Re: [Biofuel] Flywheel 'batteries'

[John Jaser]

Telcordia developed flywheel “batteries” for the purpose of eliminating backup-batteries in remote huts.  Last I read about it several years ago, the number one concern was the flywheel coming apart and turning into shrapnel, so they were working on ceramic containment enclosures.  Their test at the time was to fire an old howitzer at the assembly while it was spun up.   Also check out this old article:   http://www.tribologysystems.com/press/1999.05.xx.1.html   cheers,   JJ   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Michael Redler Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 10:58 AM To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Flywheel 'batteries'   I was imagining a LARGE flywheel, perhaps made from concrete with the axis pointed to the ground and the shaft sitting inside a cylinder filled with water or oil (with maybe an oring seal). The hydraulic pressure keeps the flywheel suspended in it's vertical position and provides a low friction surface. You can trade RPM for mass and not have to seriously consider vacuum.   Does anyone remember the equations for angular momentum and kinetic energy from a rotating flywheel?   Mike  Joe Street <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Not if it is horizontal.  Maglev (magnetically levitated bearings)  aren't affected regardless of flywheel orientation so long as you don't suddenly over do it and crash them.  I saw a sales rep with a cavalier attitude demonstrating a small maglev turbomolecular pump one time.  It was spinning at 75,000 RPM and he was holding it in his hand.  He turned it sideways and the precession forces crashed the bearing.  That pump didn't stay in his hand for long...... Joe TarynToo wrote: If you're running a huge fixed flywheel for hours or days at a time,  doesn't precession become an issue? Even with vacuum containment etc,  don't the bearing get creamed by the lateral forces?   taryn <http://ornae.com/>   On Aug 31, 2005, at 11:37 PM, Tony DeCarmine wrote:     Evening, all - Jerry wrote -I really like the idea of flywheels as opposed to batteries forwind/solar storage, I'm suprised no one has mentioned them yet. Flywheels are another painfully efficient old technology, still in use  today in your typical piston engine for load leveling. It's just that  the load leveling happens over fractions of a second rather than over  hours or days. Chrysler tried a flywheel car - it almost worked. I expect it was  another intentional failure. Anyway - flywheels to store angular momentum are the way to go, just  like using solar for heat is a more efficient path than PV. Flywheels  had a problem in cars because cars may tilt (uphill, downhill &c)  which causes grief if the bearing system can't comply with the change.  A stationary flywheel (likely horizontal) would be a fine way to store  horsepower-hours, if you can overcome the friction issues. Magnetic bearings and a vacuum bottle would be required. Troll about  on www.amasci.com for cheap and inventive ways to do things like this.  Bill Beatty runs this site and it just plain rocks. BTW - as of now, unleaded regular is typically $3/gal and diesel as  high as $3.50/gal here is eastern Connecticut, USA. Pax,Tony

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