Patent ID: 6231011
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: B64G,F16C

Abstract:
A high temperature superconducting momentum wheel device comprising:a rotatable flywheel including at least one magnet associated with a central region of the flywheel where the at least one magnet is symmetrically disposed about an axis of rotation of the flywheel and the poles of the at least one magnet are aligned with the rotation axis;a levitation system including a high temperature superconducting unit for each flywheel magnet comprising a high temperature superconducting element enclosed in a coolant reservoir having a coolant inlet and outlet for maintaining the high temperature superconducting element below its critical temperature, T.sub.c where each high temperature superconducting element is positioned adjacent the at least one flywheel magnet and levitates the flywheel to within an equilibrium gap position from the high temperature superconducting element; anda motor for actively interacting with the flywheel to impart a controlled spin to the flywheel.