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US 8,826,771 B2Granted
Energy storage device
AssigneeEmpire Technology Development LLC
InventorChristopher A. Wiklof
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Energy storage devices for storing energy are provided. An energy storage device includes a flywheel disposed in a chamber of a journal. A gas bearing is formed between an outer face of the flywheel and an inner face of the journal. The gas bearing exerts a compressive force on the flywheel, which allows for higher rotational velocities and higher energy storage.
Claims19
An energy storage device comprising:
- a journal that includes:
- a chamber;
- at least one gas inlet port in a first side of the journal, the at least one gas inlet port configured to introduce gas into the chamber;
- and
- at least one gas outlet port to vent the gas from the chamber;
- a flywheel disposed in the chamber of the journal, wherein the flywheel is configured to rotate about an axis and to store energy kinetically and the first side of the journal is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the flywheel, the flywheel comprising an outer face that includes gas bearing features formed therein, the gas bearing features including a gas inlet channel and a gas outlet channel that are substantially parallel to each other;
- and
- a gas bearing between the journal and the flywheel and formed by the gas introduced by the at least one gas inlet port, wherein the gas bearing is formed to exert a compressive force on the flywheel.
5 more elements
An energy storage system comprising:
- a gas supply to provide at least one gas;
- an energy storage device coupled to the gas supply and including:
- a journal that includes:
- a chamber;
- at least one gas inlet port to receive the at least one gas from the gas supply and to introduce the at least one gas into the chamber;
- and
- at least one gas outlet port to vent the at least one gas from the chamber;
- and
- a flywheel disposed inside the chamber, the flywheel including an outer face parallel to an axis of rotation of the flywheel, the outer face comprising gas bearing features that include at least one gas inlet channel to receive the at least one gas and at least one gas output channel, the at least one gas inlet channel running substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the flywheel and being configured to direct the at least one gas received therein substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the flywheel, wherein the at least one gas is provided to the energy storage device to form a gas bearing that exerts a compressive force on the flywheel;
- and
- a controller to control a flow of the at least one gas to the energy storage device.
8 more elements
An energy storage device comprising:
- a journal comprising:
- a chamber;
- at least one gas inlet port to introduce gas into the chamber;
- and
- at least one gas outlet port to vent the gas from the chamber;
- and
- a flywheel disposed in the chamber, an outer face of the flywheel comprising:
- a gas inlet channel substantially aligned with the at least one gas inlet port and configured to receive the gas from the at least one gas inlet port, the gas inlet channel configured to run substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the flywheel and being configured to direct the gas received therein substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the flywheel;
- and
- a gas outlet channel substantially aligned with the at least one gas outlet port.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.