GB2462489A - A flywheel kinetic energy recovery and storage apparatus - Google Patents

A flywheel kinetic energy recovery and storage apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2462489A
GB2462489A GB0814719A GB0814719A GB2462489A GB 2462489 A GB2462489 A GB 2462489A GB 0814719 A GB0814719 A GB 0814719A GB 0814719 A GB0814719 A GB 0814719A GB 2462489 A GB2462489 A GB 2462489A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
flywheel
coils
rotor
energy
kinetic energy
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Granted
Application number
GB0814719A
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GB0814719D0 (en
GB2462489B (en
GB2462489B8 (en
Inventor
David Murray Macdonald
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MANAGED TECHNOLOGIES Ltd
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MANAGED TECHNOLOGIES Ltd
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Priority to GB0814719A priority Critical patent/GB2462489B8/en
Publication of GB0814719D0 publication Critical patent/GB0814719D0/en
Publication of GB2462489A publication Critical patent/GB2462489A/en
Publication of GB2462489B publication Critical patent/GB2462489B/en
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Publication of GB2462489B8 publication Critical patent/GB2462489B8/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K6/00—Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00
    • B60K6/08—Prime-movers comprising combustion engines and mechanical or fluid energy storing means
    • B60K6/10—Prime-movers comprising combustion engines and mechanical or fluid energy storing means by means of a chargeable mechanical accumulator, e.g. flywheel
    • B60K6/105—Prime-movers comprising combustion engines and mechanical or fluid energy storing means by means of a chargeable mechanical accumulator, e.g. flywheel the accumulator being a flywheel
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K6/00—Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00
    • B60K6/20—Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs
    • B60K6/22—Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs
    • B60K6/30—Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs characterised by chargeable mechanical accumulators, e.g. flywheels
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K7/00—Arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with dynamo-electric machines, e.g. structural association with mechanical driving motors or auxiliary dynamo-electric machines
    • H02K7/02—Additional mass for increasing inertia, e.g. flywheels
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K7/00—Arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with dynamo-electric machines, e.g. structural association with mechanical driving motors or auxiliary dynamo-electric machines
    • H02K7/02—Additional mass for increasing inertia, e.g. flywheels
    • H02K7/025—Additional mass for increasing inertia, e.g. flywheels for power storage
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K7/00—Arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with dynamo-electric machines, e.g. structural association with mechanical driving motors or auxiliary dynamo-electric machines
    • H02K7/08—Structural association with bearings
    • H02K7/09—Structural association with bearings with magnetic bearings
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/16—Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/62—Hybrid vehicles
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/70—Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/80—Technologies aiming to reduce greenhouse gasses emissions common to all road transportation technologies
    • Y02T10/92—Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles

Abstract

A flywheel kinetic energy recovery apparatus 14 for the recovery, storage and release of energy in vehicles, comprises a first flywheel 6 and a second flywheel 4. Each of the first and second flywheels 6, 4 includes a rotor 7, 4 disposed about a set of coils 12, 5, the rotors being supported to rotate about said coils. The rotor 7 of the first flywheel 6 is attached to a flywheel element 6a, and the second rotor 4 is supported on a magnetic bearing, the magnetic bearing being provided by a magnetic field generated about the coils 12, 5 when an electrical current is passed through the coils. By supporting the flywheel 4 in this manner, friction losses are minimized.

