Flywheel-based energy storage methods and apparatus

An energy storage device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a shaft assembly comprising a shaft which defines an axis, contained within the housing and attached thereto;
• a first flywheel adapted to rotate around said axis, comprising a plurality of tube assemblies substantially parallel to said axis;
• and
• a second flywheel adapted to rotate around said axis in a direction counter to the direction of the first flywheel, comprising a plurality of tube assemblies substantially parallel to said axis;
• wherein the first flywheel and the second flywheel individually comprise:
• a hub including:
• a magnetic bearing sleeve;
• a core material substantially surrounding the outer periphery of the bearing sleeve, a portion of the core material forming a portion of the first face and the second face of the flywheel;
• a first magnetic ring contained within the portion of the core material which forms the first face of the flywheel;
• and
• a second magnetic ring contained within the portion of the core material which forms the second face of the flywheel;
• and
• a collar substantially surrounding the outer periphery of the core material;
• a plurality of tube assemblies positioned around the outer periphery of the hub;
• and
• a first rim positioned around the outer periphery of the tube assemblies.

An energy storage device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a shaft assembly comprising a shaft which defines an axis, contained within the housing and attached thereto;
• a first flywheel adapted to rotate around said axis, comprising a plurality of tube assemblies substantially parallel to said axis;
• a second flywheel adapted to rotate around said axis in a direction counter to the direction of the first flywheel, comprising a plurality of tube assemblies substantially parallel to said axis;
• and
• permanent magnets contained within the tube assemblies.

An energy storage device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a shaft assembly comprising a shaft which defines an axis, contained within the housing and attached thereto;
• a first flywheel adapted to rotate around said axis, comprising:
• a hub;
• a plurality of tube assemblies positioned substantially parallel to said axis around the outer periphery of the hub;
• and
• a first rim comprising wound fiber positioned around the outer periphery of the tube assemblies;
• a second flywheel adapted to rotate around said axis in a direction counter to the direction of the first flywheel, comprising:
• a hub;
• a plurality of tube assemblies positioned substantially parallel to said axis around the outer periphery of the hub;
• and
• a first rim comprising wound fiber positioned around the outer periphery of the tube assemblies;
• a plurality of tube assemblies positioned around the outer periphery of the first rim;
• and
• a second rim comprising wound fiber positioned around the tube assemblies and the first rim.

A process for generating electric energy, comprising the steps of:

• providing an energy storage device which comprises:
• a housing;
• a shaft assembly comprising a shaft which defines an axis, contained within the housing and attached thereto;
• a first flywheel adapted to rotate around said axis, comprising a plurality of tube assemblies substantially parallel to said axis;
• a second flywheel adapted to rotate around said axis in a direction counter to the direction of the first flywheel, comprising a plurality of tube assemblies substantially parallel to said axis;
• and
• transfer means for transferring energy into and out of the energy storage device, comprising:
• at least one permanent magnet within each of the first flywheel and the second flywheel;
• and
• at least one electromagnet in electromagnetic communication with the permanent magnet;
• and
• rotating the first flywheel and the second flywheel, thereby generating an electric potential between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet;
• wherein the permanent magnet is within at least one of the tube assemblies.

A process for constructing a substantially anisotropic flywheel, comprising the steps of:

• providing a rim having a predetermined inner diameter;
• positioning within the rim a hub having a predetermined outer diameter;
• providing a plurality of tubes which each have a diameter greater than one-half the difference between the rim inner diameter and the hub outer diameter;
• compressing at least one tube;
• and
• placing each tube between the rim and the hub;
• wherein the hub comprises:
• a magnetic bearing sleeve;
• a core material substantially surrounding the outer periphery of the magnetic bearing sleeve, a portion of the core material forming a portion of a first face and a second face of the flywheel;
• a first magnetic ring contained within the portion of the core material which forms the first face of the flywheel;
• and
• a second magnetic ring contained within the portion of the core material which forms the second face of the flywheel;
• and
• a collar substantially surrounding the outer periphery of the core material.

A flywheel adapted to rotate around an axis, which comprises:

• a hub;
• a plurality of tube assemblies positioned around the outer periphery of the hub substantially parallel to said axis;
• and
• a rim positioned around the outer periphery of the tube assemblies;
• wherein the hub comprises:
• a magnetic bearing sleeve;
• a core material substantially surrounding the outer periphery of the bearing sleeve, a portion of the core material forming a portion of a first face and a second face of the flywheel;
• and
• a first magnetic ring contained within the portion of the core material which forms the first face of the flywheel;
• and
• a second magnetic ring contained within the portion of the core material which forms the second face of the flywheel;
• and
• a collar substantially surrounding the outer periphery of the core material.

A flywheel adapted to rotate around an axis, which comprises:

• a hub;
• a plurality of tube assemblies positioned around the outer periphery of the hub substantially parallel to said axis;
• and
• a rim positioned around the outer periphery of the tube assemblies;
• wherein the tube assemblies individually comprise:
• a tube;
• and
• a permanent magnet contained within the tube.

A process for storing energy, comprising the steps of:

• providing an energy storage device which comprises:
• a housing;
• a shaft assembly comprising a shaft which defines an axis, contained within the housing and attached thereto;
• a first flywheel adapted to rotate around said axis, comprising a plurality of tube assemblies substantially parallel to said axis;
• a second flywheel adapted to rotate around said axis in a direction counter to the direction of the first flywheel, comprising a plurality of tube assemblies substantially parallel to said axis;
• and
• means for transferring energy into and out of the energy storage device, comprising:
• at least one permanent magnet within at least one of the tube assemblies of each of the first flywheel and the second flywheel, and
• an electromagnet in electromagnetic communication with the permanent magnet;
• and
• providing electromagnetic energy to the transfer means to rotate the first flywheel and the second flywheel.

A flywheel adapted to rotate around an axis, which comprises:

• a hub;
• a plurality of tube assemblies positioned around the outer periphery of the hub substantially parallel to said axis;
• a rim positioned around the outer periphery of the tube assemblies;
• and
• at least one permanent magnet positioned between the hub and the rim.