EXPERIMENTAL DEMONSTATION OF ENERGY STORAGE SUBSTATIONS FOR AIRCRAFT ACTUATION FUNCTIONS

Abstract : Essentially there are two principal uses for flywheels. One is to create precessional forces (such as gyroscopes), the other is to store up kinetic energy. The program demonstrated the use of optimized energy storage flywheels for the purpose of supplying peak energy demands in aircraft flight control and utility actuation function duty cycles. Three simulators were used. One was a tilt table for investigation of precessional loads on bearings. Another was the XB-70 landing gear simulator for demonstration of both hydraulic and mechanical power extraction from flywheels in the performance of intermittent type of aircraft actuation duty cycles. A third simulator demonstrated 1,500 hours of aircraft flight control operation, wherein a bank of three XB-70 elevons were supplied one third of their peak hydraulic flow from a motor-pump driven by a flywheel. The test demonstrated 300 flights of 5 hours each. The program demonstrated the operating characteristics and the feasibility of using flywheel energy storage substations in the accomplishment of aircraft actuation functions. The program also verified the validity of the weight saving estimates made in Phase I.