A flywheel energy storage system, including a plurality of pumps arranged in
parallel
for simultaneously drawing-off and absorbing substantially all of the gases that
evolve from a flywheel assembly during high-speed operation, is disclosed. The
plurality of pumps includes at least one pump for pumping mainly water vapor; and,
at least one pump for pumping mainly active gases. The at least one pump for pumping
mainly water vapor plurality of pumps is disposed in a gas storage chamber that
is separate from the main housing of the flywheel system. The at least one pump
for pumping mainly active gases is disposed in a container external to the main
housing and fluidly coupled to the gas storage chamber. A drag pump assists the
plurality of pumps in the gas storage chamber by pumping the evolved gases from
the main housing to the gas storage chamber.
