ELECTROSTATIC GENERATOR ELECTRODE-CENTERING AND SEISMIC-ISOLATION SYSTEM FOR FLYWHEEL-BASED ENERGY STORAGE MODULES

Abstract

Robust electro-static (ES) device embodiments, with application to energy storage flywheels as an example, are described that provide reliable, high-efficiency operation in the presence of thermal and mechanical perturbations, as well as seismic events. Electro-static generators and motors, when augmented with magnetic bearings, passive three-dimensional stabilization techniques and dynamic touch-down bearings, enable robust performance in the face of these environmental concerns, as well as efficient operation during typical operational sequences, including spin-up and steady-state modalities.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising: an open cylindrical rotor having a central axis of rotation; a first support structure that is stationary relative to said rotor; a first annular element having its outermost edge attached to the inner surface of said rotor; a second annular element attached to said first support structure, wherein said second annular element is positioned in proximity to said first annular element, wherein at least one of said first annular element and said second annular element is configured to magnetically attract the other of said first annular element and said second annular element; a second support structure; an axial stabilizer selected from the group consisting of a first triplet array and a second triplet array, wherein said first triplet array comprises: a first magnetic annular element attached to the inner surface of said rotor; a second magnetic annular element attached to said second support structure; and a third magnetic annular element attached to said second support structure, wherein said second magnetic annular element and said third magnetic annular element are positioned on opposite sides, one to another, of said first magnetic annular element and both magnetically repel said first magnetic annular element, and wherein said second triplet array comprises: a first magnetic annular element attached to said second structure; a second magnetic annular element attached to the inner surface of said rotor; and a third magnetic annular element attached to the inner surface of said rotor, wherein said second magnetic annular element and said third magnetic annular element are positioned on opposite sides of said first magnetic annular element and both magnetically repel said first magnetic annular element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first annular element together with said second annular element comprise a configuration selected from the group consisting of (i) wherein said first annular element is a ferromagnetic material and wherein said second annular element is a magnet (ii) wherein said first annular element is a magnet and wherein said second annular element is a ferromagnetic material, (iii) wherein said first annular element is a ferromagnetic material and wherein said second annular element is a Halbach array, (iv) wherein said first annular element is a Halbach array and wherein said second annular element is a ferromagnetic material and (v) wherein said first annular element is a Halbach array and wherein said second annular element is a Halbach array.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first annular element is located closer to said first support structure than said first magnetic annular element.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one compression spring attached to and located between said second support structure and a base.

4. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first magnetic annular element, said second magnetic annular element and said third magnetic annular element are altogether called a centering triplet magnet array, wherein the net stiffness of each said at least one compression spring is smaller than the effective stiffness of said centering triplet magnet array.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second support structure comprises a guide shaft located collinearly with a desired system axis, wherein said base comprises a guide tube configured to receive said guide shaft.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of annular magnet elements having their innermost edges in contact with the inner surface of said rotor, further comprising an inductive element located between the annular magnets of said pair of annular magnets and wherein said inductive element is attached to said second support structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of annular magnet elements attached to said support structure, further comprising an inductive element located between the annular magnets of said pair of annular magnets and wherein said inductive element has an outer edge attached to the inner surface of said rotor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a flywheel based electrostatic (ES) motor/generator

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first HB array ring and said second HB ring array are configured together to maintain radial alignment of the rotor to said desired system axis.

10. An apparatus, comprising: a vertically oriented open cylindrical rotor having a central axis of rotation; a supporting first structure that is stationary relative to said rotor, wherein said first structure is located above said rotor; an annular magnetic first element having its outermost edge attached to the upper inner surface of said rotor; an annular magnetic second element attached to said first support structure, wherein said second element is positioned above, and separated by a gap from, said first element, wherein said first element and said second element are magnetically attracting one to another; a supporting second structure; an annular magnetic third element having its outermost edge attached to the lower inner surface of said rotor; an annular magnetic fourth element attached to said second structure; and an annular magnetic fifth element attached to said second structure, wherein said fourth element and said fifth element are positioned on opposite sides of said third element and magnetically repel said third element.

