Flywheel storage system with improved magnetic bearings
OwnerDavid W. Lewisinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stationary flywheel energy storage system mounted to rotate in a horizontal orientation. The system includes a motor/generator wherein the rotor is positioned externally of the stator. Magnetic bearings suspend the rotor at each end thereof. Each magnetic bearing comprises a single principal actuator which supports 80% to 99% of the gravity load at that end of the rotor. Additional minor actuators, are provided to suspend the remaining portion of the load, and to compensate for dynamic unbalances.
Claims8
A flywheel energy storage system comprising, in combination, a rotatable flywheel, said flywheel being mounted to rotate along a horizontal axis, motor/generator means including rotor and stator means, said rotor means being mounted around said stator means and said rotor means being affixed to and rotating with said flywheel, means for coupling electrical power to said motor/generator to drive said rotor and said flywheel to store electrical energy in the form of mechanical kinetic energy therein related to the speed of rotation of said flywheel, magnetic bearing means for operatively suspending said rotor means and said flywheel, electromagnetic actuators for said magnetic bearing means including a single main actuator for supporting the majority of the load weight of said rotor means and said flywheel, and minor actuators for said bearing means for supporting the portion of the load weight not supported by said main actuator and for providing a balancing force to counterbalance initial load unbalances and any dynamic unbalances which may develop in said rotor means and said flywheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.