Additional Technologies & Services
In addition to developing the breakthrough solar inverter technology produced by TerraWatt Power, Advanced Energy Conversion (AEC) continues to develop cutting-edge technologies that address today’s energy and environmental needs in ingenious ways. Examples of these technologies/products are discussed below.
Starter/Alternator
AEC is generating a starter/alternator system that can offer substantial fuel savings in stop-and-go traffic. Emissions will be reduced in addition to the fuel savings. When tested in a New York State laboratory under simulated New York City driving conditions, the system demonstrated an improved fuel economy of 20%. The system can provide many of the benefits of a hybrid vehicle without the initial up-front cost of a hybrid, and it can be applied to vehicles that use conventional gas, E85, compressed natural gas, or diesel.
The starter/alternator system is intended to be retrofitted into the target vehicle. The system would replace the stock alternator with a more efficient alternator and improved control electronics. The control electronics interface of the vehicle shuts off the engine when the vehicle is stopped in traffic. As soon as the driver releases the brake, the engine quickly (about 1/3 of a second) restarts and the vehicle is ready to drive. The effect is similar to some golf carts that automatically shut off when coming to a stop.
Read a more complete description of the starter/alternator system and its benefits.
Integrated Motor/Pump
Traditionally, fluid pumps and the motors that drive them are separate pieces of equipment, connected through coupled shafts. The Advanced Energy Conversion integrated motor/pump represents the incorporation of the pump impeller within the rotor of the electric motor. The result is a substantial reduction in size and part count. The size reduction occurs from using the pumped fluid to directly cool the windings of the motor. The part reduction occurs from eliminating rotating seals, shaft material and bearings, among other parts. In addition, overall efficiency can be improved. Electronic control of the motor offers a variable flow pump that can increase the value of the system in which it operates. Ideal applications for the integrated motor/pump can be found where: rotating seals are a reliability problem; motor heating is a problem; variable flow is needed; or, small size and light weight are important.
Another key feature of the integrated motor/pump is that it can be designed to operate in reverse, becoming an integrated turbine/generator. This would allow extraction of power from a flowing stream, such as in a gravity-fed public water supply or in the effluent stream from a wastewater treatment plant.
Read a more complete description of the integrated motor/pump system and its benefits.
Visit the website of TerraWatt Power’s parent company, Advanced Energy Conversion.