Flywheel energy storage advances using HTS bearings

Author

Mulcahy, T.M. ; Hull, J.R. ; Uherka, K.L. ; Niemann, R.C. ; Abboud, R.G. ; Juna, J.P. ; Lockwood, J.A.

Author_Institution

Div. of Energy Technol., Argonne Nat. Lab., IL, USA

Volume

9

Issue

2

fYear

1999

fDate

6/1/1999 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

297

Lastpage

300

Abstract

High-temperature-superconducting (HTS) bearings have the potential to reduce rotor idling losses and make flywheel energy storage economical. Demonstration of large, high-speed flywheels is key to market penetration, Toward this goal, we have developed and tested a flywheel system with 5- to 15-kg disk-shaped rotors. Rim speeds exceeded 400 m/s, and stored energies were >80 Wh. Test implementation required technological advances in nearly all aspects of the flywheel system, Features and limitations of the design and tests are discussed, especially those related to achieving greater energy storage levels.

Keywords

flywheels; high-temperature superconductors; losses; magnetic bearings; rotors; superconducting magnets; 5 to 15 kg; energy storage levels; flywheel energy storage; high-speed flywheels; high-temperature-superconducting bearings; rim speeds; rotor idling losses reduction; stored energies; Ceramics; Energy storage; Flywheels; Force measurement; High temperature superconductors; Levitation; Prototypes; Rotors; Stators; System testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1051-8223

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/77.783294

Filename

783294