The energy density of hydraulic drive trains is inferior in comparison to electrical and mechanical systems. A solution to this problem is to improve the energy storage density by storing potential and rotating kinetic energy in a flywheel-accumulator. A flywheel-accumulator is a cylindrical pressure vessel with oil and gas volumes separated by a piston that is rotated about a central axis. A low-energy prototype was created and tested to verify an increase in energy density and to validate that a parabolic pressure distribution exists on the oil side due to centripetal acceleration. If an increase in energy density is proven, the flywheel-accumulator has the potential to revolutionize compact hydraulic energy storage.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Sayre, Robert Emmett
• Grau, Rachel J.
• Mahtani, Rahul
• Martinez, Angel A.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042910-140642

Advisor

• Van de Ven, James D.

Year

• 2010

Date created

• 2010-04-29

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2020-12-29