Heat energy dissipation device for a flywheel energy storage system (FESS), an FESS with such a dissipation device and methods for dissipating heat energy

• US 6,675,872 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beacon Power (RGA Labs, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Beacon Power Corporation (RGA Labs, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ebert, Todd A., Lewis, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): MCKINNON, TERRELL L
• Application Number:
  US10/243,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 165/10, 165/45, 165/104.21, 165/104.26, 165/185, 165/86
• US Class Current: 165/10
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2222/025 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0266 with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers F28D15/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/025 for power storage
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/225 Heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/227 Heat sinks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2119 Structural detail, e.g., material, configuration, superconductor, discs, laminated, etc.

Abstract

Featured are a device, system and method for dissipating at least some heat energy generated by one or more heat generating components of a flywheel energy storage system (FESS). The method includes providing a heat pipe member, having first and second ends, and a heat dissipating member thermally engaged with the heat pipe member second end and configured to transfer heat energy therefrom. The method also includes thermally engaging the heat pipe member first end to the FESS so that at least some heat energy generated by the FESS heat generating component is communicated to the first end and thence through the heat pipe member to the heat dissipating member. Further, the method includes locating the heat dissipating member in a heat sink remote from the FESS.

Claims

1. A flywheel energy storage system comprising:

a heat generating component;

supporting structure thermally coupled to the heat generating component;

a heat dissipation device, thermally coupled to the supporting structure housing and to a heat sink that is remote from the housing, hereinafter remote heat sink;

wherein the heat dissipation device includes;

a heat pipe member having a first end and a second end;

a heat dissipating member thermally engaged to the heat pipe member second end and being configured to transfer heat energy therefrom to the remote heat sink;

wherein the heat pipe member first end is configured so as to thermally engage the supporting structure such that at least a portion of heat energy generated by the heat generating component, hereinafter heat energy to be dissipated, is transferred to the heat pipe member and communicated from the first end to the second end thereof; and

wherein a length of the heat pipe member is set so that the heat dissipating member is located in the remote heat sink, the remote heat sink being capable of receiving and conducting the heat energy to be dissipated from the heat dissipating member; and

wherein the remote heat sink the heat dissipating member is configured to transfer heat energy to, is one of a gas and or a liquid.

2. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation device further includes a plurality of heat pipe members, and wherein the heat pipe members first ends are configured and arranged so as to be thermally engaged with the supporting structure.

3. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 2, wherein the heat dissipation device further includes a plurality of heat dissipating members, one for each of the plurality of heat pipe members, and wherein the second end of each heat pipe member thermally engages a corresponding one of the plurality of heat dissipating members.

4. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of heat dissipation devices.

5. A flywheel energy storage system comprising:

a heat generating component;

a housing thermally coupled to the heat generating component;

a heat dissipation device, thermally coupled to the housing and to a heat sink that is remote from the housing, hereinafter remote heat sink;

wherein the heat dissipation device includes;

a heat pipe member having a first end and a second end;

a heat dissipating member thermally engaged to the heat pipe member second end and being configured to transfer heat energy therefrom to the remote heat sink;

wherein the heat pipe member first end is configured so as to thermally engage a portion of the housing such that at least a portion of heat energy generated by the heat generating component, hereinafter heat energy to be dissipated, is transferred to the heat pipe member and communicated from the first end to the second end thereof; and

wherein a length of the heat pipe member is set so that the heat dissipating member is located in the remote heat sink, the remote heat sink being capable of receiving and conducting the heat energy to be dissipated from the heat dissipating member; and

wherein the remote heat sink the heat dissipating member is configured to transfer heat energy to, is one of a gas and or a liquid.

6. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 5, wherein the heat dissipation device further includes a plurality of heat pipe members, and wherein the heat pipe member first ends are configured and arranged so as to thermally engage the housing.

7. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 6, wherein the heat dissipation device further includes a plurality of heat dissipating members, one for each of the plurality of heat pipe members, and wherein the second end of each heat pipe member thermally engages a corresponding one of the plurality of heat dissipating members.

8. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of heat dissipation devices.

