Energy storage and reuse devices

Abstract

An energy storage and reuse device comprising at least one support structure (2), at least one first flywheel (3; 103) rotatably constrained to and at least partially housed within said support structure (2), and at least one first motor (5), also comprising at least one processing / control logic unit (9) configured to control at least the operation of said first motor (5). The device also comprises at least one second flywheel (4; 104) rotatably constrained to and at least partially housed within said support structure (2), and at least one second motor (6) operably connected to said second flywheel (4; 104). Furthermore, said processing / control logic unit (9) is operably connected to said second motor (6) and controls its operation independently of the control of said first motor (5).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention is applicable to the electrical field, and in particular its subject is energy storage, conversion, generation and distribution.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to energy storage and reuse devices. [Background technology]

[0003] With the continuing increase in energy demand, various problems have emerged related to developing efficient systems for generating and distributing energy.

[0004] Adequate Energy Storage Systems (ESS) in particular are becoming increasingly essential. They can be considered a key element that allows increasing the value of the energy produced and improving its quality and availability over time. In fact, they are often defined as a buffer that separates the generation and consumption of electrical energy.

[0005] There are many systems for storing electrical energy, among which we can think of its conversion into chemical energy (chemical batteries), electrical energy (hydraulic pumping) and kinetic energy (flywheels). The latter can be carried out by systems based on flywheel batteries (called FES or flywheel energy storage systems), which are systems that store the kinetic energy due to the inertia of the flywheel rotation.

[0006] In other words, the flywheel battery stores energy by increasing the speed of a flywheel that is magnetically coupled to an electric motor. Specifically, the flywheel battery generally consists of a flywheel, a motor / generator, and control electronics for connection to an external power grid.

[0007] In effect, a flywheel battery absorbs energy from a power source, charges it, stores it in the form of rotational kinetic energy, and, when required, supplies it to a load in the form required by the load itself.

[0008] However, the primary factor limiting the widespread adoption of flywheel batteries is their high initial cost compared to other technologies. However, it should be noted that because they require no maintenance, their price is very competitive when used in applications where competing battery chemistries degrade quickly (especially with frequent charge / discharge cycles). However, their efficiency tends to decrease when the usage cycles are not continuous but rather spaced apart over time. In this case, a high rate of self-discharge actually has a negative impact on their overall efficiency in the long run.

[0009] The rate of self-discharge is limited by some technical solutions such as vacuum operation and the use of magnetic bearings, but it remains one of the highest among the various energy storage systems.

[0010] In addition to this, an undesirable consequence resulting from the rotation of the flywheel is a high gyroscopic effect which appears when the axle tends to rotate, which has proven to be very inconvenient when the battery is installed in a moving vehicle such as a car or satellite.

[0011] Furthermore, flywheel battery storage systems are typically more complex to design and implement than chemical battery-based systems because they are often custom designed for a particular application or user, and therefore the design and manufacture of the flywheel and casing requires high precision and careful post-manufacturing analysis to ensure adequate safety standards. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The object of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the above highlighted drawbacks.

[0013] In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an energy storage and recycling device that is not of the electrochemical type and that can be integrated and / or connected to other storage systems.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide an energy storage and reuse device that can be used in a safe and secure manner.

[0015] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an energy storage and recycling device that can store high energy without affecting stability.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a compact device.

[0017] It is another object of the present invention to provide an energy storage and reuse device in which the gyroscopic effect can be controlled.

[0018] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an energy storage and recycling device that is capable of limiting the effects of self-discharge compared to prior art devices.

[0019] The above objects, as well as other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an energy storage and reuse device according to the following claims, which are considered an integral part of this patent.

[0020] Specifically, it comprises at least one support structure, at least one first flywheel and at least one first motor.

[0021] A first flywheel is at least partially contained within the support structure and is rotatably constrained to the support structure itself for rotation about at least a first axis of rotation.

