Flywheel energy storage with superconductor magnetic bearings

Patent · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:6592342

Weinberger, B R; Lynds, L Jr

A system for storing energy in a flywheel suspended by magnetic levitation in a vacuum vessel is described comprising: a rotatable member having a rotation axis in a central shaft said shaft having first and second magnetic tips formed from permanent magnets on opposite ends thereof, superconductor magnetic bearings, positioned to support said first and second magnetic tips and supported in turn by bearing support means, said superconductor magnetic bearings having a main direction of lift; cooling means in thermal contact with said bearing support means; and energy transfer means, connected to said rotatable member, for transferring energy into and extracting energy from said rotatable member, characterized in that: at least one of said superconducting bearings includes a lifting portion comprising melt-processed, directionally solidified material structure having a crystal structure C-axis oriented parallel to said main direction of lift.

• Assignee: ARCH Development Corporation, Chicago, IL (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5214981; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-736677
• OSTI ID: 6592342
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 26 Jul 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
FLYWHEEL ENERGY STORAGE
FLYWHEELS
LEVITATION
DESIGN
ENERGY TRANSFER
MAGNETIC BEARINGS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PERMANENT MAGNETS
SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNETS
SUPPORTS
VACUUM SYSTEMS
BEARINGS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROMAGNETS
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
MAGNETS
MECHANICAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
STORAGE
SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES
250500* - Energy Storage- Flywheels