Energy storage flywheel with minimum power magnetic bearings and motor/generator
View Patent ↗An optimized flywheel energy storage system utilizing magnetic bearings, a high speed permanent magnet motor/generator, and a flywheel member. The flywheel system is constructed using a high strength steel wheel for kinetic energy storage, high efficiency magnetic bearings configured with dual thrust acting permanent magnet combination bearings, and a high efficiency permanent magnet motor generator. The steel wheel provides a cost effective, high speed construction for the energy storage rotor.
1. An energy storage flywheel system comprising:
a rotating member;
a stationary member;
a magnetic bearing system for supporting said rotating member with respect to said stationary member;
a flywheel hub section forming the energy storage portion of said system;
a permanent magnet motor/generator with a permanent magnet integral with said rotating member and held in place by a high strength retaining ring thus forming a rigid connection between said flywheel hub section and a radial bearing end stub shaft adjacent thereto;
a housing providing a structural link between said motor/generator and said bearing system;
first and second members cooperating with said housing to provide a vacuum seal for said system; and
a magnetic bearing controller for sensing rotor position and commanding currents to said magnetic bearing system to control the position of said rotating member.
2. The system of claim 1 , further including backup bearings located adjacent said magnetic bearing system, said backup bearings being available for use during system failure or a system overload condition.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said flywheel hub section is comprised of metal.
4. The flywheel of claim 3 wherein said flywheel hub section metal comprises steel.
5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a two active, one passive magnetic bearing axis support.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein said system further comprises an additional three active magnetic bearing axis support.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein said magnetic bearing system comprises first and second magnetic bearings, said flywheel hub section and motor/generator being positioned between said first magnetic bearing and said second magnetic bearing.
8. An energy storage flywheel system comprising:
a stationary member;
a rotating member;
a magnetic bearing system for supporting said rotating member with respect to said stationary member;
a flywheel hub section forming the energy storage portion of the system;
a permanent magnet motor/generator with a permanent magnet integral with said rotating member having a metal hub rigidly attached to said flywheel hub section on which permanent magnets are attached;
a sleeve for containing said permanent magnets;
a housing providing a structural link between motor/generator and said bearing system, first and second members cooperating with said housing to provide a vacuum seal for said system; and
a magnetic bearing controller sensing rotor position commanding currents to said magnetic bearing system to control the position of said rotating member.
9. The system of claim 8 further including backup bearings located adjacent said magnetic bearing system, said back up bearings being available for use during system failure or a system overload condition.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein said flywheel hub section is comprised of metal.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein said metal comprises steel.
12. The system of claim 9 wherein said system comprises a two active, one passive magnetic bearing axis support.
13. The system of claim 12 further comprising an additional three active magnetic bearing axis support.
14. The system of claim 8 wherein said sleeve comprises high strength graphite.
15. The system of claim 8 wherein said magnetic bearing system comprises first and second magnetic bearings, said flywheel hub section and motor/generator being positioned between said first magnetic bearing and said second magnetic bearing.