[0022] The first motor is operatively connected to the first flywheel and configured to entrain or rotate the first flywheel in a first rotational direction.

[0023] The apparatus also comprises at least one processing / control logic unit operatively connected to the first motor and configured to at least control the operation thereof.

[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, the device also comprises at least one second axis of rotation, which is also rotationally constrained to the support structure for rotation about the at least one second axis of rotation and is at least partially contained within the structure itself, in particular the second axis of rotation is parallel to the first axis of rotation.

[0025] The apparatus further includes at least one second motor operatively connected to the second flywheel and configured to entrain or rotate the second flywheel in a second rotational direction.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the invention, the processing / control logic unit is also operatively connected to the second motor and configured to control its operation independently of control of the first motor.

[0027] Advantageously, the device of the present invention is of the flywheel type, is safe, reliable and can be integrated and / or connected to other storage systems.

[0028] Further advantageously, the energy storage and recycling device allows for high energy storage without affecting the stability of the device itself.

[0029] Furthermore, the device of the present invention has small dimensions and is advantageously compact.

[0030] In addition to this, and as a further advantage, the device of the invention makes it possible to control the gyroscopic effect caused by the rotation of the flywheel. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0031] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in the light of the detailed description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of an energy storage and reuse device according to the invention, given as non-limiting examples with the aid of the accompanying drawing tables.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to the invention.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the device according to the invention.

[0034] Figure 3 represents a schematic diagram of a different embodiment of the device according to the invention.

[0035] With reference to the cited figures, in particular to Figures 1 and 2, an energy storage and reuse device 1 according to the invention will now be described. In particular, the device comprises a support structure 2, a first flywheel 3 and a first motor 5.

[0036] The first flywheel 3 is rotatably constrained to the support structure 2 so as to rotate about a first axis of rotation X.

[0037] Furthermore, said first flywheel 3 is at least partially housed inside said support structure 2, and in fact such structure 2 comprises a compartment 20 adapted to be housed inside the device 1 of the invention.

[0038] The first motor 5 is operatively connected to the first flywheel 3 and configured to rotate it in a first rotational direction V1.

[0039] According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus 1 also comprises a processing / control logic unit 9, which is operatively connected to the first motor 5 and configured to control the operation thereof.

[0040] According to a further aspect of the invention, the energy storage and reuse device 1 also comprises a second flywheel 4, which is also rotatably constrained to said support structure 2 for rotation about a second axis of rotation Y. The second flywheel is also at least partially housed within said support structure 3.

[0041] In particular, according to the described embodiment of the invention, the flywheels 3 and 4 are both housed inside said compartment 20 .

[0042] Obviously, this aspect should not be seen as limiting different variants of embodiments of the invention, for example where a portion of one or more flywheels is not housed inside said support structure.

[0043] Furthermore, the location of the motors and processing / control logic units, for example whether they are inside or outside the support structure, should not be considered as limiting different variations of embodiments of the present invention.

[0044] In addition to this, the second flywheel 4 is arranged such that the second axis of rotation Y is parallel to the first axis of rotation X. Parallel is understood as can be deduced from known dictionaries, i.e. as straight lines that maintain a constant distance at each point, and therefore as a definition that also includes coincident parallel lines.

[0045] According to another aspect of the invention, the device 1 comprises a second motor 6 operatively connected to the second flywheel 4 and configured to rotate it in a second rotational direction V2.

[0046] Furthermore, the logic unit 9 is also operatively connected to the second motor 6 and configured to control its operation independently of the first motor 5 .

[0047] In other words, the energy storage and reuse device 1 comprises a support structure 2 housing a first flywheel 3 and a second flywheel 4 connected to a first motor 5 and a second motor 6, respectively. Furthermore, the device 1 also comprises a processing / control logic unit 9 configured to control the operation of the two motors 5 and 6 independently of each other, where the motors 5 and 6 are shaped to rotate the respective flywheels 3 and 4 about parallel axes of rotation X and Y.

