Continued Development of the Band Type Variable Inertia Flywheel. Final Report

摘要

The Band-Type Variable-Inertia Flywheel (BVIF) is introduced and previous development is recited. Three dynamic analyses are presented in preparation for system design. An important conceptual breakthrough is reported in the characterization of the BVIF as not one but two flywheels capable of exchanging mass and energy. Three types of BVIF's are presented and studied with conclusions presented regarding the suitability of each to actual usefulness. An open-loop system (Type I) is found to have potential for acceleration of inertial loads, but to experience mechanical instability. A one-degree of freedom BVIF (Type II) is briefly considered and found to be capable of approximately constant-speed operation. Finally, a power-recirculating (closed-loop) two-degree-of-freedom BVIF (Type III) is found to possess the described ability to smoothly accelerate inertial loads but without the inherent instability of the Type I. The Type III is extensively modeled by digital computer simulation. A prototype, built for testing of the model, is described and the results of those tests are successfully compared with the model. (ERA citation 06:003727)