Hunstable Electric Turbine claims the same range on smaller batteries! (Image credit: HET)
Linear Labs, a family-founded company, run by father-and-son, Fred Hunstable and Brad Hunstable, have developed “a new class of electric motor” called the Hunstable Electric Turbine (HET). The duo promises their HET will, for the same size, weight, volume, and exact amount of input energy into the motor, always deliver two to three times torque output of any electric motor in the world.
Two of the main electric motor designs are known as radial flux and axial flux, utilizing a fixed stator and one of two spinning rotors. The company refers to the HET as a “3D circumferential flux four-rotor permanent magnet motor”, merging both radial and axial flux designs together. The HET contains one stator positioned on all four sides by rotors. Each individual side has the same polarity so that every magnetic field moves in the direction where motion occurs.
Other additions to the HET include a copper winding layout that makes it lighter due to the use of less copper, which cuts out end windings, enabling magnetic flux to go to torque generation. The HET’s software control also allows it to overlap its power phases and can change the power phasing to imitate anything from a one-phase to a six-phase motor without having the energy input altered in the motor. It’s also powered by a lower DC link voltage, giving the HTC lower switch ratings and smaller DC link capacitors. The additional torque is generated from traditional iron ferrite magnets, which eliminates the necessity for rare earth magnets in most applications. It’s also inexpensive to build the HET because it doesn’t need any specialized, expensive manufacturing processes to construct.
Scalability isn’t a problem for the HET since it can scale up and down, with its first application being used for a small-sized mobile HET to be installed in a scooter sometime next year. The company noted their scooter motor can generate 28 pound-feet of peak torque in comparison to the Segway Ninebot ES4 motor’s 13 pound-feet when adjustments are made for volumetric and mass power density. Linear Labs said "These improvements in performance will benefit consumers with the ability for longer range and more power to climb steep grades in ways currently not feasible."
Linear Labs also believes it can scale the HET up and down for electric cars, electric motorcycles, flying car motors, wind turbines, and a wide range of in-home applications, including air conditioners. The company says “a minimum 10% more range” would be possible from the battery capacity with their motor. Additionally, the HET can also generate its torque at the same speed as the turning wheels. If true, this means an EV maker wouldn’t need the gearbox when using a traditional, speedy motor and instead can use the HET in a direct-drive configuration. This makes it inexpensive, simpler to use/run, and more lightweight.
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