Heat energy dissipation device for a flywheel energy storage system (FESS), an FESS with such a dissipation device and methods for dissipating heat energy

A flywheel energy storage system comprising:

• a heat generating component;
• a housing thermally coupled to the heat generating component;
• a heat dissipation device, thermally coupled to the housing and to a heat sink that is remote from the housing, hereinafter remote heat sink;
• wherein the heat dissipation device includes:
• a heat pipe member having a first end and a second end;
• a heat dissipating member thermally engaged to the heat pipe member second end and being configured to transfer heat energy therefrom to the remote heat sink;
• wherein the heat pipe member first end is configured so as to thermally engage a portion of the housing such that at least a portion of heat energy generated by the heat generating component, hereinafter heat energy to be dissipated, is transferred to the heat pipe member and communicated from the first end to the second end thereof;
• and
• wherein a length of the heat pipe member is set so that the heat dissipating member is located in the remote heat sink, the remote heat sink being capable of receiving and conducting the heat energy to be dissipated from the heat dissipating member;
• and
• wherein the remote heat sink the heat dissipating member is configured to transfer heat energy to, is one of a gas and or a liquid.

A flywheel energy storage system comprising a heat generating component and a heat dissipation device, the heat dissipating including:

• a heat pipe member having a first end and a second end;
• a heat dissipating member thermally engaged to the heat pipe member second end and being configured to transfer heat energy therefrom;
• wherein the heat pipe member first end is thermally interconnected to the heat generating component such that at least a portion of heat energy generated by the component, hereinafter heat energy to be dissipated, is transferred to the heat pipe member and communicated from the first end to the second end thereof;
• and
• wherein a length of the heat pipe member is set so that the heat dissipating member is located in a heat sink that is remote from the flywheel energy storage system, hereinafter remote heat sink, the remote heat sink being capable of receiving and conducting the heat energy to be dissipated from the heat dissipating member.

A heat dissipation device for a flywheel energy storage system, comprising:

• a heat pipe member having a first end and a second end;
• a heat dissipating member thermally engaged to the heat pipe member second end and being configured to transfer heat energy therefrom;
• wherein the heat pipe members first end is configured and arranged so as to be thermally engaged with a portion of the flywheel energy storage system such that at least a portion of heat energy generated by components thereof, hereinafter heat energy to be dissipated, is transferred to the heat pipe member and communicated from the first end to the second end;
• and
• wherein a length of the heat pipe member is set so that the heat dissipating member is located in a heat sink that is remote from the flywheel energy storage system, hereinafter remote heat sink, the remote heat sink being capable of receiving and conducting the heat energy to be dissipated from the heat dissipating member.

A heat dissipation method for dissipating at least some heat energy generated by components of a flywheel energy storage system that is positioned below grade, hereinafter heat energy to be dissipated, said heat dissipation method comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of heat pipe members, each having a first end and a second end, and a heat dissipating member being thermally engaged with the second end of each of the plurality of heat pipe members and being configured to transfer heat energy therefrom;
• thermally engaging the first end of at least one of the plurality of heat pipe members to supporting structure of the flywheel energy storage system, the supporting structure being thermally engaged with the flywheel energy storage system heat generating components, so that a portion of the heat energy to be dissipated is communicated to the first end and through the at least one of the plurality of heat pipe members;
• thermally engaging the first end of at least one other of the plurality of heat pipe members to a portion of a housing of the flywheel energy storage system, the housing being thermally engaged with the flywheel energy storage system heat generating components, so that another portion of the heat energy to be dissipated is communicated to the first end and through the at least one other of the plurality of heat pipe members;
• locating the heat dissipating member above grade so that the heat energy to be dissipated is transferred from the heat dissipating member to atmosphere.