Third Generation Flywheels for High Power Electricity Storage

First generation flywheels of bulk material such as steel can mass tens of tons, but have low energy storage density. Second generation flywheels of composite materials have higher energy storage density but limited mass due to structural and stability limitations. LaunchPoint is developing high energy third generation flywheels – "Power Rings" – using radial gap magnetic bearings to levitate thin-walled composite hoops rotated at high speed to store kinetic energy. Power levels exceeding 50 megawatts and electricity storage capacities exceeding 5 megawatt-hours appear technically feasible and economically attractive. Power Rings can be used to decrease the peak power requirements of electric transportation systems by supplying intermittent high power for vehicles such as maglev trains. They can also store braking energy, isolate the power grid from surges and spikes, reduce the incidence of transportation system power outages, and provide back-up power in case of blackouts.

• Record URL:
  http://www.maglev2006.de/153_Fiske/153_Fiske_ok.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Technische Universitat Dresden

  Fakultat Bauingenieurwesen, Institut fur Baubetriebswesen
  01062 Dresden,   Germany 
• Authors:
  • Fiske, Jim O
  • Ricci, M R
• Conference:
  • MAGLEV'2006: The 19th International Conference on Magnetically Levitated Systems and Linear Drives
  • Location: Dresden , Germany
  • Date: 2006-9-13 to 2006-9-15
• Publication Date: 2006-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 7p
• Monograph Title: MAGLEV'2006: The 19th International Conference on Magnetically Levitated Systems and Linear Drives, 13-15 September 2006, Dresden, Germany

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Energy storage systems; Flywheels; Kinetic energy; Magnetic levitation; Magnetic levitation vehicles; Power level (Electricity); Steel
• Uncontrolled Terms: Power rings
• Subject Areas: Energy; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01040654
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 16 2007 3:35PM