Remote Structural Reinforcement of the Flywheel Energy Storage System
AssigneeChristopher Hugh Powell
InventorChristopher Hugh Powell
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Abstract
Here, we have devised a system that utilizes Flux-Pinning (or quantum locking) to provide Remote Structural Reinforcement to the rotor of a Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS). This system utilizes superconducting materials to produce: (i) levitation of the rotor, (ii) a frictionless hinge to hold the rotor in place during operation, and (iii) a series of contactless quantum bonds that provide a reenforcing mechanism. This contactless reinforcement strengthens the rotor against centrifugal forces during operation. And ultimately, this system increases the tensile strength of the rotor; thereby increasing its maximum angular velocity (as well as the energy density of the FESS) without increasing the mass of the Rotor with additional reinforcement materials.
Claims47
A Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS) that utilizes flux pinning in a manner that allows the physical reinforcements—placed around or within the stator—to provide contactless reinforcement to the rotor during the FESS' operation. Hence, the FESS provides Remote Structural Reinforcement to the rotor during operation;
- and this advanced FESS comprises:
- a Levitator, which may either be (i) a bulk HTSC or (ii) one composed of ultra thin layers of High Temperature Superconductor (HTSC) having been brought to its critical temperature(s) enabling the superconducting characteristics of its components;
- further, each layer of HTSC may be separated from one another by layers of ultra thin reinforcement-materials;
- and Levitator may also be encased in layers of reinforcement materials;
- said reinforcement materials must not inhibit the superconductivity or magnetic penetration of various components;
- a cylindrical permanent magnet, which may be a superconducting magnet with components brought to their critical temperature(s) enabling their superconducting characteristics;
- and which may be encased in (and/or embedded with) layers of reinforcement material;
- said reinforcement materials must not inhibit the superconductivity or magnetic penetration of various components;
- a contactless-levitating-revolute joint (or frictionless hinge) upon which the rotor can move about the stator in a circular contactless fashion;
- such joint will be formed as the Levitator is brought within range of the appropriate portion of the cylindrical permanent magnet's axially symmetric magnetic field—establishing Vortices between Levitator and magnet;
- a rotor, for which either the cylindrical permanent magnet or the Levitator may be designated, that will act as the moving component of the FESS;
- whereby, the rotor is be constructed in a manner, in which the flux pinning materials of the rotor are positioned around and within the rotor's mass to reinforce the non-flux pinning materials (within the rotor) (if any) from centrifugal stress;
- as such, the outermost rim of the rotor should be composed entirely of the materials undergoing flux pinning interactions;
- a stator, for which either the cylindrical permanent magnet or the Levitator may be designated, that will act as the stationary component of the FESS;
- whereby the stator is be constructed in a manner, in which the non-flux pinning materials of the stator are positioned (around and (potentially) within) the stator's mass to reinforce the flux pinning materials (within the stator) from the centrifugal stress transmitted from the rotor during the flux pinning interactions;
- as such, the outermost rim of the stator should be composed entirely of the materials that are not undergoing flux pinning interactions;
- an electromagnetic motor/generator, wherein the motor—using electricity—accelerates the rotor to store energy, and wherein the generator later extracts energy from the rotor's motion to generate electricity;
- a vacuum chamber, in which all (or a portion of) the air has been evacuated, to reduce friction and increase insulation;
- and
- a refrigeration (and insulation) system for the retention of the critical temperature(s) of the superconducting components.
A method for providing Remote Structural Reinforcement to the rotor of a Flywheel Energy Storage System, the method comprising:
- flux pinning a Levitator with a cylindrical permanent magnet on a plane of the axially symmetric magnetic field—in such a way that one of the pair is levitating above the other and is able to move in a circular fashion above its partner;
- setting up one of the pair, either the levitator or the cylindrical permanent magnet, as the stator;
- setting up the other of the pair, either the levitator or the cylindrical permanent magnet, as the rotor;
- positioning materials within the rotor in such a way that the flux pinning materials within the rotor's mass reinforce the non-flux pinning materials (within the rotor's mass) from centrifugal stress during operation;
- positioning materials within the stator in such a way that the reinforcement materials within the stator's mass reinforce the flux pinning materials (within the stator's mass) from centrifugal stress transmitted from the rotor during operation;
- placing the rotor and reinforced stator into a vacuum chamber, in which all or a part of the air has been removed, to reduced air resistance and increase insulation;
- providing refrigeration and insulation (as needed) to maintain the critical temperatures of any superconducting components;
- accelerating the rotor—to store energy—using a contactless electromagnetic motor/generator;
- and
- decelerating the rotor—to extract energy—using a contactless electromagnetic motor/generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.