Turning common induction motors into efficient, economic, low-maintenance, gearless electrical generators

Developed by world-class researchers from the University of Oxford Department of Physics

How it works

• Renewable energy source drives induction motor
• Automatic mechanical impedance matching of the motor to a source
• Motor’s inherent magnetic non-linearity exploited
• Optimum power harvesting over a range of speeds

Successful scaled-down 10 kW wind turbine prototype with thousands of hours of maintenance-free operation

Advantages

Utilises Existing Induction Motor Technology

• Highly cost-effective and competitive
• High-performance motors optimised through years of engineering
• Scalable: Induction motors available from 1 kW to over 10 MW sizes
• Rugged and Reliable: Capable of working in harsh conditions
• Low maintenance: Only two moving parts
• No rare-earth metals
• No corrodible commutator

Quality Product with Improved Community Acceptability

• Noiseless electrical gearbox
• Replaces noisy, vulnerable mechanical gearboxes
• Automatically extracts maximum available power
• Efficient, cost-effective power from wind or water
• On- and off-grid generation High community acceptability
• Urban planning friendly
• Reduced head weight

Patents Granted: Brazil; China; Europe; India; & US

Applications

The Grid

• Integration into the grid
  Achieves UN SDGs: Goal 7, Goal 9, Goal 13

Heat

• Drives heating systems: domestic; agricultural; horticultural; and general commercial
  Achieves UN SDGs: Goal 9, Goal 13

Thermal Energy Storage

• Surplus electricity heats water
• Compensates for supply and demand fluctuations
  Achieves UN SDGs: Goal 7, Goal 9, Goal 13

Pumped Hydroelectric Storage

• Surplus electricity pumps water to an elevated tank
• Compensates for supply and demand fluctuations
  Achieves UN SDGs: Goal 7, Goal 9, Goal 13

Water Purification

• Electricity heats water
• Water diffuses through the membrane and condenses
• Impurities removed
• Clean, drinkable water produced
  Achieves UN SDGs: Goal 6, Goal 9

Achieves UN Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 6 Clean Water and Sanitation; Goal 7 Affordable and Clean Energy; Goal 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Goal 13 Climate Action.

For further information please contact: enquiries@innovation.ox.ac.uk