System and method for reducing mechanical disturbances from energy storage flywheels

A method for reducing mechanical disturbances from energy storage flywheels arranged in an electrically-powered vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• sensing a net torque on the vehicle generated by the flywheels to provide a net torque measurement;
• sensing an attitude of the vehicle to provide an attitude output;
• processing the net torque measurement and the attitude output to produce a control signal;
• distributing the control signal between a vehicle actuator and the energy storage flywheels according to a control distribution law;
• and
• modifying a relative speed or orientation of the vehicle actuator and the energy storage flywheels in response to the control signal to reduce the effect of an external disturbance and the net torque produced by the flywheels on the vehicle.

A flywheel-powered electric vehicle system comprising:

• a vehicle structure;
• an electrical power subsystem arranged on the vehicle structure;
• a pair of counter-rotating energy storage flywheels mounted to a flywheel mounting plate, the pair of flywheels electrically connected to the electrical power subsystem;
• torque sensing means arranged between the flywheel mounting plate and the vehicle structure for sensing a net torque on the vehicle resulting from the pair of flywheels and generating a torque signal indicative thereof;
• a vehicle attitude sensor arranged on the vehicle structure to measure the effect of a disturbance on the vehicle, the sensor producing an attitude signal;
• vehicle attitude actuator means arranged on the vehicle structure for counteracting the disturbance;
• and
• electronic processing means arranged on the vehicle structure and connected to the pair of counter-rotating energy storage flywheels, the torque sensing means, the vehicle attitude sensor, the vehicle attitude actuator means, and the electrical power subsystem, the electronic processing means for processing the attitude signal and the torque signal and providing a control signal in response thereto to the vehicle attitude actuator means thereby reducing a net torque on the vehicle.

An energy storage system providing enhanced mechanical stability in an electrically-powered vehicle, said system comprising:

• a pair of counter-rotating energy storage flywheels producing a net torque;
• means for sensing the net torque and providing a net torque signal in response thereto;
• means, connected to the means for sensing, for processing the net torque signal and producing a control signal;
• means for applying an attitude control law;
• a vehicle control actuator connected to the vehicle;
• means for applying a control distribution law arranged between the means for applying the attitude control law and the vehicle control actuator, said control distribution law being applied to the vehicle control actuator and to the energy storage flywheels;
• and
• means responsive to the control signal for controlling the pair of flywheels to reduce the net torque produced by the pair of flywheels.

An energy storage system providing enhanced mechanical stability in an electrically-powered craft, the system comprising:

• dynamics control means for controlling dynamic operation of the craft;
• attitude sensing means for sensing disturbances affecting an attitude of the craft and providing an output indicative of the disturbance;
• attitude control means constructed and arranged to receive the output of the attitude sensing means and providing an attitude control output signal;
• distribution control means, constructed and arranged to receive the attitude control output signal from the attitude control means, for apportioning torque by providing a first output and a second output;
• a pair of counter-rotating energy storage flywheels constructed and arranged to receive the first output of the distribution control means and provide a reduced net flywheel torque to the dynamics control means;
• and
• control actuator means constructed and arranged to receive the second output of the distribution control means and provide a control torque to the dynamics control means;
• wherein the attitude sensing means, the attitude control means, the distribution control means, the pair of flywheels and the control actuator means form a feedback loop with the dynamics control means.