An energy storage system and method that enables gravity-based energy storage to have a significantly larger capacity in a single shaft for given capital cost and thus an improved cost per unit energy for large scale energy storage as well as enabling continuity of power input and output at an external connection point across the extent of the system's energy capacity comprises a multi-weight storage system having at least two weights, two transporters each with a transporter linkage that can be coupled to and decoupled from the respective weight and for transporting the weight along a pre-defined path defining a vertical displacement and defining a respective path volume, a second linkage path volume defined by the area of the second linkage decoupled from a weight and developed or swept along a respective pre-defined vertically displaced path, wherein the second linkage path volume does not overlap with the first path volume.

A flywheel system includes a rotor and a fixture. The rotor forms an aperture. The fixture includes a bottom support, a top support, and a shaft connecting the bottom support to the top support. The shaft passes through the aperture. The bottom support and the top support are outside opposite ends of the aperture. The rotor is configured to rotate about the shaft. A method for operating a flywheel system includes converting between rotational energy of a rotor and electrical energy in windings of a generator stator that is implemented in a stationary shaft passing through an aperture of the rotor, while the rotor is rotating about the shaft.

Air powered electrical generator (APEG) motive parts are mounted on an axle carrying bilateral air turbines and two intermediate rotor subassemblies. Circular rotor blade plates have scalene triangularly shaped cavities with long leading edge sides receiving compressed air flow, short trailing edge sides and an open peripheral air portal. Adjacently mounted blades are offset such that one air portal then another air portal is presented to compressed air flow from nozzles during rotation. Each turbine shroud has a manifold feeding compressed air to the nozzle, as a venturi, due alternating presented air portals. Each rotor carries permanent magnets on its radially outboard segments. Bilateral stationary stators are transversely fixedly mounted outboard of the rotating rotor subassemblies. Electrical outputs carry power from the stators when the rotor subassemblies rotate.

A system includes a source configured to provide power to a medium-voltage direct current (MVDC) bus. The system also includes a plurality of rotating electrical machines configured to receive the power from the MVDC bus. The rotating electrical machines are arranged in a cascaded configuration. One of the rotating electrical machines is configured to act as a slave to another of the rotating electrical machines. Each rotating electrical machine is mechanically connected to an inertial energy storage. The system further includes a plurality of isolated battery or ultra-capacitor subsystems electrically connected to each rotating electrical machine. The battery or ultra-capacitor subsystems are configured to receive electrical energy from and provide electrical energy to each rotating electrical machine and the connected inertial energy storage.

An energy storage system (100) comprises a switched reluctance motor having a rotor (101) and a stator (102). The rotor is arranged to be capable of acting as a flywheel for storing energy. A casing (106) encloses the rotor and stator, and the rotor is supported for rotation on the casing. The energy storage system further includes a base (109) arranged to support the casing. The energy storage system is arranged such that, in use, the axis of the rotor is generally horizontal. An energy storage installation comprising a plurality of energy storage systems is also provided.

A flywheel system includes a fixture including a bottom support, a rotor characterized by a gravitational load and configured to rotate above the bottom support about a rotation axis, and a bottom magnetic levitation bearing. The bottom magnetic levitation bearing includes (a) a ring of first magnets mechanically coupled with a bottom end of the rotor, (b) a ring of second magnets mechanically coupled to the bottom support, beneath the ring of first magnets, the second magnets repelling the first magnets to magnetically support at least a portion of the gravitational load above the bottom support, (c) a ring of third magnets mechanically coupled with the bottom end, and (d) a ring of fourth magnets mechanically coupled to the bottom support radially outwards from the ring of third magnets, the fourth magnets repelling the third magnets to at least reduce radial decentering of the rotor relative to the fixture.

Here, we have devised a system that utilizes Flux-Pinning (or quantum locking) to provide Remote Structural Reinforcement to the rotor of a Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS). This system utilizes superconducting materials to produce: (i) levitation of the rotor, (ii) a frictionless hinge to hold the rotor in place during operation, and (iii) a series of contactless quantum bonds that provide a reenforcing mechanism. This contactless reinforcement strengthens the rotor against centrifugal forces during operation. And ultimately, this system increases the tensile strength of the rotor; thereby increasing its maximum angular velocity (as well as the energy density of the FESS) without increasing the mass of the Rotor with additional reinforcement materials.

Flywheel system properties are enhanced with rim designs that control stress at operational rotational velocities. The tensile strength of fiber-resin composites can be aligned with radial forces to improve radial stress loading. Loops with composite casings can be arranged around the flywheel circumference with a majority of the fibers being aligned in the radial direction. The loops can enclose masses that contribute to energy storage in the flywheel system. Masses can be arranged around the hub circumference with a hoop wound composite casing enclosing the masses and hub. The masses subjected to radial forces are radially displaced with increasing rotational velocity and can provide compressive force to the fiber-resin composite to contribute to maintaining composite integrity. With the alignment of fibers in hoop or radial directions, higher loading permits increase rotational velocities, which can significantly add to the amount of energy stored or produced with the flywheel.

A renewable energy generation system includes a drive motor, a flywheel in mechanical communication with the drive motor, a generator in mechanical communication with the flywheel, a charge controller in electrical communication with the generator, a plurality of charge controller switches in electrical communication with the charge controller, a plurality of batteries in electrical communication with a respective charge controller switch, and a power management module in electrical communication with the plurality of charge controller switches. The drive motor effectuates rotation of the flywheel to generate stored rotational energy which is transferred to the generator as a load is placed upon the generator to maintain a constant speed of the drive motor. The power management module selectively opens or closes a charge controller switch to permit or inhibit the flow of electrical energy to a respective battery to reduce the electrical load placed upon the generator and drive motor.

A flywheel energy storage fan includes a base seat, a fan electrical apparatus serving as a motor or a generator and a flywheel energy storage device having a flywheel rotary body. The base seat has a case section and a central column section disposed on the case section. The case section has a vacuumed chamber and a bearing cup disposed in the vacuumed chamber. The fan electrical apparatus has a rotational shaft. The rotational shaft is rotatably disposed in the central column section and the bearing cup. The flywheel rotary body is disposed on the rotational shaft in the vacuumed chamber. The flywheel energy storage fan is able to save electrical energy.