11. An apparatus, comprising: a vertically oriented open cylindrical rotor having a central axis of rotation; a supporting first structure that is stationary relative to said rotor, wherein said first structure is located above said rotor; an annular magnetic first element having its outermost edge attached to the upper inner surface of said rotor; an annular magnetic second element attached to said first support structure, wherein said second element is positioned above, and separated by a gap from, said first element, wherein said first element and said second element are magnetically attracting one to another; a supporting second structure; an annular magnetic third element attached to said second structure; an annular magnetic fourth element having its outermost edge attached to the inner surface of said rotor; and an annular magnetic fifth element having its outermost edge attached to the inner surface of said rotor, wherein said fourth element and said fifth element are positioned on opposite sides of said third element and magnetically repel said third element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the disclosure, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0020] FIG. 1A depicts a top view of a multi-element electrostatic motor of the prior art, comprised of fan-like, planar electrodes.

[0021] FIG. 1B depicts a cross-sectional side view of the multi-element electrostatic motor of FIG. 1A.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an ES device, augmented with magnetic levitating arrays and magnetic centering arrays.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows an example of a linear Halbach magnetic array of the prior art.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a calculation of the resultant magnetic field distribution from the Halbach array of FIG. 3.

[0025] FIG. 5A depicts a side view of a Halbach array-based axial stabilizer of the prior art, configured using a pair of disc-shaped Halbach arrays, between which is an inductive circuit disc, coaxially configured about a common axis.

[0026] FIG. 5B depicts a top view of the inductive circuit disc component of FIG. 5A.

[0027] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the ES device of FIG. 2, augmented with a Halbach-based axial stabilizing array.

[0028] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a touch-down bearing assembly.

[0029] FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of an ES device, 800, to which is integrated the touch-down bearing

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2, which depicts a flywheel based electrostatic (ES) motor/generator, 200. A key aspect of this invention pertains to methods by which to maintain the centering of the rotating electrodes (the rotor) within a close tolerance relative to the stator electrodes. Without loss of generality, the revolving rotor in this embodiment is of a nominal radius greater than that of the fixed stator. In other embodiments, the rotor can be of a nominal radius less than that of the stator, in which case, similar device augmentations, as discussed herein, equally apply.

[0031] Turning now to FIG. 2, the basic components of a stabilized ES device 200 are shown. The device is comprised of a flywheel rotor assembly, 220, which consists of multiple rotor electrode elements 225. In addition, the device is comprised of a stationary stator assembly, 230, which consists of multiple stator electrode elements, 235. The rotor and stator elements are configured so that they alternate with one another along the axial direction.

[0032] The radial alignment of the respective rotor and stator elements is maintained by a pair of non-contacting, annular, levitating arrays 240, with one of the arrays affixed to the rotor assembly 220, and the opposing array affixed to an upper support structure, 210. The respective field poles of the upper levitating arrays are oriented so that the force between the pair of annular magnetic elements is attractive. In this configuration, the radial alignment is stable, whereas, the axial alignment is unstable.

[0033] The axial alignment of the respective rotor and stator elements is maintained by a magnetic centering array 250. This passive array provides a centering force, which acts between the respective support structures, 220 and 230. In this example, the centering array 250 is in the form of three annular magnet arrays, referred to as a “triplet array.” This array is comprised of either annular magnets or opposing annular Halbach arrays, whose periodicity is in the radial direction. The magnetic poles of the respective elements that comprise the triplet array 250 are oriented so that a repulsive force is formed between the central element with respect to each of the surrounding elements (i.e., the upper and lower elements) of the ensemble. In this configuration, the axial alignment is stable, whereas, the radial alignment is unstable.

[0034] Returning to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the upper and lower arrays that comprise the triplet centering array are rigidly supported from below on a planar structure, 215, which is, in turn, supported by compression springs, 260 and 265. The platform 215 also supports the stator assembly 230, to which is attached the respective stator electrodes 235. On the other hand, the central element of the triplet centering array 250 is rigidly attached to the rotor assembly 220, to which is attached the respective rotor electrodes 235.

