output voltage, and when said first rotor is rotated by said driveshaft at a second rate of rotation that is higher than said first rate of rotation, said plurality of coils are connected in parallel to obtain substantially the same output voltage. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein when said first rotor is rotated by said driveshaft at a third rate of rotation that is between said first and second rates of rotation, said plurality of coils is divided into a first series-connected bank of coils and a second series-connected bank of coils, and said first and second banks of coils are connected in parallel to obtain substantially the same output voltage. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said generator is providing electrical power to a variable load, and a series-parallel electrical connection between coils is modified to provide a desired output voltage over a range of electrical loads. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said magnets are permanent magnets. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said magnets are hybrid magnets. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first rotor is rigidly coupled to said driveshaft. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said generator has a single rotor and a single stator. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said first plurality of electrically conductive coils and said first array of magnets are mutually arranged to provide multi-phase output from said generator. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first plurality of electrically conductive coils are grouped into a plurality of stages, each stage comprising at least one electrically conductive coil, wherein said method further comprises selectively electrically energizing each of said stages between open and closed circuits, wherein rotational resistance for rotating said drive shaft is reduced when said circuits are open and increased when the said circuits are closed. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising electronically checking the integrity of said at least one coil in each stage prior to electrically energizing that stage and, if a fault is detected then not electrically energizing that stage. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the number of stages that is electrically energized is dynamically modified based on at least one of: an input energy from the driveshaft and an electrical load on said generator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said generator further comprises:
 a second rotor and a third rotor, each rotatable by said driveshaft, said second rotor having a second array of magnets mounted thereon, and said third rotor having a third array of magnets mounted thereon; and 
 a second stator and a third stator, said second stator having a second plurality of electrically conductive coils mounted thereon, and said third stator having a third plurality of electrically conductive coils mounted thereon; 
 wherein said method further comprises controlling an output voltage of said generator by dynamically modifying an electrical connection between coils of each of said first, second and third plurality of electrically conductive coils. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said first, second and third plurality of electrically conductive coils are offset mechanically relative to one another to provide three-phase output. 
     
     
         17 . A multi-coil generator comprising:
 a driveshaft;   a first rotor rotatable by said driveshaft, said first rotor having a first array of magnets mounted thereon;   a first stator having a first plurality of electrically conductive coils mounted thereon, wherein rotation of said first rotor relative to said first stator induces a current in at least some of said electrically conductive coils; and   control electronics for controlling an output voltage of said generator by dynamically modifying an electrical connection between coils of said first plurality of electrically conductive coils.   
     
     
         18 . The multi-coil generator of  claim 17  wherein said control electronics modifies a series-parallel electrical connection between coils to provide a substantially constant output voltage over a range of driveshaft rotation speeds. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-coil generator of  claim 17  wherein said first plurality of electrically conductive coils are grouped into a plurality of stages, each stage comprising at least one electrically conductive coil, and wherein said control electronics is configured to selectively electrically energize each of said stages between open and closed circuits in response to an operating parameter of said generator.