"AUTONOMOUS GENERATOR ASSEMBLY"

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention refers to the technical field of generators and especially to an autonomous generator assembly, that can produce electrical energy without the use of fuel, without polluting and causing noise while simultaneously, after its start, can operate autonomously and without the need of external excitation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The hereby presented invention is a device that has never been revealed in the previous technology.

We live in times, where the environmental conditions deteriorate rapidly and constantly. The main reason is the continuous use of hydrocarbons as fuel and the cascade caused contributing to the continuous downgrading of our environment. The increase of the mean temperature, as this is depicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the UN is 0.6 ± 0.2°C from the end of the 19 ^th century and this increase is contributed mainly to the human activity during the last 50 years. Aftermath of the global temperature increase is the melting ice and the increase of water levels. These particular problems are intensified by the continuously increasing energy demands by countries, that despite their population, until recently maintained low balance (i.e. India, China). The global demand for hydrocarbons is consequently hardly covered by the existing oil reserves, resulting in its constantly increasing price in the international markets.

On the other hand the renewable energy sources, despite the increased efforts to include them in the energy balance of the countries, present weaknesses, which have not yet been successfully treated. One of the main problems is the inability to provide constant amounts of energy under any climate conditions. As a result they cannot be used as base units for a country's energy production, but only as units covering peak loads and are only turned on as subsidiaries in cases of emergency. Further problem is the low rate of return of these energy forms, combined with the high costs, not only for their installation, but also for their maintenance. Problems are also presented due to their complicated design and the special demands presented, such as, for example the installation of control systems during the operation of the wind turbines, so as to set them off immediately, when winds over a certain limit blow. All the aforementioned, along with the increased financial interests associated with the use of oil as fuel, contribute significantly to the low penetration of the renewable energy sources in the planet's energy balance.

Furthermore, problems are presented from an aesthetic point of view, especially regarding the wind energy installations, since it is a prevailing opinion that they are not elegant, causing besides noise also visual pollution. Finally, regarding hydropower plants, that are a main and widely used energy source, there is an expressed view that they release methane, from the decomposition of plants that grow beneath the water and in that way contribute to a certain extent to the aggravation of the greenhouse effect. Those, and other problems, are successfully confronted by the invention that will be herewith presented.

It is objective of the present invention to present an autonomous generator assembly that can operate continuously, without constant fuel demand, without polluting and without causing noise pollution due to its operation.

Further objective of the present invention is the presentation of an autonomous generator assembly, which can be manufactured in units from 5kW to 5MW.

Another objective of the present invention is the creation of an autonomous assembly, that starts with the aid of a few minute jump start, through an appropriate battery and following its shutdown, it receives electric energy from the assembly itself.

Additional objective of the present invention is the creation of an autonomous generator assembly with numerous applications, from machinery, vehicles, vessels up to residencies and factories.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will become obvious to the expert on the subject by reference to the accompanying figures, where an indicative, non restrictive, application is presented.

On Fig.l the generator assembly is presented in general, where both the rotating drum as well as the electrical power generator and the individual parts of the assembly are shown.

On Fig.2 the rotating magnet-bearing drum, constituted by the magnet footings, the generator cage as well as the magnets with the fixation pins is presented.

On Fig.3 the rotating drum along with the magnet footings and their respective lock casings is presented. 13 000051

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Fig.4 presents details of the assembly's components, such as the generator magnets, the bars of the cage and the drum of the generator itself.

On Fig.5 the plan of the cap, interpolated between the basic generator and its bearings, is presented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the accompanying figures we will describe indicative embodiments of the autonomous generator assembly, so that its construction and its function become fully understood.

As it is presented on Fig. l the autonomous generator assembly consists of two parts linked so that current is produced in the output of the assembly. Conceivably on the left side of Fig. l we have the production of the mechanical energy, which is transferred via belts and pulley to the right side, moving the axis of the generator's rotor for the production of electrical energy. The assembly consists of basic generator (5) with magnet-bearing drum (2), gearing up on its one end with one or more motors (1), thanks to the use of belts (3) and pulleys (4) while on the other hand, again due to the use of belts (19) and pulleys (20) it is geared up with the axis of the generator's rotor (9). On the output of the generator, current of power and form, according to the individual requirements, is given back.

