I think i have devised a new type of "super_transformer" for the Electricity grid?

[cupoftea]

Hi,
Whilst designing a simple inverter for low power camping useage, I discovered what I think may be a breakthrough in
National grid power distribution networks...

Imagine you have a grid phase where there is much harmonics distortions etc. And also where the voltage is unfortunately going up and down suddenly.
So then you put in a 1:1 50Hz transformer, and in addition to that , you add an inverter to its input, so that you literally
control the output of that transformer to be a sinusoidal current.
You basically put field sensors in the core of the transformer, and you switch the inverter transistors such that the
field in the core has a sinusoidal profile....then the output of this transformer will be a sinusoidal
current. Thus you have solved the problem of having too many harmonics in the mains supply system.
(by having lots of these super_transformers in the grid phases.)

What do you think?

I think this is sorely needed in todays world where electric car chargers are being suddenly turned on and off in their thousands at a time...and solar inverters are
suddenly shoving power onto the grid in their thousands at a time....this sudden switching ON/OFF of these devices puts hideous harmonic distortion in the mains supply system, even though the inverters are putting out sinusoidal current when in their steady state....and the car chargers are drawing sinusoidal current in their steady state....its the constant switching ON/OFF of huge numbers of these things in the mains which causes massive mains harmonic distortion....this is why my "super transformer" is needed.

Do you believe i am onto something here?

In fact, one version of this device will not suffer from mains transients because the semiconductors will not be in the mains supply system...they will be on separate coils which are wound onto the transformer, and effect the field in the transformer in that way....making its output current sinusoidal in spite of all disturbances.

What actually will end up happening is that the output current of this "super transformer" will be sinusoidal but its voltage will not be a true sinusoid during those times where it is "correcting" mains harmonic current distortions. The one problem where people go wrong is that they expect a mains transformer to give a pure sinusoidal voltage output...whereas its the current that really needs to be sinusoidal..

..so my invention will correct the mains current...making it sinusoidal, or "more sinusoidal than it was"....but the voltage may end up with some harmonics in it....but that is less of a concern....as long as the dv/dt is not too high at any given time. Basically we are sensing the flux in the core, and then pulsing extra coils on the core to add the "anti-flux" so as to cancel the mains harmonics....or rather, reduce them.....its kind of like those aeroplane noise cancellation devices...but doing it with core flux instead of sound waves. The device will simply work as a normal 1:1 mains transformer when the "harmonics correction electronics" are switched off.

Do you know of agencies that may be willing to assist with funding a prototype?

 

[cupoftea]

We have an idea for a "super_transformer", and it sounds to us like ionate are doing what we are doing...but I am not totally sure since they don't reveal too much.

Our idea is...

1...You have a single phase of mains with harmonic distortion currents in it.
2...So add in a 1:1 50Hz transformer.
3....Add an extra coil round that transformer.
4....switch some current in the added coil at kHz switching frequency, such that the current you induce into the transformer's secondary cancels out the harmonic currents.

…..so as you can see, this is a ruddy brilliant idea. Its an obvious idea. It sounds a little boring , since its just basic waveform cancellation. -But its excellent all the same. It wouldn't excite a professor. But then does it need to?

One of the telltale signs is whether they've hired any experts in their field. In this case they just list three people with C-suite titles, no engineering background at all.

….No A list profs are going to be interested in this...its brilliant, but wouldn't excite A listers...they have a PhD person in Power electronics at Ionate, and a good mix of softy's, mechs, and EE's....that's plenty for this kind of work which is ultimately pretty basic.

But lets not knock "basic" things....after all for example....an EV chargepoint is just a "glorified_switch"...but look what you loose if you do without it!...what's basic to a professor is magic to a sales guy who will make billions out of it!

can I fly over and see one in action ?

They likely have a small scale prototype....would it be worth flying anywhere to see it?...don't think so....the idea is a no-brainer as is depicted above.

 

[D.A.(Tony)Stewart]

How would it react to a lightning burst pulse? or a Carrington effect at 20 Hz. Would it balance an unbalanced load?

 

[cupoftea]

How would it react to a lightning burst pulse?

The auxiliary coil is not in the mains system...its just coupled to the transformer...if all the power electronics semiconductors in the aux coil get fried...then they blow up fast and become open circuit.....leaving the "super_transformer" to just operate as the plain old 50Hz mains transformer that it ultimately is.

Would it balance an unbalanced load?

Thanks, does it have to?.... standard mains transformers dont...why should it have to do this aswell as what it already does?

Carrington effect at 20 Hz

...The super_transformer has just the same robustness as a standard mains transformer to this kind if thing...because thats what a super_transformer ultimately is. Ionate call theirs a "Hybrid Intelligent Transformer"

No mention of patents or publications either. So definitely a scam.

Thanks, yes i suppose people patent everything these days.
But i would be surprised if its even possible to take a patent out on this idea .......its basic waveform cancellation.

 

[Easy peasy]

Oh - there is no phone number - go figure . . .

 

[D.A.(Tony)Stewart]

• Funding and Partnerships: Ionate has secured substantial investments, including a £3.3 million seed round in 2022 and a €16.3 million Series A round in February 2025, backed by reputable investors like IQ Capital, AlbionVC, and NATO’s DIANA program. This level of financial support suggests confidence from industry players in their ability to deliver.
• Trials and Collaborations: They are actively collaborating with major energy companies like EDP (in Portugal, Spain, and Brazil) and National Grid (UK), with pilot projects and technology trials underway or planned. For instance, their work with EDP includes design studies and live deployments, indicating real-world application rather than just theoretical promises.

 

[Easy peasy]

Is there a link to this reputable investment chain ?