NASA 1996 SBIR Phase I

PROJECT TITLE : High Power Density Lightweight Flywheels

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)

AMT will develop, in conjunction with SatCon, an innovative fiber reinforced composite rotor design for achieving a light weight flywheel energy storage (FES) system for application to NASA small spacecraft that will also serve as the spacecraft attitude control system. Flywheel energy storage, in place of chemical batteries, is an attractive means of achieving high energy density. By integrating the functions of spacecraft energy storage and attitude control, significant weight and packaging volume reductions can be achieved. The objective of the project is to achieve a rotor design with energy storage of 250 W-hrs and an energy density of 200 W-hrs/kg which has not been done before. The energy density of chemical batteries is approximately 40 W-hrs/kg.

A high energy density rotor requires effective utilization of advanced composite materials configured so as to permit the highest possible rotational operating speed. To achieve the energy storage and density specified above, it is critical that the design of the rotor be such that failure occurs in the outer rim at maximum operating speed and that the hub, which transmits load between the rim and the rotor suspension be of very low mass.

The commercial markets for high energy density, high energy storage include:
Flywheel Systems
Electric Cars
Electrical Power Standby for Commercial Power Stations
Remote Residential Energy Storage (in conjunction with solar energy)
Mobile Power Storage Systems
Supplemental Energy Systems for Vehicles

William E. Davis, Vice President
Applied Material Technologies, Inc.
3611 S. Harbor Blvd., Suite 225
Santa Ana, CA 92704

Applied Material Technologies, Inc.
3611 S. Harbor Blvd., Suite 225
Santa Ana, CA 92704Trey Huntoon
Sigma Labs
10960 N. Stallard Pl.
Tucson AZ. 8574