Pentadyne Power Corp. (Sun Valley, CA) announced its PPC 120 flywheel system, which takes in unreliable, low-quality power from the utility line and produces high-quality, uninterrupted power to the customer using energy stored in a flywheel. The PPC 120 can provide clean, three-phase ac or constant dc output for 20 seconds at 120kW, 20 minutes at 2kW, or any combination of power and time equaling 2,400kW seconds of energy. Applications include uninterruptible power supplies, critical process protection, hybrid-electric vehicles and computer infrastructure protection.
The PPC 120 can start a generator set after a predetermined period of outage in order to provide continuous, uninterrupted power. The heart of the PPC 120 is a high-speed flywheel comprised of a multi-layer, carbon-fiber, composite cylinder that is attached to a nickel-alloy shaft through a titanium hub. Three sets of magnetic bearings (five-axis control) levitate the entire rotating assembly and allow high rotational speeds (55,000rpm) with no friction or maintenance. Two touch-down shafts act as backup support during transit and non-operation. An integrated vacuum pump continuously provides pressures 100-million-times lower than atmospheric pressure. The flywheel's mechanical energy (2/3kW/h) is converted to electrical energy through the synchronous reluctance motor.
Key features of the PPC 120 include an active magnetic-bearing system fully protected by broad US patents; a lightweight, low-cost, protective containment system proven by design, analysis and multiple test programs; rugged, synchronous-reluctance, motor-generator rotor eliminating the temperature-sensitive, expensive permanent magnets conventionally used in motor-generator applications; a simple, maintenance-free, internal vacuum system; and a closed-loop, liquid-cooled electronics and flywheel system.