[0035] To ensure that the motion of the planar support platform 215 is constrained to purely vertical motion, it is fitted with one or more guide pins and guide sleeves, 218, as shown in FIG. 2. Alternate means for constraining the support platform will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on this disclosure. Also included in this embodiment are compression-spring centering elements, 260 and 265; and a seismic isolation support structure, 205. The net stiffness of the compression springs 260 and 265 are selected to be much smaller than that of the effective stiffness of the centering triplet magnet array 250. Using this design rule, the relative axial position of the rotor electrodes 225 and stator electrodes 235 will be maintained nearly constant, even for large (environmentally induced) changes in the gap between the support plate 215 and the base-plate 205 of the flywheel module.

[0036] For this system, the change in the gap, Δg, of the centering triple magnet array 250 (and thus of the gap between the rotor and stator electrodes) as a function of the change in vertical position of the rotor, Δz, is given by Equation (1) as follows:

[00001]$\begin{array}{cc}\Delta .Math..Math.g=\left[\frac{K_{\mathrm{spring}}}{K_{\mathrm{brg}}}\right].Math.\Delta .Math..Math.z& \left(1\right)\end{array}$

Here the effective stiffness values, K, are those of the combined compression springs, K.sub.spring, and of the lower triplet annular permanent magnet arrays, K.sub.brg, respectively. As can be seen from the equation, if the stiffness of the combined compression springs 260 and 265 is much smaller than that of the lower triplet magnet arrays 250 (i.e., the ratio, K.sub.spring/K.sub.brg<<1), the variation, Δg, from centrality of the position of the center magnet of the triplet 250, relative to the upper and lower magnets, as a result of external forces, will be greatly diminished. Under these conditions, the vertical spacing, g, between the E-S generator rotor and stator electrodes will be minimally affected, and, thus, more robustly maintained. Additional stiffness requirements for the elements of the complete passive bearing system will be described below.

[0037] In the operation of the passive magnetic bearing system of the type shown in FIG. 2, the lower and upper magnetic bearing assemblies are dissimilar in that the lower assembly 250 is composed of a triplet of repelling magnet arrays, whereas the upper assembly 240 is a purely attracting array. As a consequence of this state of affairs, the lower triple bearing assembly 250 has positive stiffness in the axial direction (thus stabilizing for axial displacements), and negative (unstable) stiffness in the radial direction. Conversely, the upper levitating magnet array pair 240 has the opposite characteristics. That is, the magnetic bearing 240 has positive stiffness (stabilizing) in the radial direction, and negative stiffness (destabilizing) in the axial direction.

[0038] Depending on the relative magnitudes of the respective upper and lower bearing stiffness, each respective levitating bearing system will either be stable radially and unstable axially, or vice-versa. This fact stems from the so-called Earnshaw Theorem-based instability. According to Earnshaw's Theorem (when it is applied to magnetic systems), any magnetic suspension element, such as a magnetic bearing that utilizes static magnetic forces between a stationary and a rotating component, cannot exist stably in a state of equilibrium against external forces, e.g., gravity. In other words, if such a bearing element is designed to be stable against radially directed displacements, it will be unstable against axially directed displacements, and vice versa. The assumptions implicit in the derivation of Earnshaw's Theorem are that the magnetic fields are static in nature (i.e., that they arise from either fixed currents or objects of fixed magnetization) and that diamagnetic bodies are excluded.

[0039] The almost universal response to the restriction imposed by Earnshaw's Theorem has been the following: Magnetic bearing elements are designed to be stable along at least one axis, for example, their axis of symmetry, and then external stabilizing means are used to ensure stability along the remaining axes. The “means” referred to could either be mechanical, i.e., ball bearings or the like, or, more commonly, electromagnetic. In the latter approach magnet coils are employed to provide stabilizing forces through electronic servo amplifiers and position sensors that detect the incipiently unstable motion of the rotating element and restore it to its (otherwise unstable) position of force equilibrium. Passive stabilization techniques have also been described in the prior art.

