An energy storage and conversion apparatus

摘要

An energy storage and conversion apparatus (1) comprising a support housing (3) defining a vacuum chamber (5), a rotor (9) within the chamber (5), a stator (7) arranged to drive the rotor (9) to store energy as kinetic energy of the rotor (9) and a membrane (27) between the rotor (9) and the support housing (3) to divide the chamber (5) into a first portion (5b) accommodating the rotor (9) and a second portion (5a), wherein means are provided associated with the second portion (5a) of the vacuum chamber (5) for increasing the vacuum in the first portion (5b) of the vacuum chamber (5). As a result, a reduction in energy losses due to friction as the rotor spins can be achieved.