The disclosed voltage generating system includes certain known components, such as an induction machine driven as a generator, the output connections of which are coupled to the normal load connections of a switching system, which can be a bridge-type inverter. The system switching frequency f.sub.1 is regulated by firing pulses from a logic circuit in turn controlled by an oscillator. By controlling operation of the inverter switches with respect to the synchronous frequency (mechanical rotational speed) of the machine, a d-c voltage is provided on the normal inverter bus conductors. In the disclosed system the conventional inverter switches (such as SCR's) are replaced by true two-way power switches, capable of passing current in either direction. In addition the firing signals provided by the usual logic circuit and applied to these power switches are modified so that the switching occurs as a function not only of the first oscillator frequency f.sub.1 but also of signals received from a second oscillator at a frequency f.sub.2. In brief, the switching is accomplished with a gate circuit including an exclusive OR arrangement, fed by both the first and second oscillators, to produce an a-c output voltage on the inverter bus conductors. The frequency of this a-c output voltage is controllable independently of the generator speed, and the output voltage amplitude is controllable independently both of generator speed and load variations. By using an induction machine with multiple windings, and plural switching systems, multi-phase voltages can be supplied over multiple conductors to energize an a-c load.
A coupling system for an induction motor type generator (10) to an A.C. power line (18) wherein an electronic switch means (28) which is controlled by a control system (30) is regulated to turn "on" at a relatively late point in each half cycle of its operation whereby the energizing power supplied by the line (18) to the induction motor type generator (10) is decreased and the net power delivered to the line is increased.
A power generating system for adjustably coupling an induction motor, as a generator, to an A.C. power line wherein the motor and power line are connected through a triac. The triac is regulated to normally turn "on" at a relatively late point in each half cycle of its operation, whereby at less than operating speed, and thus when the induction motor functions as a motor rather than as a generator, power consumption from the line is substantially reduced.
An alternating current power source apparatus comprises an AC generator having a field coil which is driven by an engine; a first rectifier having one or more thyristors which rectify the AC output of the AC generator; a second rectifier having one or more thyristors which is connected in parallel to said first rectifier to give the output having a polarity reverse to the polarity of the output of said first rectifier; an AC driving load connected to said first and second rectifiers; a voltage control device for controlling the output voltage of said generator to a predetermined value by controlling a field current passing through said field coil; an oscillator for oscillating at a desired frequency; and a gate signal generating circuit which is controlled by the output of said oscillator so as to feed a turn-on signal alternately to said gate circuit of said first rectifier and said gate circuit of said second rectifier.
In an induction generator, an additional set of stator windings is provided, separate from and secondary to the main stator windings upon which the generator's output voltage is generated and supplied to the load. This separate stator winding is provided for the purpose of supplying the generator with the reactive electrical power it needs to maintain the rotating stator field and supplying any reactive power needed by the load. Thus, there is no need to use a capacitor assembly, for supplying the reactive power needed by the generator. Currents are injected into this separate winding in such a way that only reactive power is supplied to the generator. Specifically, a power measuring circuit measures the power in the additional set of stator windings, and a power error signal is formed by algebraically adding the outputs of the power measuring circuit. The power error signal is further processed and supplied as a timing control signal for generating the injected currents, which are maintained 90 degrees out of phase with an excitation voltage curve.
