초록

A flywheel power supply includes a motor-generator having a polyphase stator.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A flywheel electric power supply comprising: a motor-generator including a rotor and a stator; a flywheel mass coupled to and constrained to rotate in synchrony with the rotor; the flywheel mass bi-directionally exchanging mechanical power with the motor-generator; a pluralit

What is claimed is: 1. A flywheel electric power supply comprising: a motor-generator including a rotor and a stator; a flywheel mass coupled to and constrained to rotate in synchrony with the rotor; the flywheel mass bi-directionally exchanging mechanical power with the motor-generator; a plurality of windings on the stator forming six electrical phases A, B, C, D, E and F; one or more stator windings bi-directionally exchanging electric power with one or more AC to DC converters; and, one of the AC to DC converters coupled to an electrical network for providing backup power to the electrical network. 2. The flywheel power supply of claim 1 further comprising: a first three phase motor-generator including the rotor and windings of three of the electrical phases A-C of the stator; a second three phase motor-generator including the rotor and windings of three of the electrical phases D-F of the stator; the first three phase motor-generator bi-directionally exchanging electric power with a first AC to DC converter; and, the second three phase motor-generator bi-directionally exchanging electric power with a second AC to DC converter. 3. The flywheel power supply of claim 2 wherein the flywheel rotates about a substantially vertical axis. 4. The flywheel power supply of claim 3 further comprising a stator support structure from which the stator is hung. 5. The flywheel power supply of claim 4 further comprising a first chamber partially enveloped by the stator support structure and enveloping the rotor. 6. The flywheel power supply of claim 5 further comprising a second chamber enveloping the flywheel mass and substantially enveloping the first chamber. 7. The flywheel power supply of claim 6 further comprising a vacuum pump operable to transfer gas from the second chamber to the first chamber. 8. The flywheel power supply of claim 1 further comprising: a first three phase motor-generator including the rotor and windings of three of the electrical phases A-C of the stator; a second three phase motor-generator including the rotor and windings of three of the electrical phases D-F of the stator; a first power electronics package exchanging power with electrical phases A-C of the stator; a second power electronics package exchanging power with electrical phases D-F of the stator; and, at least one of the power electronics packages bi-directionally exchanging power with an electrical network and providing back-up power to one or more loads on the network. 9. The flywheel power supply of claim 8 further comprising: independent first and second power electronics controllers controlling first and second AC to DC converters; DC connections of each of the first and second AC to DC converters interconnected by a DC bus; first and second independent voltage indicating devices providing first and second indications of DC bus voltage V1, V2; and, first and second power electronics controllers utilizing an average of the indicated bus voltages ((V1+V2)/2) for controlling respective AC to DC converters.