[0040] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of an ES device, 600, which employs a “passive array stabilizer” subsystem (similar to that described with respect to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B), using Halbach arrays, to overcome the Earnshaw Theorem-based instability. Aside from the stabilizer, the basic ES device is otherwise identical to that discussed with reference to FIG. 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the passive stabilizer is configured so that the pair of Halbach arrays, 610 and 612, is rigidly mounted to the rotor assembly 220. The inductive circuit element, 616, on the other hand, is rigidly mounted to the fixed stator plate, 215. Recall, that the stator assembly 230 and the centering array 250 are also rigidly attached to the stator plate 215. In a related embodiment, the passive stabilizer subsystem can be configured so that the pair of Halbach arrays, 610 and 612, is mounted to the fixed stator plates 215, whereas the inductive circuit 616 element is mounted to the rotor assembly 220. Operationally, both embodiments function identically. The skilled artesian will appreciate that well known engineering considerations will determine the approach of choice.

[0041] In general, the passive array stabilizer subsystem can be utilized to circumvent various classes of instabilities, be they of axial or radial origin. Hence, the present invention could operate in either one of these cases. As depicted in FIG. 6, we will here only describe its operation in the case whereby the overall system is intrinsically stable radially (i.e. the positive radial stiffness of the attracting bearing array pair is greater than the negative radial stiffness of the triplet array). For this case, the appropriate Halbach array stabilizer is an “axial stabilizer,” namely, one in which the windings of the stabilizer are midway between upper and lower annular Halbach arrays, with the periodicity of these arrays being in the azimuthal direction, and with the arrays oriented azimuthally so that their axial-field components cancel at the mid-plane, as described in the prior-art embodiment of FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B.

[0042] Returning to FIG. 6, the present invention comes into play in the initial alignment of the components as follows: In the initial alignment step of the device, it is required that the operating gap of the upper levitating array 240 be adjusted so that its combined upper and lower levitating bearings thereof have a net positive radial stiffness at the position of force equilibrium of the levitated mass (flywheel rotor, electrostatic generator/motor and rotating elements of the passive bearing system) with gravity.

[0043] Once the initial alignment procedure is completed, the Halbach array stabilizer arrays and/or the stabilizer windings are then adjusted axially so that the null-plane of the arrays coincides both with the center plane of the stabilizer windings and with the force-equilibrium axial position of the rotor and its attachments. For this operation, the inclusion of low-stiffness compression springs, 260 and 265, that allows the stator electrodes to follow the axial motion of the rotor, both facilitates the setting up of the system and, in addition, provides insensitivity to seismic activity.

[0044] FIG. 7 shows a subsystem, 700, referred to as a “touch-down bearing,” and comes into operation upon either axial or radial displacements of the rotor. IN one embodiment, this bearing could be located above, and supported by, the support plate that carries the lower levitating passive bearing Halbach array. The bearing assembly is comprised of an annular conical slot, 710, attached to the rotor, plus an array of spherical “rollers,” 720, supported by shafts, 730, which are, in turn, connected to the support plate upon which the lower passive bearing element is mounted.

[0045] FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of an ES device, 800, to which is integrated the touch-down bearing, 700. The touch-down bearing would perform two functions, as follows: First, and for the embodiment that we are describing here, when the rotor is at rest, the fact that its levitating passive magnetic bearing arrays are unstable in the axial direction, means that the touchdown bearing would be engaged on either its upper or its lower conical surface. As the rotor is spun up from rest, the Halbach stabilizer subsystem would come into play and pull the rotor to its force-equilibrium axial position, coinciding with the null-flux position of the stabilizer. This action would thus automatically disengage the touch-down bearing, 700. Second, upon any radially directed acceleration from seismic activity, or any axially directed seismic activity, not adequately absorbed by the compression springs, 260 and 265, the touch-down bearing 700 would come into play and prevent the rotor from moving by an (axial) amount sufficient to cause the rotor electrodes, 225, and stator electrodes, 235, of the E-S generator to contact each other.

[0046] In summary, the passive magnetic bearing and stabilization subsystems, in conjunction with the touch-down bearing subsystem, as discussed herein, collectively performs critical major functions as follows: (1) stably levitating a flywheel rotor upon the inner surface, of which is mounted the rotating electrodes of an electrostatic generator; (2) maintaining the centering of the rotor electrodes axially with respect to the stator electrodes; and, (3) helping to protect the rotor and E-S generator system from damage caused by seismic activity.

[0047] The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments disclosed were meant only to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best use the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications suited to the particular use contemplated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the following claims.