Description

Kinetic Energy Recovery and Storage Apparatus
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an unproved flywheel kinetic energy recovery apparatus which recovers kinetic energy during vehicle deceleration, stores the energy for future use and releases the energy when required.
Background of the Invention
In an attempt to lower the environmental impact of vehicles, fuel efficiency, C02 emissions, alternative fuels and energy storage are areas of research which are currently the subject of intense investigation. Recently, the governing body of international motorsport, La Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), announced that all competition cars are to become hybrid by 2013. The FLA has also announced that the use of Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) in the 2009 Formula One season will be allowed. These changes come in response to a growing demand for motorsport technologies to be more relevant to the road cars of tomorrow. One important feature of KERS systems is the use of regenerative braking. A regenerative brake is a inechaaism that reduces vehicle speed by converting some of its kinetic energy into another useful form. This recovered energy is then stored and fed back into the system for use when required. Regenerative braking utilises the fact that an electric motor can double as a generator. The vehicle's electric motor is reconfigured as a generator during braking, and its output connected to an electrical load. It is this load on the motor that provides the braking effect. Energy can either be stored as mechanical energy * or electrical energy. In electric railway vehicles for example, the generated electricity is fed back into the supply system, whereas in battery electric and hybrid electric vehicles, the energy is stored in a **. S battery or bank of capacitors for later use. Mechanical storage systems, on the other hand, use ... flywheels to store energy. These systems work by accelerating a large rotor (flywheel) to a very high
S
*. S*** * * I. * * S S * S. speed and maintaining the energy in the system as rotational energy. This stored energy may then be used to power a drive shaft of a machine. The flywheel slows down as energy stored therein is used.
At present, however, there are a number of inherent problems with flywheel KERS systems.
These problems include windage, bearing friction, inefficiencies, power loss, tensile strength and gyroscopic effects associated with the flywheel. Windage is the frictional force acting on the rotating flywheel caused by air resistance, and can dramatically reduce the maximum speed of the flywheel.
Mechanical friction acting on the bearings is every bit as much of a concern. This force is directly proportional to speed, and at flywheel speeds of over 50,000rpm, significant amounts of energy can be lost. There are also inefficiencies relating to the input and output of energy, although flywheel efficiencies of 65-70% compare well to the 35-45% associated with battery storage systems.
Physical and electrical power losses are caused by Eddy currents in the rotor. An Eddy current is a circulating flow of electrons within a conductor that is produced when electrically conducting magnetic materials are subjected to alternating magnetic fields. These circulating eddies of current generate their own magnetic fields which oppose the overall change of field.
The tensile strength of the flywheel is another factor that must be considered with flywheel IKERS systems and defines one of the primary limits to their design. Typically, the stronger the rotor, the faster it can be spun and the more energy the system can store. However, when the tensile strength is exceeded the flywheel will shatter. It is therefore important to find high strength materials that do not add weight to the system, or to operate the rotor at lower speeds to prevent it shattering.
* Finally, when used in vehicles, the gyroscopic effects associated with flywheels may affect the handling of the vehicle. *.*. * * * S* * IS * S S * 55 * S..
S
*SS.SS * . ** . 2 0 5*
S
A flywheel KERS system that overcomes each of these problems to provide a more efficient means of storing energy would be advantageous. A number of different ideas have been proposed that tackle some of the issues, but so far none have managed to offer a complete solution.
Several prior art documents have disclosed vacuum chambers as a means of overcoming air resistance on the rotor, By encapsulating the flywheel in a vacuum chamber, as described in GB2405129A, US679477731 and US2005/0040776A1, the effects of windage are removed.
The use of magnetic bearings is described in US6794777B1 and W02004/068677A1. Here, magnetic bearings are used to support the flywheel and utilise magnetic levitation instead of physical contact. The use of magnetic bearings over conventional mechanical bearings is a great advantage as they reduce friction and can operate under vacuum without lubrication. Magnetic bearings can support the highest speeds of any kind of bearing, which makes them particularly suitable for flywheel energy storage systems.
