Energy storage flywheel test control system
First Claim
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1. An energy storage flywheel test control system, comprising:
- a flywheel housing;
an energy storage flywheel rotationally mounted in the flywheel housing;
a sensor disposed within the flywheel housing, the sensor operable to sense an operational parameter of the energy storage flywheel and to supply a sensor signal representative thereof;
a primary control circuit coupled to receive the sensor signal and operable, in response thereto, to selectively supply a primary brake activation signal; and
a brake coupled to receive the brake activation signal and operable, in response thereto, to selectively supply a brake force to the energy storage flywheel.
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Abstract
A system and method for removing energy from the rotating group in an energy storage flywheel system during flywheel system testing includes one or more sensors is operable to sense operational parameters of the energy storage flywheel and to supply a sensor signals representative thereof. A primary control circuit is coupled to receive the sensor signals and, in response thereto, selectively supplies a primary brake activation signal to a brake. The brake, in response to the brake activation signal, selectively supplies a brake force to the energy storage flywheel.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An energy storage flywheel test control system, comprising:
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a flywheel housing;
an energy storage flywheel rotationally mounted in the flywheel housing;
a sensor disposed within the flywheel housing, the sensor operable to sense an operational parameter of the energy storage flywheel and to supply a sensor signal representative thereof;
a primary control circuit coupled to receive the sensor signal and operable, in response thereto, to selectively supply a primary brake activation signal; and
a brake coupled to receive the brake activation signal and operable, in response thereto, to selectively supply a brake force to the energy storage flywheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An energy storage flywheel test control system, comprising:
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a flywheel housing;
a flywheel assembly rotationally mounted in the housing;
a sensor disposed within the flywheel housing, the sensor operable to sense an operational parameter of the energy storage flywheel and to supply a sensor signal representative thereof;
a secondary control circuit coupled to receive the sensor signal and operable, in response thereto, to selectively supply one or more secondary brake activation signals;
a primary control circuit coupled to receive the sensor signal and the one or more secondary brake control signals and operable, in response thereto, to selectively supply a primary brake activation signal; and
a brake coupled to receive the primary brake activation signal and operable, in response thereto, to supply a brake force to the flywheel assembly. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An energy storage flywheel test control system, comprising:
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a flywheel housing;
a flywheel assembly rotationally mounted in the housing;
a motor/generator coupled to the flywheel assembly and configured to selectively operate in either (i) a motor mode, whereby electrical energy is converted to rotational energy and supplied to the flywheel assembly, or (ii) a generator mode, whereby rotational energy is received from the flywheel assembly and converted to electrical energy, the motor/generator including a plurality of windings;
a secondary control circuit coupled to receive the sensor signal and operable, in response thereto, to selectively supply one or more secondary brake activation signals;
a primary control circuit coupled to receive the sensor signal and the one or more secondary brake activation signals and operable, in response thereto, to selectively supply a primary brake activation signal;
an electrical sink; and
a switch coupled to receive the primary brake activation signal and operable, in response thereto, to couple at least a portion of the motor/generator windings to the electrical sink, to thereby supply a dynamic brake force to the flywheel assembly.
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27. A method of controlling operation of an energy storage flywheel system having at least a rotating energy storage flywheel, comprising the steps of:
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sensing at least one parameter representative of energy storage flywheel system operability;
determining whether the energy storage flywheel system is operating properly, based at least in part on the at least one sensed parameter; and
if it is determined that the energy storage flywheel system is not operating properly, supplying a brake force to at least a portion of the energy storage flywheel system, to thereby stop the rotation of the energy storage flywheel. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification