Composite flywheel development, May 1--June 30, 1976

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7232536· OSTI ID:7232536

Huddleston, R. L.; Kelly, J. J.; Knight, C. E.

A report is given summarizing Union Carbide Corporation-Nuclear Division's (UCC-ND's) composite flywheel program objectives and accomplishments for the period from May 1 through June 30, 1976. The necessity and urgency of national energy conservation is a well-recognized fact. Mechanical-energy storage, using rotating flywheels, is one of the few known methods for energy storage, and flywheels probably have the highest potential effectiveness for energy storage of any method now available. Initial application selected for the development of the composite flywheel is the heat engine/flywheel hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle, because of its high potential for the conservation of petroleum fuel in both the near and long-range time frames. Efforts have focused into key areas consistent with its experience base: state-of-the-art flywheel development, spin testing, and containment development. An operating performance goal of 20 watt-hr/lb (20 Wh/lb) energy density at an energy level of 0.56 kWh has been set by UCC-ND. The 20 Wh/lb goal encompasses both the composite flywheel and the hub that connects it to the shaft. It does not include the shaft. The goal exceeds the present performance of isotropic flywheels, and is also at the upper limit of current laboratory technology reported in the literature for composite flywheels. The thick rim with radial overwrap bands was selected as the initial design concept. Kevlar-49/epoxy was selected as the construction material, and the end of the design phase is near. A process for fabricating full-scale Kevlar-49/epoxy thick rims was developed, and full-scale rims were successfully wound. More detailed information is presented on the development plan for this budgetary period, and the present accomplishments with respect to: (1) flywheel design, analysis, and fabrication and (2) spin testing are discussed.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, Tenn. (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 7232536
• Report Number(s): Y-2072
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250500* -- Energy Storage-- Flywheels
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330500 -- Advanced Propulsion Systems-- Flywheel Propulsion
AUTOMOBILES
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
DESIGN
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY STORAGE
FABRICATION
FLYWHEEL ENERGY STORAGE
FLYWHEELS
MATERIALS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
STORAGE
TESTING
VEHICLES