UK patent application GB2405129A also tackles the problems associated with tensile strength and gyroscopic effects. In this invention, high strength carbon fibre flywheels are employed.
These flywheels are capable of rotating at speeds of well over 50,000rpm and are an order of magnitude lighter than their steel counterparts. To reduce gyroscopic precession, the disclosed invention incorporates two connected flywheels spinning synchronously in opposite directions. As the angular momentum of the wheels oppose one another, the total angular momentum of the system is reduced to zero. The flywheels, however, must be maintained at the same speed to keep the torque to a minimum. * ..
Summary of the Invention
SI * S *S*
* *, The invention seeks to provide a flywheel kinetic energy recovery and storage apparatus * S. which recovers kinetic energy and stores the energy for future use in a flywheel. Energy stored in the * S S. S
S I I
S SI
flywheel may be released when required. The flywheel kinetic energy recovery and storage apparatus of the invention is considered to be more efficient and less complex than systems of the prior art.
The apparatus is based on well known technologies. Notably, switched reluctance motor/generator technology and magnetic bearings are employed. A switched reluctance motor/generator is a type of synchronous electric motor which induces non-permanent magnetic poles on the ferromagnetic rotor and uses magnetic reluctance to gencrate torque. Switched reluctance motors are simpler in design and use fewer magnetic poles than other types of reluctance motor which reduces their manufacturing costs.
The flywheel may be fabricated from laminations to reduce physical and electrical power loss caused by Eddy currents. As power loss is proportional to the square of induced voltage and inversely proportional to resistance, Eddy current loss can be much reduced. By increasing the efficiency of the system, it is possible to operate the flywheel at speeds of below 60,000rpm. At such flywheel speeds flywheel shatter may be avoided without recourse to highly specialised materials, thereby reducing costs further.
To reduce air resistance on the rotor, the flywheel and coils may be contained within an evacuated chamber. Gyroscopic effects may be miriimised by rotating the engine and flywheel in opposite directions.
According to the invention, there is provided an improved flywheel kinetic energy recovery system as specified in Claim 1.
Preferred features of the invention are specified in the claims dependent on Claim 1, and in I...
the description and drawings herein. * ** * * *
* Brief Description of the Drawings **.
S
a..... * S S. * a. 0*
In the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and are by way of
example:
Figure 1 is a front view of the invention showing the main arrangement of components; Figure 2 is a cross-section of the embodiment in Figure 1 taken through line AA; and Figure 3 is a transparent side view of the embodiment in Figure 1 showing the housing and housing cover.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Referring now to Figures 1 to 2, in one embodiment of the invention there is shown a flywheel kinetic energy recovery and storage apparatus 14 consisting of two main sections 15, 16.
The first section 15 includes an extension to the engine flywheel 6 comprising a laminated rotor 7 attached to elements 6a of the flywheel 6, wherein the rotor is internally toothed. The laminations of rotor 7 may comprise sheets of material separated by insulating oxide layers. The oxide prevents current from circulating between neighbouring sheets which in turn reduces the induced voltage and increases electrical resistance. The resulting engine flyivheel is shaped like a dish. \Vithin this dish are located a number of fixed coils 12. These coils 12 are supported on a structure 13 that surrounds the primary shaft 9 which transfers power from an engine to which flywheel 6 via clutch 8 to a gearbox to which an end of the primary shaft 9 is attached. In an alternative embodiment, the coils 12 may be arranged to lie immediately outside the diameter of a multi-plate clutch 8.
The second section 16 of the apparatus 14 is a second rotor 4 lying irnn-iediately behind the rotor 7. The second rotor 4, which is laminated in the same manner as the rotor 7, and is referred to *I..
herein after as the storage flywheel. The storage flywheel 4 is of the same diameter as the rotor 7, * .* and is sandwiched between two ferromagnetic rings 3. Inside the internal diameter of the storage flywheel lie a number of coils 5 arranged in the same way as the coils 12 of the engine flywheel. The S. **** * S
S S * S S *S
storage flywheel 4 is supported on the magnetic fields generated by current passing through the coils 5, and is held in position axially by the ferromagnetic rings 3. By supporting the storage flywheel in this manner friction losses are minirnised.