9. A flywheel energy storage system comprising a heat generating component and a heat dissipation device, the heat dissipating including:

a heat pipe member having a first end and a second end;

a heat dissipating member thermally engaged to the heat pipe member second end and being configured to transfer heat energy therefrom;

wherein the heat pipe member first end is thermally interconnected to the heat generating component such that at least a portion of heat energy generated by the component, hereinafter heat energy to be dissipated, is transferred to the heat pipe member and communicated from the first end to the second end thereof; and

wherein a length of the heat pipe member is set so that the heat dissipating member is located in a heat sink that is remote from the flywheel energy storage system, hereinafter remote heat sink, the remote heat sink being capable of receiving and conducting the heat energy to be dissipated from the heat dissipating member.

10. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 9, wherein the heat dissipating member is configured to transfer heat energy to a heat sink that comprises one of a solid or a fluid.

11. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 10, further comprising a housing thermally interconnected to the heat generating component and wherein the heat pipe member first end is configured and arranged so as to thermally engage a portion of the housing.

12. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 9, further comprising supporting structure thermally interconnected to the heat generating component and wherein the heat pipe member first end is configured and arranged so as to thermally engage the supporting structure.

13. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of heat dissipation members.

14. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 9, wherein said heat dissipation member further includes a plurality of heat pipe members.

15. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 14, wherein the heat dissipation member further includes a plurality of heat dissipating members, one for each of the plurality of heat pipe members, and wherein the second end of each heat pipe member thermally engages a corresponding one of the plurality of heat dissipating members.

16. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 14, further comprising a housing thermally interconnected to the heat generating component and wherein the first end of each heat pipe member is configured and arranged so as to thermally engage the housing.

17. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 14, further comprising supporting structure thermally interconnected to the heat generating component and wherein the first end of each heat pipe member is configured and arranged so as to be thermally engaged with the supporting structure.

18. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 14, further comprising a housing and supporting structure each of which is thermally interconnected to the heat generating component and wherein:

the heat pipe member first end of one of the plurality of heat pipe members is thermally engaged with the housing; and

the heat pipe member first end of another of the plurality of heat pipe members is thermally engaged with supporting structure.

19. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 10, wherein the heat dissipating member is configured to transfer heat energy therefrom to a fluid comprising one of a gas and a liquid.

20. The flywheel energy storage system of claim 19, wherein the heat dissipating member is configured to transfer heat energy therefrom to atmosphere.

21. A heat dissipation device for a flywheel energy storage system, comprising:

a heat pipe member having a first end and a second end;

a heat dissipating member thermally engaged to the heat pipe member second end and being configured to transfer heat energy therefrom;

wherein the heat pipe members first end is configured and arranged so as to be thermally engaged with a portion of the flywheel energy storage system such that at least a portion of heat energy generated by components thereof, hereinafter heat energy to be dissipated, is transferred to the heat pipe member and communicated from the first end to the second end; and

wherein a length of the heat pipe member is set so that the heat dissipating member is located in a heat sink that is remote from the flywheel energy storage system, hereinafter remote heat sink, the remote heat sink being capable of receiving and conducting the heat energy to be dissipated from the heat dissipating member.

22. The heat dissipation device of claim 21, wherein the heat dissipating member is configured to transfer heat energy to a heat sink that is one of a solid or a fluid.

23. The heat dissipation device of claim 21, wherein the heat pipe member first end is configured and arranged so as to be thermally engaged with a portion of a housing of the flywheel energy storage system.

24. The heat dissipation device of claim 21, wherein the heat pipe member first end is configured and arranged so as to be thermally engaged with supporting structure of the flywheel energy storage system, the supporting structure being thermally engaged with the flywheel energy storage system heat generating components.

25. The heat dissipation device of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of heat pipe members, wherein the first ends of the plurality of heat pipe members are thermally engaged to portions of the flywheel energy storage system.

26. The heat dissipation device of claim 25, further comprising a plurality of heat dissipating members, one for each of the plurality of heat pipe members, wherein the second end of each heat pipe member thermally engages a corresponding one of the plurality of heat dissipating members.

27. The heat dissipation device of claim 25, wherein the heat pipe members first ends are configured and arranged so as to be thermally engaged with a housing of the flywheel energy storage system.

28. The heat dissipation device of claim 25, wherein the heat pipe members first ends are configured and arranged so as to be thermally engaged with supporting structure of the flywheel energy storage system, the supporting structure being thermally engaged with the flywheel energy storage system heat generating components.

