Modular micro wind turbine
An improved magnetic generator has been developed that is particularly suitable for creating modular micro wind turbines, although other power generation applications are contemplated. The generator utilizes a series of rotors with axially aligned magnets on each side of the rotor face. As a drive shaft rotates the rotors in proximity to stators, a magnetic flux and electricity is generated. In certain embodiments, the rotors utilize magnet pockets to stabilize the magnets. In the preferred embodiments, layers of magnets are placed in each magnet pocket to achieve magnetic amplification by having multiple magnets, and their respective fluxes, influence the stators.
1. An electric generator comprising:
a. a drive shaft; and
b. a series of alternating stators and rotors configured along said drive shaft, said series of rotors comprising an initial rotor, a first main rotor, and a second main rotor, and said series of stators comprising a first stator between said initial rotor and first main rotor, and a second stator between said first main rotor and second main rotor, and wherein said first and second main rotors comprise a plurality of axially aligned opposite magnet pockets on each side of the first and second main rotors, each of the opposite magnet pockets containing at least one axially aligned magnet, and wherein the at least one axially aligned magnet in each of the magnet pockets are oriented such that opposing magnetic poles face each other, wherein the two axially aligned magnets of the first main rotor and the two axially aligned magnets of the second main rotor create a magnetic flux in the second stator when rotated about the drive shaft.
2. The electric generator of claim 1 , wherein each magnet pocket contains two or more magnets separated by a non-magnetic magnet spacer.
3. The electric generator of claim 2 , wherein the non-magnetic spacer is less than 0.10 inches thick.
4. The electric generator of claim 1 , wherein the magnets are pie-shaped and radially arranged around each side of the rotor.
5. The electric generator of claim 1 , wherein the magnet pockets are between ½ and ⅛ inches in depth.
6. The electric generator of claim 1 wherein the axially aligned magnets are separated by an opposite magnet separator that is non-magnetic and less than 0.10 inches thick.
7. An improved magnetic rotator assembly, comprising:
a. a circular rotor having a plurality of magnet pockets radially arranged on each face of the circular rotor and a central drive shaft bore;
b. a drive shaft extending through the central drive shaft bore; and
c. a plurality of magnets, wherein magnets are seated in said magnet pockets on each face of the circular rotor in a first layer on each face so that the polarity of each magnet is opposite the polarity of the opposite magnet at both ends of the magnet.
8. The assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
a. a second layer of magnets seated in each magnet pocket on each face, where the second layer is located directly below the first layer and so that the polarity of each magnet in the first layer is opposite the polarity of each magnet in the second layer at both ends of the magnet; and
b. a non-magnetic magnet spacer between said first layer of magnets and second layer of magnets.
9. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the magnets are pie-shaped.
10. The assembly of claim 7 , where two or more circular rotors are used in series, and the gap between the rotors is 1.0 inches or less.
11. The assembly of claim 8 , where the thickness of the non-magnetic magnet spacer is 0.1 inches or less.
12. The assembly of claim 7 , where the magnets have a magnetism value of 6112-10068 gauss.
13. The assembly of claim 7 , where the circular rotor has at least four (4) magnet pockets on each face of the circular rotor.
14. An improved magnetic generator core, comprising:
a. a central housing with a hollow interior;
b. a drive shaft extending through the interior of the central housing;
c. multiple magnetic rotor assemblies located within the housing around the drive shaft, where each rotor assembly comprises, a circular rotor having a first face and a second face, said first and second circular rotor faces each having a plurality of radially arranged magnets forming a first layer and a second layer of magnets on each face, so that the polarity of each magnet is opposite the polarity of the opposite magnet at both ends of the magnet; and
d. at least one stator disposed between the rotor assemblies.
15. The generator core of claim 14 , wherein the first and second layers of magnets on each rotor face are separated by a non-magnetic spacer.
16. The generator core of claim 14 , wherein the rotor assemblies further comprise magnet pockets in which the magnets are seated.
17. The generator core of claim 14 , wherein the magnets are pie shaped.
18. The generator core of claim 14 , wherein the total depth of the combined first and second layers of magnets on said first face and second face are each between ½ and ⅛ inch in depth.
19. The generator core of claim 14 wherein the magnets on said first and second rotor faces are separated by an opposite magnet separator that is non-magnetic and less than 0.06 inches thick.
20. The generator core of claim 15 wherein non-magnetic magnet spacer is less than 0.1 inches thick.