Flywheel Within a Flywheel | Green Energy News

June 9, 2002 – Vol.7 No.11

FLYWHEEL WITHIN A FLYWHEEL.

Fuel cells are constant output devices. A specific amount of electricity is generated whether it is needed or not. A fuel cell in a vehicle at a stop light is generating the same amount of electricity as it would at highway speeds. This is why fuel cell vehicles are likely to be hybrids. An energy storage device working alongside the fuel cell will create flexible power output like that of conventional combustion engines.

As in any hybrid vehicle that energy storage device is typically a battery pack, but with a new design from AFS Trinity that device could be a flywheel. The company has introduced next-generation flywheel technology which is actually two flywheels in one - one inside the other - known as the ARC (Active Rotating Containment). In ARC, an outer, heavier, more robust flywheel turning at slow speed also acts as containment device for the inner, high-speed wheel. Containment in flywheels is a significant issue. A flywheel which breaks free of its container can do extensive damage to it surroundings.

The ARC flywheel also has a neutral gyroscopic effect. Like a spinning top a turning flywheel resists tilting on its axis. The inner and outer flywheels in ARC counteract each other to neutralize this effect.

According to AFS Trinity, the ARC has a greater energy output per pound than other flywheels and could be used in many applications where batteries are used, such as hybrid electric/diesel buses, satellites powered by solar energy or portable power. Visit AFS Trinity at http://www.afstrinity.com/ .