As the rotor 7 rotates about the coils 12 a current is induced therein. The coils 12 of the first section 15 are electrically connected to the coils 5 of the second section, and hence a current flowing through the coils 12 gives rise to a current flowing through the coils 5, generating a magnetic field about those coils, which field supports the storage flywheel 4. The magnetic field generated by current flowing through the coils 5 also causes the storage flywheel 4 to rotate, such rotation being caused by magnetic attraction between the metal from which the storage flywheel 4 is formed (for example steel) and the magnetic field formed around the coils 5 when current passes therethrough.
This is the principle of switched reluctance. Due to the storage flywheel being supported by a magnetic field and being housed in an evacuated space, whilst electric current passes through the coils 5 the storage flywheel 4 speeds up, storing more and more energy.
When the vehicle decelerates, power is drawn from the engine coils 12 with the engine flywheel acting as a generator. This electrical power is then used to drive the storage flywheel 4, advantageously in the opposite direction to the engine flywheel (I. When current is passed through the coils 5 of the storage flywheel, the storage flywheel accelerates. In this mode the storage flywheel acts as a motor.
When additional power is required, the direction of flow of current between the coils 5 and 12 is switched such that current flows from the coils 5 to the coils 12, which cause the rotor 7 to *: *::* rotate with respect to the coils 5, providing additional power directly to the flywheel. In this configuration the storage flywheel acts as a generator and the engine flywheel as a motor.
A switch may be provided beeen the coils 12 and the coils 5 so that when there is htde energy stored in the storage flywheel 4 is small and there is a requirement to accelerate a vehicle SS *5* * * S. * * . 6 * *.
including such a flywheel KERS, then all the energy of the vehicle engine may be transmitted to the wheels thereof, rather than to powering the storage flywheel 4.
Advantageously, the apparatus 14 includes a controller which controls switching and direction of current flow through the coils 5, 12. For example, when the apparatus forms part of a vehicle transmission the controller may be arranged to control the operation of the apparatus according to how the vehicle is being driven, i.e. if the vehicle operator commands the vehicle to accelerate, the controller provides for current to flow from the coil 5 to the coil 12, and vice versa when the vehicle operator commands the vehicle to decelerate. The controller may also disconnect the coils 5 and 12. The controller may also command additional current to be drawn from the first coil during braking, thereby increasing the engine braking of the vehicle and storing more energy in the storage flywheel.
Referring now to Figure 3, the first section of the system 14 is contained within a housing 1, whilst the second section of the system 14 is contained within an airtight housing cover 2. Together these sections form a two-piece bell housing. The housing cover 2 is bolted hermetically between the front face of the gearbox 11 and the housing 1 and evacuated. The complete system 14, which includes a cooling system (not shown) for the coils, can be fully accommodated within the bell housing of most power trains. Assuming an engine flywheel diameter of 250mm, up to approximately 7kWh of energy can be stored at a maximum storage flywheel speed of less than 60,000rpm.
The energy recovery and storage apparatus of the invention provides a number of *::: advantages. in the context of vehicles, the apparatus allows a much smaller engine to be used.
Power for acceleration is provided from the energy stored in the second flywheel.
The apparatus may be configured such that it may be housed in a bell housing of a vehicle S..
transmission, and hence may be implemented in a vehicle. Further, other components of such a 0*SsS* * S S. * S * S 7 S *s vehicle may be dispensed with. For example, both the alternator and the starter motor of a vehicle may be omitted, The battery may be recharged from electrical current generated in the coils, typically the coils associated with the first rotor, thereby eliminating the need for an alternator. To start the engine, current from the battery is passed through the same coils, causing the rotor to turn, thereby removing the need for a starter motor.
A vehicle incorporating a kinetic energy recovery and storage apparatus according to the invention may also be provided with an input which allows the coils to be powered by an auxiliary source of electrical power, for example mains electricity. In such a configuration mains electricity may be converted into energy stored in the storage flywheel.
Whilst the apparatus has been described in relation to transmissions for vehicles, such a system could be used in a wide variety of scenarios where the availability of power does not match the requirement for such power. For example, a wind turbine could be used to power an apparatus of the invention, so that when the wind blows energy is stored in the storage flywheel, such energy being released when there is a demand for electricity. * ** * e * * ** * * *S.. * ** * * * * I. * *** * *
S. S *** * . S. S * . . * S.