29. The heat dissipation device of claim 25, wherein:

the heat pipe member first end of one of the plurality of heat pipe members is thermally engaged with a portion of a housing of the flywheel energy storage system; and

the heat pipe member first end of another of the plurality of heat pipe members is thermally engaged with supporting structure of the flywheel energy storage system, the supporting structure and the housing each being thermally engaged with the flywheel energy storage system heat generating components.

30. A heat dissipation method for dissipating at least some heat energy generated by components of a flywheel energy storage system that is positioned below grade, hereinafter heat energy to be dissipated, said heat dissipation method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of heat pipe members, each having a first end and a second end, and a heat dissipating member being thermally engaged with the second end of each of the plurality of heat pipe members and being configured to transfer heat energy therefrom;

thermally engaging the first end of at least one of the plurality of heat pipe members to supporting structure of the flywheel energy storage system, the supporting structure being thermally engaged with the flywheel energy storage system heat generating components, so that a portion of the heat energy to be dissipated is communicated to the first end and through the at least one of the plurality of heat pipe members;

thermally engaging the first end of at least one other of the plurality of heat pipe members to a portion of a housing of the flywheel energy storage system, the housing being thermally engaged with the flywheel energy storage system heat generating components, so that another portion of the heat energy to be dissipated is communicated to the first end and through the at least one other of the plurality of heat pipe members;

locating the heat dissipating member above grade so that the heat energy to be dissipated is transferred from the heat dissipating member to atmosphere.

31. The heat dissipation method of claim 30, wherein:

said providing includes providing a plurality of heat dissipating members;

said providing further includes;

thermally engaging the heat pipe member second end of the at least one of the plurality of heat pipe members that is thermally engaged with the supporting structure with at least one of the plurality of heat dissipating members, and

thermally engaging the heat pipe member second end of at least one other of the plurality of heat pipe members that is thermally engaged with the housing portion with at least one of the plurality of heat dissipating members; and

said locating includes locating each of the plurality of heat dissipating members above grade.

32. The heat dissipation method of claim 31, wherein first ends of the plurality of heat pipe members are thermally engaged with at least one of the housing and the supporting structure.

33. A heat dissipation method for dissipating at least some heat energy generated by components of a flywheel energy storage system that is positioned below grade, hereinafter heat energy to be dissipated, said heat dissipation method comprising the steps of:

providing a heat pipe member, having a first end and a second end, and a heat dissipating member being thermally engaged with the heat pipe member second end and being configured to transfer heat energy therefrom;

thermally engaging the heat pipe member first end to supporting structure of the flywheel energy storage system, the supporting structure being thermally engaged with the flywheel energy storage system heat generating components, so that the heat energy to be dissipated is communicated to the first end and through the heat pipe member;

locating the heat dissipating member above grade so that the heat energy to be dissipated is transferred from the heat dissipating member to atmosphere.

34. The heat dissipation method of claim 33, wherein:

said providing includes providing a plurality of heat pipe members, the second ends of which are connected to the heat dissipation member; and

said thermally engaging the first end includes thermally engaging the first end of each of the plurality of heat pipe members to one or more portions of the supporting structure.

35. The heat dissipation method of claim 33, wherein:

said providing includes providing a plurality of heat pipe members and a plurality of heat dissipating members, one for each heat pipe member;

said providing further includes thermally engaging the heat pipe member second end of each heat pipe member with each of the plurality of heat dissipating members;

said thermally engaging the first end includes thermally engaging the first end of each of the plurality of heat pipe members to one or more portions of the supporting structure; and

said locating includes locating each of the plurality of heat dissipating members above grade.

36. A heat dissipation method for dissipating at least some heat energy generated by components of a flywheel energy storage system that is positioned below grade, hereinafter heat energy to be dissipated, said heat dissipation method comprising the steps of:

providing a heat pipe member, having a first end and a second end, and a heat dissipating member being thermally engaged with the heat pipe member second end and being configured to transfer heat energy therefrom;

thermally engaging the heat pipe member first end to a portion of a housing of the flywheel energy storage system, the housing being thermally engaged with the flywheel energy storage system heat generating components, so that the heat energy to be dissipated is communicated to the first end and through the heat pipe member;

locating the heat dissipating member above grade so that the heat energy to be dissipated is transferred from the heat dissipating member to atmosphere.

