Equipment for storage of energy under kinetic form and recovery thereof in electric form and method of using such equipment

An equipment for storing energy under kinetic form and uninterrupted recovery of this energy in electric form in a gravity field, of the type comprising an enclosure, a stator within said enclosure, a flywheel rotor adapted to be magnetically suspended relative to said stator and disposed within said enclosure, touch-down bearings between said stator and said rotor to support said rotor when the latter is not suspended magnetically, and means for magnetically suspending said rotor relative to said stator and maintaining said rotor in equilibrium relative to said stator, including permanent magnet rings on said stator opposite an equivalent number of permanent rings on said rotor for creating a lifting force on said stator, a double electromagnet comprising a permanent magnet ring having electromagnet coils on each side of said last magnet ring with said ring being mounted on said rotor and with said electromagnet coils being mounted on said stator, axial rate sensor means to detect the axial rate of the rotation of said rotor and comprising coils fixed to said stator adjacent a magnet attached to said rotor, servoloop means for maintaining applied forces including the weight of said rotor compensated with lifting forces of said opposing permanent magnet rings, by connecting said electromagnet coils in feedback relationship with said rate sensor coils, a lift-off logic in said servoloop means to control the sense of initial current of said servoloop means when said rotor is supported by said touch-down bearings and no axial rate is detected by said rate sensor, damping means to prevent excessive radial excursion and comprising opposing permanent magnets and a centering member passing between them and a motor and a generator having at least one armature mounted for rotation with said rotor.