Apparatus for kinetic energy storage having a flywheel with pump-active surfaces

Abstract

An apparatus for kinetic energy storage includes an electrical machine operable at least in one of motor mode and generator mode, and at least one energy recovery system for an intermediate storage of a produced kinetic energy and which converts the kinetic energy into an electrical energy, with, the at least one energy recovery system having at least one flywheel body formed as a rotor, and a stator and with at least one of the rotor and the stator being formed as at least one vacuum pump stage.

Claims

1. An apparatus for kinetic energy storage, comprising an electrical machine operable at least in one of motor mode and generator mode; and at least one energy recovery system for an intermediate storage of a produced kinetic energy and which converts the kinetic energy into an electrical energy, wherein the at least one energy recovery system has at least one flywheel body formed as a rotor, and a stator arranged in an apparatus housing, and wherein at least one of the rotor and the stator is formed as at least one vacuum pump stage, wherein the flywheel body has pump-active surfaces which are formed parallel to a rotational axis as a Holweck pump stage, a screw-type pump stage or as cross-channel pump stage, and pump-active surfaces which are formed transverse to the rotational axis analogous to a Siegbahn pump stage, and wherein the flywheel body has a transverse axis extending transverse to the rotational axis and a cross-section continuously widening radially outwardly with respect to the transverse axis thereof along an entire extent of the cross-section in a direction parallel to the transverse axis.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the rotor and the stator is formed as at least one of Holweck-pump stage, Siegbahn pump stage, cross-channel pump stage, and screw-type pump stage.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flywheel body is secured on a hub, the hub is arranged on the rotor shaft, and on at least one of the hub and the rotor shaft, there is additionally provided at least one of Siegbahn pump stage, Holweck pump stage, screw-type pump stage, and a cross-channel pump stage.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flywheel body is formed as one of metal and carbon fiber-reinforced plastic material and carbon fiber-reinforced plastic material.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flywheel body is secured directly on the rotor shaft, with the flywheel body cross-section widening radially outwardly starting from the rotor shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The drawings show:

(2) FIG. 1 a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an apparatus according the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 a longitudinal cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 a longitudinal cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 a plan view of a Siegbahn pump stage;

(6) FIG. 5 a longitudinal cross-sectional view of still another embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a yet further embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention; and

(9) FIG. 8 a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a still further embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(10) FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 1 for kinetic energy storage and having a housing 2, a rotor shaft 3 which is secured on a hub 4. A flywheel body 5, which is formed as a hollow cylinder, is also arranged on the hub 4. Bearings 6 and 7 rotatably support the rotor shaft 3. An electrical machine 8 that operates either as a motor or as a generator, has an electrical leadthrough 9 leading to an electrical connection 10.

(11) The flywheel body 5 has channels 11a which, together with inner wall 12a of the housing 2, form a screw-type pump stage 16. The screw-type pump stage 16 cooperates with inner walls 12a.

(12) The view in FIG. 1 shows simply an exemplary embodiment. With a Holweck pump stage, pump-active surfaces are arranged in the housing, and the rotor surfaces are formed smooth. With the screw-type pump stage 16, the pump-active surfaces are provided in the rotor surface, and the inner surfaces of the housing are formed smooth. Usually, with a Siegbahn pump stage, pump-active surfaces are provided in the housing, and the rotor is formed smooth. However, the following figures show that in Siegbahn pump stage a design is selected in which pump-active surfaces are provided in the rotor, and the inner wall of the housing is formed smooth. The channels 11b cooperate with an inner wall 12b and form a screw-type pump stage.

(13) Siegbahn pump stages 13a, 13b cooperate with inner walls 14a, 14b. Naturally, another embodiment, not shown, is possible in which the stator surfaces 14a, 14b have grooves corresponding to Siegbahn pump stage and cooperate with corresponding surfaces 13a, 13b of the rotor which are formed smooth.

(14) In addition, further Siegbahn pump stages 15a, 15b are provided on the hub 4. When the rotor shaft 3 is rotated, together with the hub 4 and the flywheel body 5, the screw-type pump stages 11a, 12a, 11b 12b evacuate a hollow space 17 of the housing 2 through the outlet 18. The direction of gas molecules, which are transported by the pump stages, is shown with arrow A. Therefore, the flywheel body 5 can rotate in the evacuated hollow space 17 free from air friction. The rotor 25 of the apparatus 1 is formed of the rotor shaft 3, the hub 4, and the flywheel body 5.

(15) The gas molecules are transported by the Siegbahn pump stages 15a radially outwardly relative to the rotor shaft 3. Further transportation is carried out by the screw-type pump stage that cooperates with the inner wall 12b. Finally, the gas molecules are transported by the Siegbahn pump stage 13a to the channels 11a of the further screw-type pump stage. Further transportation of the gas molecules is carried out from the Siegbahn pump stage 13b in direction of the screw-type pump stage 11b and from there further in direction of the Siegbahn pump stage 15b before the gas molecules are transported to the outlet 18.

