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NPS Engineer Issued Patent on AC/DC Motor Technology
U.S. Navy photo by Javier Chagoya

NPS Engineer Issued Patent on AC/DC Motor Technology

By Javier Chagoya

L. Warren Rogers, an electrical engineer with the NPS Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, holds a copy of the U.S. patent he was recently awarded, Oct. 14. His innovative approach to converting alternating current (AC) power into direct current (DC) power for a variable speed DC motor could have far-reaching impact in the Navy and beyond.

"Alternating current motors are used throughout the fleet because of their rugged construction and nearly maintenance free operation," explained Rogers. "And it's this very attribute that makes room for even better improvements in reducing energy consumption, since the Navy is exploring and acting on the possibilities of DC distribution systems. There exists a need for a simple, reliable three-phase voltage source inverter, or VSI-powered, induction machine," said Rogers.

His investigations into simple and reliable, hardware-centered, VSI controllers led him to develop a new scheme, one without software or field-programmable gate arrays, that he says is scalable, simple, and can be used in many motorized appliances.

"People can finally experience the variable speed DC motors provide without the maintenance and environmental baggage that comes with them by switching to an AC motor with my patented device that provides the variable frequency and amplitude power the motor requires," said Rogers. "Three phase motors might also find their way, with my patented VSI, into dishwashers, dryers, washing machines and even counter-top appliances."

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