Patent · US Expired

Flywheel power source with passive generator cooling

US6624542B1 · kind B1 · utility

45Cited by
12References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 24, 2001
Grant dateSep 23, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 24, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/16
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A flywheel power source having a flywheel supported by a bearing system for rotation inside an evacuated container. A brushless motor and generator is coupled to the flywheel for accelerating and decelerating the flywheel for storing and retrieving energy. The generator has a rotor coupled to the flywheel, and a stationary stator wound using multiple-strand individually insulated conductor wire coils. A heat energy transfer system passively cools the stator by heat transfer from the stator to an unpumped liquid coolant surrounding the coils and in intimate contact with the conductors in the coils. The stator is mounted in a stator coolant vessel that is partially filled with the coolant. The liquid coolant limits the maximum temperature of the coils during discharging of the flywheel power source.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.