Flywheel Pulse and Glide System for Vehicle Fuel Efficiency

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current electric hybrid vehicles face limitations in implementing the pulse and glide driving method due to the low cycle life and high replacement costs of chemical batteries, which cannot tolerate the higher cycle requirements necessary for automatic pulse and glide techniques, leading to reduced gas mileage and shortened battery life.

Innovation Solution

A pulse and glide system using a low loss, high cycle life magnetically suspended flywheel energy storage device, which alternates power delivery between an internal combustion engine and a flywheel storage device to maintain vehicle speed and increase rotational speed, thereby optimizing fuel efficiency and extending the life of the energy storage system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If chemical batteries are used for energy storage in pulse and glide systems, then the vehicle can achieve improved gas mileage through automatic pulse and glide techniques, but the battery cycle life is drastically reduced and replacement costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas mileageVSAvoidbattery cycle life

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the energy storage medium from chemical batteries to a flywheel energy storage system. The flywheel stores kinetic energy through rotation, fundamentally changing the energy storage mechanism from chemical to mechanical, thereby avoiding battery degradation while enabling pulse and glide operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the chemical battery system with a mechanical flywheel energy storage system. The flywheel uses rotational inertia to store and release energy, substituting the chemical energy storage mechanism with a mechanical one that has superior cycle life characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Extent of automation

If chemical batteries are used to provide acceleration and energy recovery, then the vehicle can operate in hybrid mode, but the batteries cannot tolerate the higher cycle requirements of automatic pulse and glide techniques

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic pulse and glide capabilityVSAvoidbattery tolerance to cycles

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The flywheel energy storage system provides self-service through its mechanical nature, automatically storing kinetic energy during deceleration and releasing it during acceleration without the degradation issues of chemical batteries. The system inherently handles the high-cycle requirements of automatic pulse and glide

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The flywheel-based pulse and glide system significantly improves gas mileage by 40% to 100% by automating the pulse and glide technique, reducing the strain on batteries, and allowing for more efficient energy recovery and use, thus providing a long-lasting and economical solution for fuel conservation.

Implementation Method 1

a pulse and glide system using a low loss, high cycle life magnetically suspended flywheel energy storage device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational energy storage: Flywheel

Implementation Method 2

low loss, high cycle life magnetically suspended flywheel energy storage device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic suspension: Maglev

Data Source

PatentUS10632828B1Flywheel pulse and glide system for vehicles

Publication Date: 2020.04.28 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA

AI summary

A prime mover is combined with a flywheel storage device and a control system to implement a flywheel pulse and glide system in a vehicle. In one embodiment, the control system is configured to cycle power delivery between the prime mover and the flywheel storage device to power the vehicle. The prime mover, when activated by the control system, is configured to power the vehicle and spin up the flywheel storage device to capture a sufficient amount of energy.