Lightweight Flywheel Uniterruptible Power Supply

Rugged, reliable, light weight Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS) are needed to protect critical C4I systems from power failure in the field environment. Commercially available UPS provide this protection but are prohibitively large and heavy. SatCon Technology Corporation proposes to develop an extremely small, light-weight Flywheel Uninterruptable Power Supply (FWUPS) for this application. This FWUPS would provide a solution to irregular voltages and frequencies, spikes, sags, surges, brownouts, and even blackouts that would normally result in loss of data or system crashes. The FWUPS will consist of a composite material flywheel with an integral motor generator making up the hub of the flywheel supported on frictionless magnetic bearings. A high effeciency electric drive accelerates and decelerates the FWUPS that can store more than 15 times the energy of a comparable weight battery. At a projected maximum rotation speed of 58,000 rpm, a 29.5 pound FWUPS module provides 15 minutes of energy at an output power level of 2Kw. This assumes the FWUPS spins down from full speed to half speed during discharge. A flywheel is superior to batteries or fuel cells in three important respects: 1) life, 2) hazardous material disposal, and 3) recharge time. In Phase I a state-of-the-art FWUPS will be designed, component research will be initiated, and the FWUPS concept will be tested. The Phase II program will complete the research together with the construction and test of a prototype system.