SELF-PUMPING FLYWHEEL COOLING SYSTEM

摘要

A flywheel system including a rotor shaft. The rotor shaft includes an inner passage therethrough, and a dam with a central opening disposed on a first end of the inner passage. An outer passage surrounds the inner passage. The inner passage is open at a second end, and the outer passage is closed on an end surrounding the second end of the inner passage. The outer passage is open on an end surrounding the first end of the inner passage. Fluid flows into the inner passage at the first end, via the central opening of the dam. Rotation of the flywheel rotor causes the fluid to accumulate along a wall of the inner passage, and to propagate to the second end, where the fluid exits into the outer passage. The fluid propagates along the outer passage to the open end of the outer passage, where it is released.

主权项

1. A flywheel system comprising:
a flywheel rotor, rotatably mounted within the flywheel system, the flywheel rotor comprising:
a rotor shaft comprising a central bore formed therethrough; and an elongated fluid flow member disposed within the central bore of the flywheel rotor; wherein the elongated fluid flow member comprises:
an inner passage;a dam disposed on a first end of the inner passage, the dam comprising a central opening;wherein the inner passage is open at a second end, andan outer passage that surrounds the inner passage;wherein the outer passage is closed on an end surrounding the second end of the inner passage, andwherein the outer passage is open on an end surrounding the first end of the inner passage, wherein hydrostatic pressure causes cooling fluid from a fluid reservoir to flow into the inner passage extending into the fluid reservoir at the first end, via the central opening of the dam; wherein rotation of the flywheel rotor causes the cooling fluid to accumulate along a wall of the inner passage, wherein the dam prevents the cooling fluid from exiting the inner passage at the first end, thereby causing the cooling fluid to propagate along the inner passage, wherein the cooling fluid exits the inner passage at the second end and is released into the outer passage; wherein the closed end of the outer passage prevents the cooling fluid from exiting the outer passage at the end surrounding the second end of the inner passage, thereby causing the cooling fluid to propagate along the outer passage until released from the open end of the outer passage into the fluid reservoir.