Radial arm for large flywheel energy storage systems - takes up compression and tension forces and is double hinged with hinge supports having carbon fibre reinforcement

摘要

Radial arms or spokes supporting the rim of a large flywheel acting as an energy store and working up to about 10MW/hours. The arms allow some change in shape and length to accommodate centrifugal forces etc. of a flywheel with a vertical axis when being driven or braked. The arm is constructed as a honeycomb (2) with walls lying across the wheel radius and may be made of a fibre reinforced material. It has a hinge point at both the rim (10) and the axis (0) of the flywheel, both the hinge supports (12) and pi s (7, 9) having carbon fibre reinforced shells. The double hinge allows the arm to take up a forward or backward position w.r.t. rotation and a degree of bending to take up the compression and tension forces.