ELECTROSTATIC GENERATOR ELECTRODE-CENTERING AND SEISMIC-ISOLATION SYSTEM FOR FLYWHEEL-BASED ENERGY STORAGE MODULES

• US 20200136464A1
• Filed: 12/28/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Post, Richard F.
• Granted Patent: US 11,121,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/315 characterised by their supporting arrangement, e.g. mountings, cages, securing inertia member to shaft F16F15/31 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/025 for power storage
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 1/002 Electrostatic motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 1/08 with conductive charge carrier, i.e. capacitor machines
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 15/00 Holding or levitation devices using magnetic attraction or repulsion, not otherwise provided for electric or magnetic devices for holding work on machine tools B23Q3/15 ; monorail vehicle propulsion or suspension B60L13/00; sliding or levitation devices for railway systems B61B13/08; material handling devices associated with conveyors incorporating devices with electrostatic or magnetic grippers B65G47/92; separating thin or filamentary articles from piles using magnetic force B65H3/16; delivering thin or filamentary articles from magnetic holders by air blast or suction B65H29/24; bearings using magnetic or electric supporting means F16C32/04; relieving bearing loads using magnetic means F16C39/06; magnets H01F7/00; dynamo-electric clutches or brakes H02K49/00 ; electric furnaces with simultaneous levitation and heating H05B6/32

Abstract

Robust electro-static (ES) device embodiments, with application to energy storage flywheels as an example, are described that provide reliable, high-efficiency operation in the presence of thermal and mechanical perturbations, as well as seismic events. Electro-static generators and motors, when augmented with magnetic bearings, passive three-dimensional stabilization techniques and dynamic touch-down bearings, enable robust performance in the face of these environmental concerns, as well as efficient operation during typical operational sequences, including spin-up and steady-state modalities.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an open cylindrical rotor having a central axis of rotation and an inner surface;

a first support structure that is stationary relative to said rotor;

a first annular element having its outermost edge attached to a first location of said inner surface of said rotor;

a second annular element attached to said first support structure, wherein said second annular element is positioned in proximity to said first annular element, wherein at least one of said first annular element and said second annular demerit is configured to magnetically attract the other of said first annular element and said second annular element;

a second support structure;

an axial stabilizer selected from the group consisting of a first triplet array and a second triplet array, wherein said first triplet array comprises;

a first magnetic annular element attached to a second location of said inner surface of said rotor;

a second magnetic annular element attached to said second support structure; and

a third magnetic annular element attached to said second support structure, wherein said second magnetic annular element and said third magnetic annular element are positioned on opposite sides, one to another, of said first magnetic annular element and both magnetically repel said first magnetic annular element, and wherein said second triplet array comprises;

a first magnetic annular element attached to said second support structure;

a second magnetic annular element attached to a third location of said inner surface of said rotor; and

a third magnetic annular element attached to a fourth location of said inner surface of said rotor, wherein said second magnetic annular element and said third magnetic annular element are positioned on opposite sides of said first magnetic annular element and both magnetically repel said first magnetic annular element;

a base and at least one compression spring attached to and located between said second support structure and said base;

a guide tube fixedly attached to said base;

a guide shaft fixedly attached to said second support structure, wherein said guide tube is configured to receive said guide shaft; and

a passive stabilizer selected from the group consisting of a third triplet array and a fourth triplet array, wherein said third triplet array comprises;

a first annular magnet element having edge fixedly attached to a fifth location of said inner surface of said rotor;

a second annular magnet element having an edge fixedly attached to a sixth location of said inner surface of said rotor; and

a first inductive element fixedly attached to said second support structure, wherein said first inductive element is located between said first annular magnet element and said second annular magnet element, and wherein said fourth triplet array comprises;

a third annular magnet element having an edge fixedly attached to said second support structure;

a fourth annular magnet element having an edge fixedly attached to said second support structure; and

a second inductive element having an edge fixedly attached to a seventh location of said inner surface of said rotor, wherein said second inductive element is located between said third annular magnet element and said fourth annular magnet element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second support structure comprises a bearing support structure having at least one spherical element, said apparatus further comprising an annular bearing element fixedly attached to said rotor, wherein said annular bearing element comprises an annular conical slot facing said central axis of rotation, wherein a portion of said at least one spherical element is positioned within said slot.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein when said rotor is at rest, said at least one spherical element will be in contact with said annular bearing element, wherein as said rotor is spun up from rest, said at least one spherical element will reach a speed wherein it will no longer make contact with said annular bearing element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bearing support structure having at least one spherical element, wherein said bearing support structure is fixedly attached to said second support structure, said apparatus further comprising an annular bearing element fixedly attached to said rotor, wherein said annular bearing element comprises an annular conical slot facing said central axis of rotation, wherein a portion of said at least one spherical element is positioned within said slot.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein when said rotor is at rest, said at least one spherical element will be in contact with said annular bearing element, wherein as said rotor is spun up from rest, said at least one spherical element will reach a speed wherein it will no longer make contact with said annular bearing element.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first annular element together with said second annular element comprise a configuration selected from the group consisting of (i) wherein said first annular element is a ferromagnetic material and wherein said second annular element is a magnet (ii) wherein said first annular element is a magnet and wherein said second annular element is a ferromagnetic material, (iii) wherein said first annular element is a ferromagnetic material and wherein said second annular element is a Halbach array, (iv) wherein said first annular element is a Halbach array and wherein said second annular element is a ferromagnetic material and (v) wherein said first annular element is a Halbach array and wherein said second annular element is a Halbach array.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the net stiffness of each said at least one compression spring is smaller than the effective stiffness of said triplet array.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a flywheel based electrostatic (ES) motor/generator

9. A method comprising:

providing the apparatus of claim 1; and

rotating said rotor.