[0048] Thus, advantageously, the device 1 of the present invention makes it possible to store energy in a safe, reliable and stable manner without relying on the use of chemicals.

[0049] Furthermore, the device 1 of the invention houses the two flywheels 3 and 4 in the same support structure 2. This has the added advantage that the dimensions of the device 1 itself can be limited.

[0050] And since the first flywheel 3 and the second flywheel 4 are housed in the same support structure 2 and are moved independently of each other, the device 1 of the invention makes it possible to control the gyroscopic effect.

[0051] In fact, it is possible to control the rotation speeds and directions V1 and V2 of the two independent flywheels 3 and 4 via said logic unit 9, and by simply counter-rotating one of the flywheels 3 and 4 or cancelling or controlling the gyro momentum, imbalances in the system subjected to rotation can be offset and / or controlled or cancelled. Obviously, the rotation speeds and directions of said flywheels should not be understood as limiting different variants of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0052] Additionally and advantageously, the independent control of the first flywheel 3 and the second flywheel 4 allows the device 1 of the present invention to perform two functions simultaneously.

[0053] Furthermore, said device 1 is able to operate even if one of the two flywheels 3 and 4 fails, since the operation of one flywheel is not affected by a malfunction occurring in the other flywheel.

[0054] Furthermore, advantageously, the device 1 according to the invention can be configured to recover and use energy, for example from the work cycle of an industrial machine, for example a progressive press or a mining system.

[0055] Furthermore, the device 1 according to the invention may be configured to store and reuse energy from co-generation systems, such as, for example, solar panels, photovoltaic panels and / or wind panels.

[0056] Furthermore, advantageously, the device 1 according to the invention can be configured, for example, to recover energy from the braking of the vehicle and / or to assist in rapid acceleration of the vehicle itself.

[0057] Of course, the shape of the flywheel should not be considered as limiting different variations of embodiments of the present invention, for example, the flywheel may be a perforated disk or a toroidal shape.

[0058] Furthermore, the materials used to manufacture the flywheels should not be considered as limiting the different variants of the embodiments of the invention, for example, they may be made of metal or polymer or composite material, or the composite material constituting the first and / or second flywheel may include carbon fibers of class IM9, which fibers have a specific mass per length of about 0.335 g / m and a density of about 1.80 g / cm. 3 (The density of the composite material containing carbon fiber and epoxy resin mentioned above is about 1620 kg / m 3 (It is.)

[0059] In hindsight, the rotational speed can be adjusted by controlling the flywheels 3 and 4, regardless of their shape and material. Moreover, the two flywheels in different embodiment variants not shown in the drawings are made of different shapes and materials.

[0060] Further advantageously, by using the device 1 of the present invention, a high "continuous" impulse power, i.e. power without time discontinuities over a long period of time, can be obtained by simply matching the discharge period of the first flywheel 3 with the charge period of the second flywheel 4 (time conversion), resulting in alternating periodic charge / discharge cycles between the two flywheels 3 and 4, ensuring a continuous pulsed periodic power without time discontinuities.

[0061] According to another aspect of the invention, the device 1 also comprises a first rotatable shaft 11 to which a first motor 5 is operatively coupled, and a second rotatable shaft 14 to which a second motor 6 is operatively coupled. Such rotatable shafts 11 and 14 are free to rotate independently of each other.

[0062] According to the described embodiment of the invention, the flywheels 3 and 4 are arranged such that the first axis of rotation X is coaxial with the second axis of rotation Y. The axes of rotation X and Y are therefore coincident parallel lines.

[0063] Advantageously, by rotating the flywheels 3 and 4 about coaxial rotation axes X and Y, improved control of the gyroscopic effect can be achieved.

[0064] According to a further described embodiment of the invention, the first rotatable shaft 11 is hollow, thereby defining therein a housing volume 12 shaped to receive the second rotatable shaft 14 therein.

