Electrode geometry for electrostatic generators and motors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9270203-B2
Application number	US-201313796678-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2013
Priority date	Mar 12, 2013
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

An electrostatic (ES) device is described with electrodes that improve its performance metrics. Devices include ES generators and ES motors, which are comprised of one or more stators (stationary members) and one or more rotors (rotatable members). The stator and rotors are configured as a pair of concentric cylindrical structures and aligned about a common axis. The stator and rotor are comprised of an ensemble of discrete, longitudinal electrodes, which are axially oriented in an annular arrangement. The shape of the electrodes described herein enables the ES device to function at voltages significantly greater than that of the existing art, resulting in devices with greater power-handling capability and overall efficiency. Electrode shapes include, but are not limited to, rods, corrugated sheets and emulations thereof.

First claim

I claim:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a rotor configured to rotate about a central axis, wherein said rotor has a first diameter, wherein said rotor comprises a first support ring oriented in a first plane that is perpendicular to said central axis and further comprises a second support ring oriented in a second plane that is perpendicular to said central axis, wherein said first plane and said second plane are parallel one to another, wherein said rotor further comprises a first plurality of rod shaped electrodes, wherein each rod thereof is parallel to all other rods thereof and to said central axis and has a first end and a second end, wherein each said first end is fixedly connected to said first support ring and each said second end is fixedly connected to said second support ring, wherein all of the rods of said first plurality of rod shaped electrodes are in electrical contact with each other rod of said first plurality of rods and wherein there is no direct electrical connection from any other element to said first plurality of rod shaped electrodes;
a first stator and a second stator, wherein said first stator has a second diameter and is centered on said central axis, wherein said second stator has a third diameter and is centered on said central axis, wherein said second diameter and said third diameter are equal, wherein said first diameter is larger than both said second diameter and said third diameter, wherein said first stator comprises a second plurality of rod shaped electrodes, wherein all of the rods of said second plurality of rod shaped electrodes are physically parallel one to another, are in electrical contact one to another, are oriented to be parallel with said central axis and are evenly spaced around said central axis, wherein said second stator comprises a third plurality of rod shaped electrodes, wherein all of the rods of said third plurality of rod shaped electrodes are physically parallel one to another, are in electrical contact one to another, are oriented to be parallel with said central axis and are evenly spaced around said central axis, wherein said first stator is spaced from said second stator on said central axis, wherein the rods of said first plurality of rod shaped electrodes are physically parallel to the rods of said second plurality of rod shaped electrodes and said third plurality of rod shaped electrodes, wherein said rotor is rotatable only on the outside of said first stator and said second stator, both of which are within the inner diameter of said rotor, wherein there is no direct physical or electrical contact between said rotor and said first stator and between said rotor and said second stator;
wherein said first plurality of rod shaped electrodes together with said second plurality of rod shaped electrodes form a first variable capacitor, wherein said first plurality of rod shaped electrodes together with said third plurality of rod shaped electrodes form a second variable capacitor; and
a series-resonant circuit comprising a source of positive voltage electrically connected through a first inductor to said first variable capacitor which is connected to said second variable capacitor which is connected through a second inductor to a source of negative voltage, wherein said first plurality of rod shaped electrodes are at virtual ground and wherein said rotor is electrically isolated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the capacities of said first variable capacitor and said second variable capacitor vary at a first frequency as said rotor rotates, wherein said series-resonant circuit comprises a resonant frequency that varies over a band of frequencies as said rotor rotates, wherein parametric resonance occurs when said first frequency overlaps said band of frequencies.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said first inductor comprises a first inductance, wherein said second inductor comprises a second inductance, wherein said first inductance and said second inductance are selected so that said band of frequencies overlaps the frequency of capacitance variation in said first capacitor and said second capacitor at a desired rotation speed of said rotor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a load connected between said first capacitor and said second capacitor.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a driver circuit connected between said first capacitor and said second capacitor.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising means for coupling energy out of said circuit.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising means for coupling energy into said circuit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means for coupling energy out of said circuit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means for coupling energy into said circuit.

10. A method, comprising:
providing the apparatus of claim 1 ; and
rotating said rotor about said central axis at a rotational speed such that the capacities of said first capacitor and said second capacitor vary at a frequency such that parametric resonance occurs.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the capacities of said first variable capacitor and said second variable capacitor vary at a first frequency as said rotor rotates, wherein said series-resonant circuit comprises a resonant frequency that varies over a band of frequencies as said rotor rotates, wherein parametric resonance occurs when said first frequency overlaps said band of frequencies.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said first inductor comprises a first inductance, wherein said second inductor comprises a second inductance, wherein said first inductance and said second inductance are selected so that said band of frequencies overlaps the frequency of capacitance variation in said first capacitor and said second capacitor at a desired rotation speed of said rotor.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising a load connected between said first capacitor and said second capacitor.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising a driver circuit connected between said first capacitor and said second capacitor.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising coupling energy out of said circuit.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising coupling energy into said circuit.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising coupling energy out of said circuit.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising coupling energy into said circuit.

Assignees

• L Livermore Nat Security Llc

Inventors

• Post Richard F

Classifications

• H02N1/00 Primary

  Electrostatic generators or motors using a solid moving electrostatic charge carrier · CPC title