Difference between revisions of "Flywheel"
Anders Feder (talk | contribs) m |
(In space, should use a pair of flywheels in order to conserve angular momentum.) |
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| − | Flywheel batteries work by accelerating a | + | Flywheel batteries work by accelerating a pair of rotors (flywheels) to a very high speed and maintaining the energy in the system as rotational energy. The energy is converted back by slowing down the flywheels. |
The space environment has a number of advantages for flywheel energy storage: | The space environment has a number of advantages for flywheel energy storage: | ||
Revision as of 20:34, 3 March 2009
Flywheel batteries work by accelerating a pair of rotors (flywheels) to a very high speed and maintaining the energy in the system as rotational energy. The energy is converted back by slowing down the flywheels.
The space environment has a number of advantages for flywheel energy storage:
- The natural vacuum eliminates energy losses due to atmospheric drag.
- Cryogenic temperatures of space enable superconductor magnetic bearings that minimize friction in the system, without further refrigeration.
- Energy losses due to friction, hysteresis etc. can be utilized to heat the spacecraft.
- Due to the absence of living beings, minimal safety precautions, in case the spinning flywheel 'explodes', has to be made.
- Because of their angular momentum, flywheels can act as reaction wheels for attitude control as well, even while storing energy.
Furthermore, in vehicles, such as a lunar rover, flywheels can stabilize motion due to the gyroscopic effect.
Current best theoretical energy densities of flywheel batteries are around 200 Wh/kg.
