Flywheel battery system with active counter-rotating containment

摘要

Flywheel battery systems having improved energy density are provided. Such systems preferably have an inner rotor mounted coaxially and substantially cylindrically within an outer containment rotor. The outer rotor counter-rotate relative to said inner rotor so as to manage the net gyroscopic force generated by the flywheel system. The outer rotor has a greater relative inertia as compared to said inner rotor and therefore can be rotated at a relatively lower rotational velocity to balance the gyroscopic forces generated by the rotation of the inner rotor. The relative rotational velocities of the inner and outer rotor are maintained by a combined mechanical and magnetic drive/suspension system.