Energy storage system comprising a flywheel
AssigneeEmpire Technology Development LLC
InventorMichael John Roberts
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy storage system is generally disclosed. An example system includes a flywheel having a substantially cylindrical flywheel portion, and a housing defining a substantially cylindrical cavity configured so as to receive the substantially cylindrical flywheel portion. The flywheel is rotatable in the cavity about a central axis of the flywheel, and an energy exchange device is configured to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy associated with rotation of the flywheel. The system may also have a magnetic restraint arranged to exert a magnetic restraining force on the flywheel in a direction towards the central axis.
Claims28
A system, comprising:
- a flywheel that comprises a body portion and at least a first flywheel portion and a second flywheel portion that extend from the body portion, wherein at least a portion of the body portion is interposed between the first flywheel portion and the second flywheel portion;
- a housing that defines a cavity configured to receive at least the first flywheel portion and the second flywheel portion, wherein the housing and the flywheel are configured in cooperation and the flywheel is rotatable in the cavity about a central axis of the flywheel;
- an energy exchange device arranged to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy associated with rotation of the flywheel;
- and
- a magnetic restraint arranged to exert a magnetic restraining force on the flywheel in a direction towards the central axis.
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for rotating a flywheel in a cavity about a central axis of the flywheel, the flywheel comprising a body portion located between a first flywheel portion and a second flywheel portion that extend from the body portion;
- means for converting between electrical energy and kinetic energy associated with rotation of the flywheel;
- and
- means for exerting a magnetic restraining force on the flywheel in a direction towards the central axis.
A method, comprising:
- receiving a flywheel in a cavity defined by a housing and rotating the flywheel in the cavity about a central axis of the flywheel, wherein the flywheel comprises a body portion configured between a flywheel portion and another flywheel portion that extend from the body portion;
- converting between electrical energy and kinetic energy associated with rotation of the flywheel;
- and
- exerting a magnetic restraining force on the flywheel in a direction towards the central axis to restrain a movement of the flywheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.