Claims (13)

  1. Claims 1. A flywheel kinetic energy recovery and storage apparatus, comprising a first flywheel and a second flywheel, wherein the first and second flywheel each include a rotor disposed about a set of coils, and wherein the rotors are each supported to rotate about said coils, wherein the rotor of the first flywheel is attached to a flywheel element, and the second rotor is supported on a magnetic bearing, said magnetic bearing being provided by an magnetic field generated about the coils when a current is passed therethrough.
  2. 2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the rotors are formed from laminations.
  3. 3. Apparatus according to Claim I or 2, wherein the first and second flywheels are arranged to rotate about a primary shaft.
  4. 4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the rotor of the second flywheel is of the same diameter as the rotor of the first flywheel
  5. 5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the rotor of the second flywheel is sandwiched between two ferromagnetic rings.
  6. 6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a controller, and wherein the controller is configured to control the direction of current flowing between the coils associated with the respective first and second rotors.
  7. 7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, having a first mode in which the first flywheel serves as an electrical generator and the second flywheel as an electrical motor, and a second mode in *fl *.. . which the first flywheel serves as an electrical motor and the second flywheel as an electrical generator 0100*0 * * ** 0 * S * **
  8. 8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first flywheel is housed in a first housing the second flywheel is housed in a second housing.
  9. 9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein at least the second housing is evacuated.
  10. 10. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the first and second housings sit within a two-piece bell housing.
  11. 11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a cooling means.
  12. 12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second flywheels rotate in opposite directions.
  13. 13. A flywheel kinetic energy recovery and storage apparatus substantially as shown in, and as described with reference to, the drawings. * S. * . S * ** S... * . 5,* a * .* * . . * S. S..** S... * . S. ** *0 10 * a.
GB0814719A 2008-08-12 2008-08-12 Kinetic energy recovery and storage apparatus Expired - Fee Related GB2462489B8 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
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Publications (4)

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GB0814719D0 GB0814719D0 (en) 2008-09-17
GB2462489A true GB2462489A (en) 2010-02-17
GB2462489B GB2462489B (en) 2012-07-04
GB2462489B8 GB2462489B8 (en) 2012-09-19

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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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GB2479946A (en) * 2010-05-01 2011-11-02 Robert Arthur Smith Kinetic energy recovery system
GB2489523A (en) * 2011-04-01 2012-10-03 Oxto Ltd Energy storage system using switched reluctance motor
GB2501017A (en) * 2010-11-17 2013-10-09 Ricardo Uk Ltd Magnetic coupling of a flywheel having an electromagnetic pole array
US8808096B2 (en) 2009-03-27 2014-08-19 Ricardo Uk Limited Flywheel
EP2930041A1 (en) * 2014-04-07 2015-10-14 Aktiebolaget SKF Powertrain assembly, range extender, vehicle, and method of operating the vehicle
US9273755B2 (en) 2009-03-27 2016-03-01 Ricardo Uk Limited Method and apparatus for balancing a flywheel
US9391489B2 (en) 2010-11-17 2016-07-12 Ricardo Uk Limited Magnetic coupler having magnets with different magnetic strengths
EP2999095A3 (en) * 2014-09-19 2016-07-27 Traktionssysteme Austria GmbH Flywheel energy storage
US9704631B2 (en) 2009-03-27 2017-07-11 Ricardo Uk Limited Flywheel
US9718343B2 (en) 2011-04-20 2017-08-01 Ricardo Uk Limited Energy storage system having a flywheel for a vehicle transmission

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JP2002303257A (en) * 2001-04-06 2002-10-18 Hiromasa Higasa Flywheel energy storing device and design method
JP2004304920A (en) * 2003-03-31 2004-10-28 Koyo Seiko Co Ltd Flywheel power storing device
WO2007138353A2 (en) * 2006-05-25 2007-12-06 Kestrel Powertrains Ltd Regenerative braking system
CN101409478A (en) * 2007-10-10 2009-04-15 孙昊天 Permanent magnetism levitation energy-storing flywheel system

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JP2002303257A (en) * 2001-04-06 2002-10-18 Hiromasa Higasa Flywheel energy storing device and design method
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