Two Orthodox Objections

An expert comments

I recall mentioning to a colleague a long time ago that I was going to look seriously into the question of over-unity or "free energy" permanent magnet motors, especially ones exploiting magnetic repulsion.

This individual would be best described as a (usually) friendly skeptic, an internationally recognised expert in some areas of orthodox electrical technology, although not a leading expert on rotating electrical machines. His response was not encouraging. Although I can't remember the exact words, he said something like:—

"Well, there are plenty of permanent magnet motors out on the market already, aren't there? And I think you'll find that not one of them delivers any free energy!"

And:— "There's also a repulsion motor on the market, which certainly doesn't deliver any free energy!"

Permanent magnet motors

Large permanent magnet synchronous motor "Permasyn." Image from http://www.industry.siemens.com/verticals/global/en/marine/marine-ships/propulsion/Pages/permasyn-drive-motor.aspx

It's quite correct that motors incorporating permanent magnets have been available for many years. One large category of them is sometimes called IPM (Internal Permanent Magnet) motors. Textbooks, such as shown below, have been written on them.

Permanent Magnet Motor Technology, Jacek F. Gieras and Mitchell Wing,
Second Edition, 2002.

However, a quote from this book (p13) suggests a problem:—

The application of PMs [Permanent Magnets] to electrical machines improves their efficiency by eliminating the excitation losses. The air gap magnetic flux density increases, which means greater output power for the same main dimensions.

Not the only application

This quote is early on in the book, in its Introduction. It implies that elimination of excitation losses is the only application for permanent magnets in electrical machines. I found nothing else in this book to suggest otherwise. At a minimum, that indicates a serious lack of imagination. Could it even indicate deliberate suppression? As will be seen in future posts, there are certainly other applications for permanent magnets in electric motors — but apparently not orthodox ones already on the market.

Repulsion motor

I'll comment on the so-called "repulsion motor" next time. Some confusion in the orthodox world has to be cleared up about what is, and what is not a repulsion motor.