Flywheel energy storage system

A transport vehicle comprising:

• a motor connected to a shaft, wherein rotational energy generated by the motor is translated to the shaft;
• a power distribution system connecting the motor to an energy storage system including at least one energy storage unit, the at least one energy storage unit includes a flywheel, the flywheel having a flywheel assembly for storing and releasing energy, comprising:
• a hub configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis;
• at least one member having a laminate casing connected to the hub, the laminate casing is formed with an enclosed space for housing at least one mass with a fixed shape symmetrically arranged around the hub, the enclosed space is structured and arranged to control radial displacement of the at least one mass, such that the at least one mass is configured with a density equal to, or greater than, a density of the laminate casing;
• wherein upon rotation, an operational radial force applies a through thickness laminate radial load to the laminate casing, while simultaneously radially displacing the at least one mass to apply a controllable compressive load on the laminate casing, the applied controllable compressive load increases a predetermined laminate loading capacity by an amount of compressive load counteracting the through thickness laminate radial load, resulting in a corresponding increase in a flywheel angular velocity, that therefore increases an amount of energy stored by the flywheel assembly;
• wherein the power distribution system is configured to provide power from the energy storage system to the motor in at least one operational stage in a plurality of operational stages in the transport vehicle operation;
• and
• wherein the power distribution system is configured such that electricity generated by the motor is provided to the power distribution system in one operational stage or a combination of operational stages in the plurality of operational stages.

A aircraft engine comprising:

• a turbine engine connected to a compressor via a shaft, and a fan connected to the shaft via a gear system;
• an other turbine engine connected to an other compressor via an other shaft;
• a motor connected to the shaft, wherein rotational energy generated by the motor is translated to the shaft;
• a power distribution system connecting the motor to an energy storage system including at least one energy storage unit, the at least one energy storage unit includes at least one flywheel energy storage unit with one or more flywheel, wherein each flywheel of the one or more flywheel comprises:
• a hub configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis;
• at least one member having a laminate casing connected to the hub, the laminate casing is formed with an enclosed space for housing at least one mass with a fixed shape, the enclosed space is structured and designed to control radial displacement of the at least one mass,
• wherein upon rotation, an operational radial force applies a through thickness laminate radial load to the laminate casing, while simultaneously radially displacing the at least one mass to apply a controllable compressive load on the laminate casing, the applied controllable compressive load increases a predetermined laminate loading capacity by an amount of compressive load counteracting the through thickness laminate radial load, resulting in a corresponding increase in a flywheel angular velocity, that therefore increases an amount of energy stored by the at least one energy storage unit;
• wherein the power distribution system is configured to provide power from the energy storage system to the motor in at least one operational stage in a plurality of operational stages;
• and
• wherein the power distribution system is configured such that electricity generated by the motor is provided to the power distribution system in one operational stage or a combination of operational stages in the plurality of operational stages.

A marine power system for a maritime transport including at least one motor for driving a propulsion unit, at least one energy storage system, and one or more power distribution system, wherein the one or more power distribution system is electrically connected to the at least one energy storage system and the at least one motor for selectively providing electrical energy to the at least one energy storage system and to the at least one motor, such that a bus is electrically connecting one or more onboard maritime transport systems, the one or more power distribution system and the at least one motor, the marine power system comprising:

• a controller for controlling the operation of the one or more power distribution system and the propulsion unit, and for monitoring the at least one energy storage system,
• wherein the at least one energy storage system is for storing electric energy and supplying the electric energy to the at least one motor, along with having an energy storage capacity and at least one energy storage unit output power, such that the at least one energy storage system includes at least one flywheel energy storage unit with one or more flywheels, and each flywheel of the one or more flywheels comprises:
• a hub configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis;
• at least one member having a laminate casing connected to the hub, the laminate casing is formed with an enclosed space for housing at least one mass with a fixed shape, the enclosed space is structured and designed to control radial displacement of the at least one mass,
• wherein upon rotation, an operational radial force applies a through thickness laminate radial load to the laminate casing, while simultaneously radially displacing the at least one mass to apply a controllable compressive load on the laminate casing, the applied controllable compressive load increases a predetermined laminate loading capacity by an amount of compressive load counteracting the through thickness laminate radial load, resulting in a corresponding increase in a flywheel angular velocity, that therefore increases an amount of energy stored by the at least one energy storage unit;
• and
• wherein the at least one motor selectively receives operational energy from the at least one energy storage system and the one or more power distribution system, and the at least one motor supplies energy to the bus based upon the at least one motor generating energy.