[0065] In other words, the second shaft 14 is at least partially housed within the hollow first shaft 11. The first flywheel 3 is thereby mechanically attached to the first rotating shaft 11, which is hollow so as to define a housing volume 12 therein and extends between a first end 11' keyed to the first motor 5 and a second end 11" having an opening 13 therethrough.

[0066] Furthermore, the second flywheel 4 is mechanically mounted on a second rotatable shaft 14 that is at least partially housed within a housing volume 12 of the first rotatable shaft 11 and extends between a third end 14' keyed to the second motor 6 and a fourth end 14" that is housed within the housing volume 12.

[0067] In particular, the second shaft 14 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is substantially mounted to fit within the housing volume 12 .

[0068] Advantageously, this configuration of the device 1 according to the invention is extremely compact and mechanically stable.

[0069] According to a variation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, rotatable shafts 111 and 114 are aligned and typically, but not necessarily, operably interposed by a coupling 130 configured to decouple their rotation.

[0070] Advantageously, by arranging the shafts 111 and 114, and thereby the flywheels 103 and 104, in alignment, the advantages enumerated above with regard to control of the gyroscopic effect can still be achieved.

[0071] Furthermore, the joint 130 is typically, but not necessarily, supported by one or more arms, allowing it to be positioned in the right position without isolating the environment from the two flywheels 103 and 104.

[0072] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the apparatus 1 also comprises a first electrical circuitry, not shown, operatively connected to the first 3 and second 4 flywheels and configured to enable energy exchange between one flywheel and the other.

[0073] This connection between flywheel 3 and flywheel 4 has the advantage that one of the flywheels can be used as if it were a secondary "standalone" circuit to the main circuit, i.e. the main flywheel, or a less continuous flywheel (whose usage cycle becomes more spaced over time depending on the specific application), or a flywheel used by functional symmetrical exchange between the two flywheels.

[0074] The function exchange between the two flywheels 3 and 4 means the ability and / or possibility of the device 1 of the present invention to exchange certain functions between the two flywheels 3 and 4. For example, assuming that the first flywheel 3 is subjected to intense usage cycles over time depending on its specific application (such as reactive power support) and the second flywheel 4 is instead subjected to less usage cycles over time depending on its specific application (such as high impulse power support), it is obvious that the second flywheel 4 is more susceptible to the self-discharge phenomenon. Therefore, it is possible to symmetrically exchange the functions of the flywheels 3 and 4 in order to reverse their functions.

[0075] The functional interchangeability effectively introduces a symmetrical split of the self-discharge rate between said flywheels 3 and 4. The constancy of the split rate can in fact be interpreted as an indication of component wear.

[0076] Indeed, imagine a flywheel with a high self-discharge rate, i.e. a low continuity. The use cycles of that flywheel, depending of course on the specific application, will be more widely spaced over time, resulting in less wear on the components. On the other hand, imagine a flywheel with a low self-discharge rate and an intense periodic continuity. The cycles will be much narrower over time, depending of course on the specific application, resulting in more wear on the components. This asymmetry caused by the effect of the self-discharge rate can be largely controlled and / or reduced by said functional exchange, thus preserving the functional integrity of the components of the system (so the wear rate is a function of the self-discharge rate), or by a so-called "self-support", where a second flywheel provides the functional support of "energy supply" to the first flywheel, thus resulting in a split of the self-discharge rate.

[0077] According to another aspect of the invention, the device 1 also comprises a first sensor 15 operatively connected to the processing / control logic unit 9 and configured to detect the angular momentum of the first flywheel 3 and / or the second flywheel 4.

[0078] According to a further aspect of the invention, the apparatus 1 also comprises a second sensor, not shown in the figures, operatively connected to the processing / control logic unit 9 and configured to detect imbalance of the first rotatable shaft 11 and / or at least one of the second rotatable shafts 14.

