Method and apparatus for providing a continuous supply of electric power

A continuous power system that receives power from a primary power supply and supplies power to a load, said continuous power system comprising:

• an electrical machine having a machine rotor and the capability to operate in GENERATOR and MOTOR modes, said machine operating in MOTOR mode when supplied with electric power from said primary power supply, said machine being mounted to a shaft;
• a flywheel drivingly coupled to said shaft, said flywheel driving said shaft upon an initial OUTAGE of power from said primary power supply;
• an accumulator that stores superheated liquid working fluid;
• and
• a turbine drivingly connected to said shaft and being coupled to receive liquid working fluid that has been converted to superheated vapor, said turbine being driven by said superheated vapor that is injected into said turbine when said flywheel slows down below a predetermined threshold, said injected vapor driving said turbine to drive said shaft to supply electric power to said load.

A continuous power system that receives power from a primary power supply and supplies power to a load, said continuous power system comprising:

• an electrical machine mounted to a shaft, said electrical machine operating as a motor when supplied with power from said primary power supply and otherwise operating as a generator;
• a flywheel drivingly coupled to said shaft, said flywheel driving said shaft during initial OUTAGES of said primary power supply;
• an accumulator that stores superheated liquid working fluid;
• a preheater/evaporator coupled at least to said accumulator;
• and
• a turbine drivingly connected to said shaft and being coupled to said preheater/evaporator, said turbine being driven by said liquid working fluid from said accumulator that is converted into superheated vapor by expansion and injected into said turbine when said flywheel slows down below a predetermined threshold, said driven turbine driving said shaft so that said machine generates electric power that is supplied to said load.

A method of providing backup power to a load comprising:

• supplying power, during STANDBY mode, from a primary power supply to an electrical machine that operates as a motor and causes kinetic energy to be stored in a flywheel as rotational momentum;
• driving said electrical machine as a generator from said stored kinetic energy upon an initial OUTAGE of power from said primary power supply;
• converting liquid working fluid stored in a thermal storage device into superheated vapor when said rotational momentum of said flywheel falls below a threshold level;
• and
• using a turbine to drive said electrical machine as a generator by injecting said superheated vapor into said turbine.

A method of providing backup power to a load comprising:

• supplying power from a primary power supply to an electrical machine operating as a motor, said motor driving a shaft;
• storing kinetic energy in a flywheel coupled to said shaft as rotational momentum;
• driving said shaft with said stored kinetic energy during an initial interruption of power from said primary power supply such that said electrical machine operates as a generator and provides backup power to said load;
• converting liquid working fluid stored in a thermal storage device into superheated vapor when said rotational momentum of said flywheel falls below a threshold level;
• and
• using a turbine to drive said electrical machine as a generator by injecting said superheated vapor into said turbine.