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Generator Specialized for Variable Power Input


A common problem in the renewable power industry is that a generator that works well for one speed range does not work well for another speed range; yet environmental forces fluctuate up and down, often unpredictably.

ExRo Technologies Inc. is committed to changing the economics of energy generation from variable power sources such as wind, wave, run-of-river and tidal energy. ExRo’s innovative generator, the VIEG (Variable Input Electrical Generator pronounced veej), exponentially increases the amount of energy turbines can produce. Designed to work with existing and new wind turbines, the patented technology takes the place of traditional generators that are limited in operating activity to a set range of input speeds.

The Variable Input Electrical Generator (VIEG) is a permanent magnet, brushless, direct drive system. It could lower the cost of wind turbines while significantly increasing their power output.

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Official Website

Interviews

How it Works

Variable Input Electrical Generator 

ExRo has taken the path of completely redesigning the electrical generator for variable input sources. Rather than layering individual legacy machines one on top of the next, the VIEG uses a series of coils, configured in "balanced stages". The magnetic balancing allows the use of permanent magnets, yet still reduces cogging torque to a bare minimum, which allows the VIEG to operate at extremely low wind speeds (near zero). As available energy increases, the VIEG matches generator resistance to source energy by electronically adding generator stages. Conversely, the VIEG is able to drop stages as available energy (wind speed) drops, cycling up and down without hesitation and without mechanical friction. The need for a gearbox is eliminated, and a single VIEG generator scales up and down with available energy in a way that would take almost 70 individual generators to match.

The most recent stream of innovation has focused on attempts to link multiple generators together, typically with mechanical gearing. A multi-generator solution allows low speed operation by running only a single generator, and it allows the addition of additional generator capacity as available energy (wind speed) increases. The first attempts had only two generators (one small and one large) and subsequent inventions have focused on various attempts to add more generators to widen the operating band. Although this solution has to date been quite rudimentary, it has proven to provide higher output and several patents have been issued along these lines in recent years, including a recent patent which covers up to 6 generators run off a single gearbox.

Illustrations

Image:ExRo VariableInputElectricGenerator cut-away 550.jpg

Image:ExRo VariableInputElectricGenerator elongated 400.jpg

Costs

Based on its modeling, ExRo expects its generator to cost at least 14% percent less to manufacture than traditional generators, once economies of scale have set in.

Advantages

  • There are 2 streams of benefits to the VIEG. The first stream includes the mainstream benefits including reduced manufacturing cost, reduced weight, reduced mechanical energy loss, reduced power electronics costs, reduced power electronics losses, reduced fault loss, and a materially higher economic output (modeling consistently produces 30%+ improvement). The VIEG is a permanent magnet brushless system, so maintenance costs are minimal, and since it is a direct drive system, the cost, weight and inefficiency of the gearbox is also eliminated.
  • But there is a 2'nd stream arising as a result of the VIEG's unique "layered" geometry. As an example, the system is able to isolate and shut down faults when and if they occur, without shutting down the whole generator. Since traditional turbines are routinely shut down for over 10% of their lifetime, this benefit provides a material economic gain. But the benefit goes further, because the VIEG is assembled in "Stacks", repair crews are able to replace a single stack rather than remove the entire generator.
  • Another advantage of "stack assembly" is that operators can add or remove stacks to more closely match generator capacity to a specific site. Rather than select a 1.5mw system when a 1.6 would be better, operators will be able to optimize incrementally, thereby squeezing even more energy (and economic value) out of a given site.
  • Finally, since the VIEG can be assembled in sections on site, operators can use a smaller (and less costly) crane at install.

Applications

  • Wind Turbines
  • Wave Turbines
  • Tidal Turbines
  • Run-of-River Turbines
  • Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Generators
  • Portable Generators and other Gensets

Independent Testing

ExRo is about to begin field trials with wind-developer partners, who will make side-by-side comparisons of wind turbines using conventional generators and VIEG. The company expects to have its first trial in place by March – with pilot projects beginning with 5 kilowatts, then scaling to 50 and 100 kilowatts – and to have its first assembly plant up and running in 18 months.


Patents

The VIEG geometry is currently protected by issued patent, and stream of additional innovations are patent pending.

Profiles

Company: ExRo Technologies, Inc.

Founded in 2005, ExRo has ten employees – some of whom are part-time – and a number of collaborators outside of the company.

As of Q4 2008, the company has raised $1.5 million in seed funding. This has been used for viability testing, prototyping and some patent work, with remaining funds applied towards the 5kW VIEG field trials. A formal ‘A’ round of funding is expected in Q1 2009.

Inventor: Jonathan Ritchey

The generator is based on 12 years of research by inventor and chief technology officer Jonathan Ritchey.

Coverage

In the News

  • New Generator Boosts Wind Turbine Efficiency 50% - "A startup company based in Vancouver has developed a new kind of generator that could harvest much more energy from the wind. The design could not only lower the cost of wind turbines but increase their power output by 50 percent to as much as 100 percent, in some locations. (Slashdot; Nov. 18, 2008)
  • Wind >
    Better Wind Turbines - ExRo Technologies, a startup based in Vancouver, BC, has developed a new kind of generator that's well suited to harvesting energy from wind. It could lower the cost of wind turbines while increasing their power output by 50 percent. (MIT Technology review; Nov. 13, 2008)
  • Canada - ExRo Looks to Wind to Generate Profit - The Vancouver-based startup has developed a generator specifically for wind, tidal power and other forms of alternative energy, and is seeking its first round of funding to begin field trials in March. (WindTech International; Oct 27, 2008)

Comments

See Discussion page

Directories

Contact

ExRo Technologies Inc. 

Vancouver, BC
John McDonald, CEO

POC
Ben Nyland COO

Business Manager
Phone:877.944.EXRO
E-Mail: info@exro.com

Media Inquiries Only 

Lisa Ann Pinkerton
Senior Account Executive
CleanTech Practice
Phone: 415.9.77.1916
E-Mail: lisa@antennagroup.com

Antenna Group
135 Main St.
San Francisco, CA 94105

See also

- Other Directory listings • Latest • A-I • J-R • S-Z • Tree • News
- PESWiki home page See especially:
- Directory:Magnet Motors
- Overunity.com forum about magnet motors See: OS:Telesis:Main_Page GENERAL

TYPES

SPECIFIC

- Other Directory listings • Latest • A-I • J-R • S-Z • Tree • News
- PESWiki home page

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