Flywheel energy storage with superconductor magnetic bearings
AssigneeArch Development Corporation
InventorsBernard R. Weinberger, Lahmer Lynds, Jr., John R. Hull
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flywheel having superconductor bearings has a lower drag to lift ratio that translates to an improvement of a factor of ten in the rotational decay rate. The lower drag results from the lower dissipation of melt-processed YBCO, improved uniformity of the permanent magnet portion of the bearings, operation in a different range of vacuum pressure from that taught by the art, and greater separation distance from the rotating members of conductive materials.
Claims24
A system for storing energy in a flywheel suspended by magnetic levitation in a vacuum vessel comprising:
- a rotatable member having a rotation axis in a central shaft, said shaft having first and second magnetic tips formed from permanent magnets on opposite ends thereof,
- superconductor magnetic bearings, positioned to support said first and second magnetic tips and supported in turn by bearing support means, said superconductor magnetic bearings having a main direction of lift;
- cooling means in thermal contact with said bearing support means;
- and
- energy transfer means, connected to said rotatable member, for transferring energy into and extracting energy from said rotatable member, characterized in that:
- at least one of said superconducting bearings includes a lifting portion comprising melt-processed, directionally solidified material structure having a crystal structure C-axis oriented parallel to said main direction of lift.
A system for storing energy in a vertically aligned flywheel suspended by magnetic levitation in a vacuum vessel comprising:
- a rotatable member having a vertical central shaft with a rotation axis, said shaft having a lower and an upper superconductor tip on opposite ends thereof;
- lower and upper magnetic thrust bearings, having a lifting portion and positioned to support said lower and upper superconductor tips and supported in turn by bearing support means, said lower magnetic thrust bearing having a main direction of lift parallel to said central shaft;
- cooling means in thermal contact with said bearing support means;
- and
- energy transfer means, connected to said rotatable member, for transferring energy into and extracting energy from said rotatable member, characterized in that:
- said lower superconductor tip comprises melt-processed, directionally solidified material structure having a crystal structure C-axis oriented parallel to said main direction of lift.
A system for storing energy in a flywheel suspended by magnetic levitation in a vacuum vessel comprising:
- a rotatable member having a central shaft, said shaft having first and second magnetic tips on opposite ends thereof;
- superconductor magnetic bearings, positioned to support said first and second magnetic tips and supported in turn by bearing support means;
- cooling means in thermal contact with said bearing support means;
- and
- energy transfer means, connected to said rotatable member, for transferring energy into and extracting energy from said rotatable member, characterized in that:
- said vacuum vessel is maintained at a vacuum pressure of less than 10.sup.-4 Torr.
A system for storing energy in a flywheel suspended by magnetic levitation in a vacuum vessel comprising:
- a rotatable member having a central shaft, said shaft having first and second superconductor tips on opposite ends thereof;
- magnetic bearings, positioned to support said first and second superconductor tips and supported in turn by bearing support means;
- cooling means in thermal contact with said bearing support means;
- and
- energy transfer means, connected to said rotatable member, for transferring energy into and extracting energy from said rotatable member, characterized in that:
- said vacuum vessel is maintained at a vacuum pressure of less than 10.sup.-4 Torr.
Apparatus for storing energy in a flywheel suspended by magnetic levitation in a vacuum vessel, comprising:
- a rotatable member having a rotation axis in a shaft, said shaft having first and second magnetic tips formed from permanent magnets on opposite ends thereof;
- superconductor magnetic bearings, positioned to support said first and second magnetic tips and supported in turn by bearing support means, said superconductor magnetic bearings including a lifting portion structure comprising melt-processed, directionally solidified material having a main direction of lift and having a crystal structure C-axis oriented parallel to said main direction of lift;
- cooling means in thermal contact with said bearing support means;
- and
- energy transfer means, operable with said rotatable member, for transferring energy with said rotatable member.
A system for storing energy in a flywheel suspended by magnetic levitation in a vacuum vessel comprising:
- a rotatable member having a shaft with a rotation axis, said shaft having superconductor tips on opposite ends thereof;
- magnetic thrust bearings, having a lifting portion and positioned to support said superconductor tips and supported in turn by bearing support means, one of said magnetic thrust bearings having a main direction of lift parallel to said shaft;
- one of said superconductor tips comprising melt-processed, directionally solidified material structure having a crystal structure C-axis oriented parallel to said main direction of lift;
- cooling means in thermal contact with said bearing support means;
- and
- energy transfer means operable with said member for transferring energy with said rotatable member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.