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Bidirectional control system for energy flow in solar powered flywheel

  • US 4,649,287 A
  • Filed: 07/31/1984
  • Issued: 03/10/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An energy supply system for a spacecraft for supplying energy to at least one spacecraft load, said system comprising:

  • a flywheel;

    an electric motor connected to said flywheel for selectively supplying electrical power to the spacecraft load;

    solar energy conversion means for receiving solar energy and for converting the received solar energy into an output voltage for supply to the spacecraft load; and

    electrical control means for (1) sensing the spacecraft load voltage, and feeding back the sensed voltage to regulate the voltage supplied to the spacecraft load when the spacecraft load voltage changes, and for (2) comparing the output voltage from said solar energy conversion means with a threshold voltage and, when said threshold voltage is exceeded, activating a speed control loop including said motor so as to accelerate the flywheel to a constant speed to thereby convert the electrical energy supplied from said solar energy conversion means into mechanical energy, and, when said threshold voltage is not exceeded, deactivating said speed control loop and activating a voltage control loop for controlling the amount of mechanical energy from said flywheel which is converted into an electrical energy output from said motor for supply to the spacecraft load in according with the sensed load voltage.

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