Project Title:

High-Rate Flywheel Energy Source for Thrust Vector Control Electro-

SatCon Technology Corporation
12 Emily Street
Cambridge, MA   02139-4507

93-1		11.08	0540			Amount Requested $69,543

High-Rate Flywheel Energy Source for Thrust Vector Control Electro-
mechanical Actuators

Abstract:

The innovation proposed is a flywheel energy storage system 
designed specifically to serve as a high rate energy source for 
electro-mechanical actuation (EMA) systems.  Recent advances in 
composite materials, permanent magnet motors, bearings, and power 
control electronics have led to flywheel energy storage systems 
with specific power and energy densities exceeding those of 
virtually all other energy storage systems for applications 
requiring high power, short duration pulses of electrical power.  
This technology is ideal for the development of light weight, low 
volume, low maintenance, water resistant modules capable of 
delivering 25KW-100RM at over 200 VDC for up to several hundred 
milliseconds.  The system proposed integrates new developments in 
flywheel rotors, electrical converters, motor/generator, and 
bearing technologies.  The baseline energy storage module 
incorporates a graphite epoxy flywheel, silicon nitride bearings, 
and a neodymium/iron PM motor driven by a compact pulse width 
modulated converter operating at 80 kHz.  The goal of this program 
is to develop an energy storage module concept having outstanding 
energy and power density characteristics.  Phase I will consist of 
concept experimental investigations, definition, initial design 
analysis, and detailed planning for Phase II.  Phase II will 
consist of design, fabrication, and testing of the prototype 
hardware concept.

This research will lead to demonstrating the energy density, power 
density and efficiency of flywheel energy storage systems.  In 
automotive applications a flywheel energy storage module could 
recover braking energy saving an estimated 5 billion gallons of 
fuel annually in the US.  Automobiles represent a potential 
worldwide market of $15 billion a year for flywheels.  Individual 
component technologies for a flywheel energy storage system such as 
the motor/ generator, will also be applicable to many other power 
systems applications.

electro mechanical actuation, pulse power, energy storage, flywheel