Energy storage and conversion devices

摘要

A flywheel energy storage and conversion apparatus (1) comprising a stator (5), a rotor (7) incorporating an optical fibre (17), a light source (19) and a detector (21), wherein the optical fibre (17) is carried by rotor (7) such that a light beam can be passed along the optical fibre (17) from the light source (19) to the detector (21) during rotation of the rotor (7) to deliver information to the detector (21) indicative of a characteristic of the rotor (7). Such an apparatus provides information regarding the status of the rotor such that the complete apparatus can be shut down immediately if the rotor appears to be about to disintegrate.