Flywheels store electrical energy as kinetic energy. Basically you spin up the wheel very fast with an electric motor, keep the wheel in a vacuum, and when the energy is needed the motor acts as a generator. Flywheels also have an efficiency of 80-90% as compared to most other technologies (li-ion are in the same range)
The trouble with flywheels, in mobile platforms, is that they have to be sealed in a vacuum container, and they induce gyroscopic forces. They are also relatively complex compared to batteries, though they are technologically simple.
They should be used in personal submarines. Flywheels are a great, heavy, and dense power source. They can provide stability and power to submarines and be rapidly recharged.
Submarines also have the heavy duty structure to support the mass and protection that comes with a relatively low-tech flywheel.
If implemented cleverly, using low tech components. Flywheels would be superior to batteries when applied to submarines. (thinking more about it they would also be viable for electric boats, since ships already use flywheels in some cases)
No comments:
Post a Comment