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The AFS-Trinity Power Corporation announcement must be
given pause.
These people have been around the block a few
times.
Looking at applications for flywheel systems brings the
question of stationary vs. moving platform systems. That is a stretch if for no
other reason than the gyro effect. Supposedly AFS has the answer.
Way back in the 1950's when I was young and daring, our
group conceived a flywheel as a perfect sphere and positioning and power
transfer was via ultra magnets. The ideas were great but without ultra magnets
and materials science plus the technology to make a perfect sphere the ideas
were put in the " funstuff" file.
Today, we have the ultra magnet
technology, emerging technology in molecular/chem/ hybrid
ferrometallic/ceramics that can be constructed a molecule at a
time into perfect spheres that can withstand the extreme rpm
required. These spheres could be as small as 30 cm and self gimbal inside
a vacuum housing.
I fear that AFS Trinity has spent way too many dollars (
of theirs and the Governments) in developing a flwheel design that is a
step in the right direction but not a product that will sell for a
profit.
Can you imagine the power available from a compact
flywheel spinning at 750,000 rpm? Try one in the rear wheel of your Harley for a
thrill!!
Richard
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