The start of the autonomous generator assembly is done by motor (1), that according to the conditions can be powered by the electrical network or even by battery pack, photovoltaic or other appropriate assembly. As presented on Fig.1 use of two motors, of indicative power 125kW each, rotating with the same turn and geared up with belts (3) and pulleys (4) with the magnet-bearing drum (2) of the basic generator (5), is made. The choice of using two motors, instead of one, of the same power, is done for lower current consumption and for attaining smoother start, without of course that being a limitation factor.

The magnet-bearing drum (2) is based on special bearings (7), impregnated in oil, so as to achieve not only the noiseless but also, the without frictions, rotation of the magnet-bearing drum (2) and of the basic generator (5) in general. The basic generator (5) furthermore consists of a pair of support mountings, the external mounting (10), Fig.2 and the internal mounting ( 1 1). The mountings are of circular shape, concentric and are made of stainless or other appropriate on occasion material, while between them exists gap for the rotation of the cage (15), Fig.4 of the basic generator (5). The cage ( 15) consists of bars ( 17), which besides the rotation that they all together perform, each one individually rotates around each one axis (18). The support mountings have lock casings (13) and fixation pins (14) for the safe installation of the magnets (12) of the basic generator (3), Fig.3. Indicatively, each mounting has 6 lock casings (13), equidistant, without this of course being a restrictive factor. Each magnet (12) consists essentially of 2 smaller magnets, joined with each other. Essentially, on the presented embodiment, we have 6 pairs of magnets (12) or else 24 magnets of smaller size.

After the conduction of experiments it has been proven that the magnets of each pair must be spaced at a distance equal to the ³ / ₄ of their width, so as to achieve their magnetic coupling, to avoid their demagnetization and the assembly to operate in the desired way, being in full magnetic orgasm.

The basic generator (5) on its upper and bottom part comprises caps (6), Fig.5, interpolated between the basic generator and the bearings (7), while for safety reasons it is covered with aluminum blinds, so as from the one side to be protected from external interferences while simultaneously being adequately ventilated during its operation. The transmission of the kinetic energy from the rotation of the magnet bearing drum (2) to the axis of the generator's rotor (9), is again done via the use of belts (19) and pulleys (20), as it was mentioned before. In cases where it is considered necessary, due to the size, flexible couplings for the transmission of motion are used. On top of the generator assembly (9), steering wheel (8) is mounted, serving the operation of the generator (9) in the best possible way. The assembly can be placed on base (16), with vertical or horizontal mounting, depending on the individually presented demands.

The autonomous generator assembly of the present invention requires an initial source of energy in order to have the basic generator (5) set in operation and following operates continuously, noiselessly, without the use of any fuel energy source and without polluting. All these advantages make it appropriate to use in a number of applications, from powering any type of structures, allowing it to move vehicles, vessels, such as ships and submarines, small and bigger industries, as well as other machinery, such as lathes, hoes, rotating machinery, etc. After being set in rotation the magnet-bearing drum (2), through inverter, has its turns regulated, so as to have the desired number of turns at the output of the generator (9), based on the individual load at the generator's end. The regulation of the assembly is done via a panel or a control room, where the appropriate instruments (voltmeters, ammeters, tachometers, frequency meters) are placed, so as to have the appropriate supervisory control of the values that are of interest. Indicativeiy, we can mention that an assembly of 130kW, polar voltage 400V, phase voltage 230V and frequency 50Hz, has dimensions 1 ,4m x 2,3m x 1 ,8m and weight 1 ,5 tones, without this being limiting factor for smaller or bigger assemblies, both in dimensions and in produced power. According to calculations, with the present invention an assembly producing power from 5kW to 5MW could be created.

The rotation of the external mounting (10) and of the internal mounting (1 1) of the magnets (12) creates a rotating magnetic field, within the cage (15) and on which currents are induced, that on their turn exercise a tractive force on the magnet- bearing drum (2) and force it to rotate. In this way kinetic energy is created, which through belts (19) and pulleys (20) on the upper part of Fig.1 , transmit the motion on the generator's (9) axis from the output of which we receive the desired electric energy. A percentage of the produced electric energy, indicativeiy, a percentage around 25-30% is mentioned, is resupplied to the basic generator (5) so as to maintain the rotation of the mountings that bear the magnets (12), without the need for permanent supply of the motors (1) from a foreign source.

It must be hereby noted that the description of the present invention was made with reference to the accompanying figures and embodiments, on which it is not limited. Consequently any change or modification regarding the shape, the dimensions, the materials used and the manufacturing and fitting parts, as long as they do not constitute a new inventive step and do not contribute to the evolution of the state of the art, it is regarded that they are within the scope and the purpose of the present invention.