Methods and apparatus for energy storage

摘要

Flywheel-based energy storage devices, with methods for their use and fabrication. The devices have the capacity to store electric energy as kinetic energy and to generate electric energy from the stored kinetic energy. Preferred devices comprise a pair of counter-rotating anisotropic flywheels which are designed to rotate rapidly within an evacuated housing. The flywheels comprise a lightweight hub and a circumferentially-wound fiber rim. The hub and rim are fabricated from materials having high tensile strength and are connected with systems of novel tube assemblies positioned around the hub parallel to the axis of rotation. The flywheels are principally supported by magnetic bearings and are further stabilized during rotation by a self-restoring liquid bearing system.