[0079] Typically, but not necessarily, the second sensor comprises a displacement sensor and controls a magnetic bearing, for example a permanent magnet bearing (referred to as PMB), a superconducting magnetic bearing (referred to as SMB) and / or an active magnetic bearing (referred to as AMB).

[0080] Obviously, the number of first and second sensors should not be considered as limiting different embodiments of the present invention, for example, there may be only one sensor, or one or more sensors operatively connected to each motor.

[0081] According to another embodiment, the device 1 of the present invention also comprises a second electrical circuitry, not shown, configured to connect the device 1 itself to an external power grid.

[0082] In addition to this, according to different variants of embodiment of the invention, the device also comprises one or more inverters, not shown, which make it possible to power the motor with a variable electrical quantity, in particular a supply voltage and / or current having a variable amplitude and / or frequency.

[0083] According to another aspect of the invention, the compartment 20 is an empty chamber.

[0084] The device 1 of the present invention can be used in the following cases, by way of example only and not by way of limitation:

[0085] In particular, the device 1 according to the invention can be used in mining production processes which use high-power machines, often have very high absorption peaks and are characterised by irregular consumption.

[0086] In this process, for optimal operation of the (internal) industrial smart grid and the machines, an adequate reactive power support and sufficient support for high impulse powers are required, which act simultaneously on the smart grid and the machines to optimize the extraction process. In this case, the reactive power support carried out in the industrial smart grid can be implemented using at least one device 1 according to the invention, which makes this type of system feasible on a large scale and decentralized. It is thus possible to compensate the reactive power in a targeted manner without overloading the main transmission lines.

[0087] This will significantly reduce the costs of building and expanding primary and secondary industrial power distribution lines.

[0088] Suitably, even small / medium sized devices 1 placed in critical areas of the grid can raise the potential of smart grids already present in industry. Indeed, the device 1 according to the invention allows a much more effective compensation of reactive power than conventional capacitor-based systems. In particular, a power factor of almost unity can be obtained by adjusting the amount of reactive power absorbed / supplied depending on the instantaneous state of the grid.

[0089] The use of the device 1 according to the invention for power factor correction of industrial machines allows end users to avoid additional costs charged by power supply companies for excess reactive power and furthermore achieve better power quality for particularly sensitive industrial and commercial applications.

[0090] Advantageously, the device 1 according to the invention can be used in residential applications, in particular in connection with electricity generation systems from renewable sources.

[0091] Indeed, the device 1 according to the invention makes it possible to obtain both a proper power compensation system from renewable energy sources and sufficient reactive power support, as well as all the further functions mentioned above, in particular with regard to the phenomenon of self-discharge and the reduction / cancellation of the gyroscopic effect.

[0092] Moreover, advantageously, unlike conventional solutions with a single flywheel with continuous charge / discharge cycles, the device 1 according to the invention provides high impulse power with a substantially "continuous" profile, i.e. without time discontinuities over time. This is achieved by simply matching the discharge period of the first flywheel with the charge period of the second flywheel (time conversion), which results in alternating periodic cycles of charge / discharge between the two flywheels, ensuring substantially continuous periodic impulse power without time discontinuities.

[0093] Advantageously, the device 1 according to the present invention is applied in multiple applications, such as in the fields of industrial machinery, construction, internal combustion engines, electric and / or hybrid vehicles, aerospace, biomedicine and rail transport, and generally in any other field where there is a need and / or possibility to reuse stored energy.

[0094] Thus, as can be seen from the above, the energy storage and reuse apparatus of the present invention achieves all of its intended objectives.

