TAE Technologies, Inc.

Example embodiments of systems, devices, and methods are provided herein for energy systems having multiple modules arranged in cascaded fashion for storing and discharging power. Each module includes an energy source and converter circuitry that selectively couples the energy source to other modules in the system. The modules can be arranged in serial arrays that in turn can be reconfigurably connected for interfacing the system with either an AC entity or a DC entity. Mobile charge stations having reconfigurable arrays are also disclosed.

A high performance field reversed configuration (FRC) system includes a central confinement chamber, two divertor chambers coupled to the chamber, and two diametrically opposed spheromak injectors coupled to the divertor chambers. A magnetic system includes quasi-dc coils axially positioned along the FRC system components.

Embodiments of systems, devices, and methods relating to a beam system. An example beam system includes a charged particle source configured to generate a beam of charged particles, a pre-accelerator system configured to accelerate the beam, and an accelerator configured to accelerate the beam from the pre-accelerator system. The pre-accelerator system can cause the beam to converge as it is propagated from the source to an input aperture of the accelerator. The pre-accelerator system can further reduce or eliminate source disturbance or damage caused by backflow traveling from the accelerator toward the source.

Example embodiments of systems, devices, and methods are provided herein for controlling source current in systems having two or more energy sources. The source current can be controlled in a manner that seeks balance in one or more operating parameters of the sources while meeting load demand. Examples of operating parameters can include charge, temperature, voltage, state of health, current, and others. Example embodiments are described that utilize a balance factor for each parameter being balanced, where the balance factor can vary with the magnitude of the parameter being balanced. A reference current can be determined that is selected to satisfy the load demand while at the same time taking into account present offset values of the balanced operating parameters between the sources. The embodiments can be applied with the system in either a discharge or a charge state.

Module-based energy systems are provided having multiple converter-source modules. The converter-source modules can each include an energy source and a converter. The systems can further include control circuitry for the modules. The modules can be arranged in various ways to provide single phase AC, multi-phase AC, and/or DC outputs. Each module can be independently monitored and controlled.

Systems and methods that facilitate forming and maintaining FRCs with superior stability as well as particle, energy and flux confinement and, more particularly, systems and methods that facilitate forming and maintaining FRCs with elevated system energies and improved sustainment utilizing multi-scaled capture type vacuum pumping.

Systems and methods for multilevel hysteresis current control for a cascaded multilevel converter having a plurality of power cells connected in series with a positive integer number of output voltage levels, and to control any shape of AC/DC current in the load, transfer electrical power from energy storage elements of the power cells to that load and recover the energy back to the storage elements. Systems and methods for voltage balancing on energy storage elements of the power cells to determine whether to inject energy into or extract energy from a selected storage element, and for zero switching state rotation technique of switching elements in each power cell of cascaded multilevel converter.

Systems and methods that facilitate forming and maintaining FRCs with superior stability as well as particle, energy and flux confinement and, more particularly, systems and methods that facilitate forming and maintaining FRCs with elevated system energies and improved sustainment utilizing neutral beam injection and high harmonic fast wave electron heating.

Embodiments that provide advanced charging of energy source arrangements for energy storage applications are disclosed. The embodiments can be used within energy storage systems having a cascaded arrangement of converter modules. The embodiments can include the application of pulses to an energy source of each module of the system. The pulses can be applied for a duration sufficient to initiate an electrochemical reaction. Feedback based pulse control embodiments are also disclosed.

Example embodiments of systems, devices, and methods are provided for energy systems having multiple modules arranged in cascaded fashion for generating and storing power. Each module can include an energy source and switch circuitry that selectively couples the energy source to other modules in the system for generating power or for receiving and storing power from a charge source. The energy systems can be arranged in single phase or multiphase topologies with multiple serial or interconnected arrays. Thermal management systems, switching assemblies, physical layouts of a module, and EV models based on a universal platform are also described.