Shaftless, Magnetically Levitated Flywheel Energy Storage Systems MagneMotion, Inc. Acton MA

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Shaftless, Magnetically Levitated Flywheel Energy
Storage SystemsMagneMotion, Inc.Acton MA
Small Business Innovation Research
Ceramic core
Rotor

• INNOVATION
• A maglev flywheel with a shaftless carbon fiber
  rotor that requires only one axis of active
  control. The shaftless design eliminates
  resonances over a wide operating speed range, so
  the flywheel is usable for both energy storage
  and attitude control.

• ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Burst tested to 79,500 RPM.
• 32 higher than design speed.
• Rotor / System tested to 36,000 RPM.
• Flywheel was very stable.
• Bearing losses need to be examined in greater
  detail.
• COMMERCIALIZATION
• Linear synchronous motors and maglev are the core
  of MagneMotion's business.
• Applications in that arena include providing high
  peak power for short periods of time, something
  that is hard to do with batteries.

Magnetic bearing
Motor/generator

• GOVERNMENT/SCIENCE APPLICATIONS
• When used for both energy storage and attitude
  control the system has the potential to be
  lighter, more efficient and with a longer life
  expectance than is possible with conventional
  alternatives.
• Results are promising but further development is
  required to create a mission-ready design.
• MagneMotion is in negotiation with established
  energy storage company to team for continuation.

Goddard Space Flight Center
Points of Contact NASA Bob Beaman (301)
286-2538 MagneMotion Richard D. Thornton (978)
461-5090
1997 Phase II, SS5- 060