[Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
To absorb energy during braking implies a large rapid [high power] energy transfer. If electrical or mechanical, that implies some serious technical challenges [$$$] above and beyond designing a flywheel that will not explode and dynamic effects on the vehicle. I would expect that during hard braking, energy recovery will limited.
Dynamic effects on a vehicle could be negated by putting two flywheels in one rigid structure, each rotating in different directions. The forces on the bearing would still be damaging.
Note that attempts to integrate a motor generator into the flywheel creates a serious problem. There is no easy way to get heat out when there is a vacuum other than through the axle and bearing. There cannot be any forced or natural convection; only radiation heat transfer and conduction through solids. In the space station, there is no natural convection. That requires that there be lots of small fans to move air for cooling etc. So that is a noisy environment. The space station and other satellites can use gyroscopes to rotate their orientation; these can be use to create a torque to get the satellite rotating then the opposite torque can be applied to stop motion in a different orientation. That is very interesting as no propellant is required for that kind of movement. As the gyroscopes spin down from friction, that will move the orientation; so there is a need to monitor speeds and correct as needed. In the sequel to 2001 Space Odyssey, when man returns to the mission vehicle 10 years later, the mission vehicle is rotating because the gyroscopes had spun down and transferred rotational inertial to the vehicle. The gyroscopes are spun back up and the vehicle is then stable.
posted by 65.69.234...
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.