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US 2015/0318758 A1Published application
Electromechanical flywheel with evacuation system
AssigneeRotonix Hong Kong Limited
InventorsClaude Michael Kalev, Robert A. Rosen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electromechanical flywheel machine includes a flywheel mass enclosed in an evacuable housing.
Claims12
An electromechanical flywheel with a molecular drag pump comprising:
- a cylindrical motor-generator rotor surrounding a motor-generator stator;
- the motor-generator rotor encircled by and fixed to a cylindrical flywheel mass;
- a central axis about which the motor-generator rotor and flywheel mass rotate;
- a planar drag pump including a labyrinth ring with an annular working surface;
- the working surface in a plane about perpendicular to the central axis and centered on the central axis;
- the working surface spaced apart from an end surface of the flywheel mass by a drag pump gap;
- and,
- an elevator that moves the working surface toward the flywheel mass end surface when the gap is larger than a first selected dimension and that moves the working surface away from the flywheel mass end surface when the gap is smaller than a second selected dimension.
5 more elements
In an electromechanical flywheel with a molecular drag pump, a method of moving a gas from a flywheel mass periphery toward a flywheel mass axis of rotation, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a cylindrical flywheel mass for rotation about a central flywheel axis;
- forming a planar drag pump including an annular labyrinth ring that spaced apart from an end of the flywheel mass by a drag pump gap;
- during operation of the drag pump, moving the gas along a gas path including a first path portion with a first path direction followed by a second path portion with a second path direction;
- wherein the first path portion is a space encircling the flywheel mass and the first path direction is parallel to the axis;
- and,
- wherein the second path portion is a space that does not encircle the flywheel mass and the second path direction is perpendicular to the axis.
3 more elements
In an electromechanical flywheel, a method of configuring rotating parts that is enabled by a variable geometry drag pump, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a flywheel mass made from a carbon composite;
- providing a rotor made from a metal;
- encircling the rotor with the mass;
- engaging the rotor and the mass via an interference fit therebetween;
- providing a variable geometry planar drag pump with a drag pump gap between a labyrinth ring and an end of the flywheel mass;
- and,
- during variable speed operation of the flywheel mass in an evacuated space, controlling the drag pump gap to limit the temperature rise of the flywheel mass.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.