37. The heat dissipation method of claim 36, wherein:

said providing includes providing a plurality of heat pipe members, the second ends of which each thermally engage the heat dissipation member; and

said thermally engaging the first end includes thermally engaging the first end of each of the plurality of heat pipe members to one or more portions of the housing.

38. The heat dissipation method of claim 36, wherein:

said providing includes providing a plurality of heat pipe members and a plurality of heat dissipating members, one for each heat pipe member;

said providing further include thermally engaging the heat pipe member second end of each heat pipe member with each of the plurality of heat dissipating members;

said thermally engaging the first end includes thermally engaging the first end of each of the plurality of heat pipe members to one or more portions of the housing; and

said locating includes locating each of the plurality of heat dissipating members above grade.

39. A heat dissipation method for dissipating at least some heat energy generated by components of a flywheel energy storage system, hereinafter heat energy to be dissipated, said heat dissipation method comprising the steps of:

providing a heat pipe member, having a first end and a second end, and a heat dissipating member being thermally engaged with the heat pipe member second end and being configured to transfer heat energy therefrom;

thermally engaging the heat pipe member first end to the flywheel energy storage system so that the heat energy to be dissipated is communicated to the first end and through the heat pipe member;

locating the heat dissipating member in a heat sink remote from the flywheel energy storage system, hereinafter remote heat sink, the remote heat sink being capable of receiving and conducting the heat energy to be dissipated from the heat dissipating member.

40. The heat dissipation method of claim 39, wherein said locating includes selecting a given heat sink as the remote heat sink, the given heat sink having different heat transfer characteristics from those of a proximal heat sink that is proximal the flywheel energy storage system.

41. The heat dissipation method of claim 40, wherein the remote heat sink is one of a fluid and a solid.

42. The heat dissipation method of claim 41, wherein the fluid is one of a gas and a liquid.

43. The heat dissipation method of claim 42, wherein the remote heat sink is atmosphere.

44. The heat dissipation method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of positioning the flywheel energy storage system be below grade and wherein said locating includes locating the heat dissipating member above grade so that the heat energy to be dissipated is transferred from the heat dissipating member to atmosphere.

45. The heat dissipation method of claim 39, wherein said thermally engaging the first end includes thermally engaging the heat pipe member first end to a portion of a housing of the flywheel energy storage system, the housing being thermally engaged with the flywheel energy storage system heat generating components.

46. The heat dissipation method of claim 39, wherein said thermally engaging the first end includes thermally engaging the heat pipe member first end to supporting structure of the flywheel energy storage system, the supporting structure being thermally engaged with the flywheel energy storage system heat generating components.

47. The heat dissipation method of claim 46, wherein:

the supporting structure is disposed within a housing in which a sub-atmospheric pressure condition is maintained,

wherein the heat pipe member passes through the housing; and

wherein said heat dissipation method further comprises the step of forming a pressure seal between the housing and the heat pipe member where the heat pipe member passes through the housing.

48. The heat dissipation method of claim 39, wherein:

said providing includes providing a plurality of heat pipe members, the second ends of which are connected to the heat dissipation member; and

said thermally engaging the first end includes thermally engaging the first end of each of the plurality of heat pipe members to the flywheel energy storage system.

49. The heat dissipation method of claim 48, wherein said locating includes selecting a given heat sink as the remote heat sink, the given heat sink having different heat transfer characteristics from those of a proximal heat sink that is proximal the flywheel energy storage system.

50. The heat dissipation method of claim 39, wherein:

said providing includes providing a plurality of heat pipe members and a plurality of heat dissipating members, one for each heat pipe member;

said providing further includes thermally engaging the heat pipe member second end of each heat pipe member with each of the plurality of heat dissipating members;

said thermally engaging the first end includes thermally engaging the first end of each of the plurality of heat pipe members to the flywheel energy storage system; and

said locating includes locating each of the plurality of heat dissipating members in one or more heat sinks remote from the flywheel energy storage system.

51. The heat dissipation method of claim 50, wherein each of the one or remote heat sinks has different heat transfer characteristics from those of a proximal heat sink that is proximal the flywheel energy storage system.

52. The heat dissipation method of claim 50, wherein at least one of the plurality of heat dissipation members is located at a different spatial location than at least one other of the plurality of heat dissipation members. lurality of heat dissipation devices.