Patent · US Expired

Uninterruptible power supply using a high speed cylinder flywheel

US6825588B2 · kind B2 · utility

26Cited by
12References
40Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 20, 2002
Grant dateNov 30, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 23, 2022

Classification

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

Abstract

A flywheel uninterruptible power supply includes a solid steel cylindrical flywheel levitated for rotation about a vertical axis at tip speeds greater than 250 m/s on magnetic bearings in a low pressure housing. The cylindrical flywheel has a length L and a diameter D, wherein L/D≧1.0. A motor/generator attached to said flywheel accelerates the flywheel and maintains it at operating speed for storage of energy; and decelerates the flywheel for retrieval of the stored energy. The flywheel inertia section operates with a maximum stress of greater than 60% and less than 80% of the material yield stress when spinning at fully charged operating speed. The flywheel is constructed from steel with an ultimate strength greater 150 ksi and a toughness greater than 100 ksi (in)^1/2. The flywheel is a solid steel cylinder that is hardened to centerline structure throughout the axial thickness of the large diameter portion that is greater than 40% martensite. The flywheel is a solid steel cylinder that, in normal, fully charged operation, spins at a speed that would cause a fracture failure no sooner than one hundred thousand cycles between the fully charged normal operating speed and te…

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