[0095] Specifically, the device of the present invention comprises: -Allows for the storage of energy, -Allows for frequency adjustment, -Defining the energy reserve, -Enables reactive power support, -Can be used as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) -Can be used as power compensation from renewable energy sources, -Ensure high impulse power, - It can be used in a completely safe and secure manner, -It is compact because the two flywheels are constrained on corresponding shafts inserted into each other, -Can be produced in large quantities and assembled quickly and efficiently; -Easy to install on different types of vehicles or machines, - Easy, quick and inexpensive to implement and assemble; - completely reliable structurally and functionally, -It may improve upon and / or replace previous solutions.

[0096] Furthermore, the device of the present invention makes it possible to: -Controlling and / or counterbalancing gyro momentum and / or imbalances; -Control and reduce self-discharge, - Gyro self-stabilizing control, -Control of functional symmetric exchangeability, - Control of self-discharge by symmetric compatibility, - at least one function is maintained in the event of a failure, -operation of motors in series and / or parallel; -Control and sustain high impulse power, -2 uses, simultaneous or sequential.

[0097] The present invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. All details and steps may be replaced by other elements that are technically equivalent, and materials may be varied where necessary, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. An energy storage and reuse device, comprising: The apparatus comprises: - at least one support structure (2); at least one first flywheel (3; 103) rotatably constrained to said at least one support structure (2) for rotation about at least one first axis of rotation (X) and at least partially housed within said at least one support structure (2); at least one first motor (5) operatively connected to said at least one first flywheel (3; 103) and configured to rotate said at least one first flywheel (3; 103) in a first rotational direction (VI); at least one processing / control logic unit (9) operatively connected to said at least one first motor (5) and configured to control at least the operation of said at least one first motor (5); The device is characterized in that it comprises: - at least one second flywheel (4; 104) rotatably constrained to and at least partially housed within said at least one support structure (2) for rotation about at least one second axis of rotation (Y), said at least one second axis of rotation (Y) being parallel to said at least one first axis of rotation (X); at least one second motor (6) operatively connected to said at least one second flywheel (4; 104) and configured to rotate said at least one second flywheel (4; 104) in a second direction of rotation (V2); the at least one processing / control logic unit (9) is operatively connected to the at least one second motor (6) and configured to also control the operation of the at least one second motor (6) independently of the control of the at least one first motor (5); Energy storage and reuse devices.

2. - at least one first rotating shaft (11; 111) to which said at least one first motor (5) is operatively coupled; and at least one second rotating shaft (14; 114) to which said at least one second motor (6) is operatively coupled; An apparatus comprising: the at least one first rotating shaft (11; 111) and the at least one second rotating shaft (14; 114) are free to rotate independently of each other; 2. The apparatus of claim 1.

3. 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first axis of rotation (X) and the at least one second axis of rotation (Y) are coaxial.

4. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one first rotatable shaft (11) is at least partially hollow so as to define therein a housing volume (12) shaped to at least partially receive the at least one second rotatable shaft (14).

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the at least one first rotatable shaft (111) and the at least one second rotatable shaft (114) are aligned.

6. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one first rotating shaft (111) and the at least one second rotating shaft (114) are operably interposed by at least one coupling (130) configured to decouple rotation of the at least one first rotating shaft (111) and the at least one second rotating shaft (114).

7. 10. An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a first electrical circuitry operatively connected to said at least one first flywheel (3; 103) and said at least one second flywheel (4; 104) and configured to enable energy exchange between said at least one first flywheel (3; 103) and said at least one second flywheel (4; 104).

8. 10. An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising at least one first sensor (15) operatively connected to said at least one processing / control logic unit (9) and configured to detect at least one angular momentum of said at least one flywheel (3; 103) and / or said at least one second flywheel (4; 104).

9. 9. Apparatus according to one or more of claims 2 to 8, comprising at least one second sensor operatively connected to said at least one processing / control logic unit (9) and configured to detect at least an imbalance of said at least one first rotatable shaft (11; 111) and / or said at least one second rotatable shaft (14; 114).

10. 13. An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a second electrical circuitry configured to connect the apparatus (1) to at least one external power grid.

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