(16) FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the apparatus 1 that substantially corresponds to the construction of the apparatus 1 according to FIG. 1. The components common with those of FIG. 1 are designated with the same reference numerals and are not further described. Only substantial changes are described.

(17) According to FIG. 2, an additional screw-type pump stage 19, which increases the pumping capacity of the apparatus 1 is arranged on the rotor shaft 3. At this location, also, a Holweck pump stage with channels provided in the stator or a cross-channel pump stage with opposite channels in the stator and rotor can be arranged.

(18) FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an apparatus 1 in which common components are not described, only substantial changes are.

(19) According to FIG. 3, a further pump stage which is formed as a cross-channel pump stage, is arranged on the rotor shaft 3. In the cross-channel pump stage 20 pump-active surfaces are provided on the rotor and the inner wall of the housing. The pump-active surfaces on the housing inner wall are not shown for better clarity.

(20) In the apparatus 1 according to FIG. 3, the electrical machine 8 is located outside of the housing 2 in a separate housing component 21. The rotor shaft 3 is driven through a mechanical leadthrough 22 that advantageously has a seal. Thus, the electrical machine 8 is located outside of the housing 2.

(21) The inlet 18, in distinction from the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, is located in the vicinity of the rotor shaft.

(22) FIG. 4 shows a Siegbahn pump stage 13. The Siegbahn pump stages 13, 15 according to FIGS. 1 through 3 are formed with pump-active surfaces which extend transverse to the rational axis of the rotor.

(23) FIG. 5 shows an apparatus 1 with the housing 2, rotor shaft 3, bearings 6 and 7, and an electrical machine 8.

(24) The electrical leadthrough 9 to the electrical connection 10 and the outlet 18 are analogous to those in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(25) The flywheel body 5 is secured directly on the rotor shaft 3. The flywheel body 5 has, in addition, a cross-section that expands from the rotor shaft 3 radially outwardly. In the gap between the rotor and the stator which extends from the rotor shaft 3 to the Siegbahn pump stage 13a, further pump stages can be integrated by providing grooves in the rotor and/or in the corresponding stator surfaces. The flywheel body 5 is again is provided with channels 11 which form, together with the inner wall 12 of the housing 2, a screw-type pump stage. In addition, there are provided Siegbahn pump stages 13a, 13b. Additionally, a screw-type pump stage 19 is arranged on the rotor shaft 3. The advantage of this embodiment consists in that the flywheel body has a very large mass.

(26) FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of an apparatus 1. The components common with those of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5 are not described in detail, only essential changes are.

(27) According to FIG. 6, the apparatus has, in addition to the outlet 18, a further outlet 23. The gas feeding direction starts at the middle of the screw-type pump stage/Holweck pump stage 16, with the gas being partially transported to the Siegbahn pump stage 13a and partially to the Siegbahn pump stage 13 and, finally, in direction of the outlets 18, 23.

(28) FIG. 7 shows a further apparatus 1 with a housing 2. A hollow space 17 is provided in the housing 2. The apparatus 1 includes a rotor shaft 3 which is supported in bearings 6, 7.

(29) In addition, there is provided an electrical machine 8, with an electrical leadthrough 9 to an electrical connection 10. The flywheel body 5 is formed as a solid cylinder. The solid cylinder has a very big mass. The hollow cylinder has, on its outer side, channels 11 which form a screw-type pump stage.

(30) Through the outlet 18, the flywheel body 5 aspirated vacuum into the hollow space 17.

(31) The outlet 18 can be provided at another location. It is also possible to arrange the electrical machine 8 and the bearing 7 outside the housing 2. In addition, Siegbahn pump stages 13a, 13b are provided on the flywheel body 5.

(32) FIG. 8 shows yet another embodiment of an apparatus 1 having a housing 2, a rotor shaft 3 rotatably supported in the housing 2 and on which a hub 4 is provided.

(33) The rotor shaft 3 is supported in a magnetic bearing 24 and a ball bearing 7. In addition, there are provided an electrical machine 8 and an outlet 18. In the apparatus 1, there is provided a rotor 25 that is formed of the rotor shaft 3, hub 4, and sleeve 5.

(34) The bearing arrangement formed of the magnetic bearing 24 and the ball bearing 7 has an advantage that consists in that that lubricant-free bearing is provided in the hollow space 17. On the shaft 3, there is provided a permanent magnet 26 that cooperates with an energized drive spool 27. Thereby, the rotor 25 can be rotated with a sufficiently high speed. A stator 28 has on its outer surface adjacent to the rotor one or a plurality of helical channels 11. This embodiment is so formed that the stator 28 carries the channels rather than the flywheel body 5. Thus, a Holweck pump stage is formed.

(35) Though the present invention was shown and described with references to the preferred embodiments those are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not to be construed as a limitation thereof and various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore not intended that the present invention be limited to the disclosed embodiments or details thereof, and the present invention includes all variations and/or alternative embodiments within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.