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The Past, Present, and Future of Flywheel Energy Storage
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The Past, Present, and Future of Flywheel Energy Storage

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "D: Energy Storage and Application".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 November 2024 | Viewed by 4345

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Xingjian Dai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Interests: flywheel energy storage technology; micro-gas turbine power generation technology; magnetic bearing technology; rotor dynamics; composite material mechanics; structural mechanics
Prof. Dr. Changsheng Zhu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Electrical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: magnetic bearings (software and hardware); high-power high-speed magnetic levitation motor and magnetic levitation flywheel energy storage system; vibration and control of aeroengine rotor system; analysis and control of motor vibration and noise; rotor-bearing system dynamics and control

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Flywheel energy storage (FES) technology has been developing over the past fifty years. Large and/or converter power permanent magnet motors make it possible to speed up and slow down flywheels efficiently and reliably, giving continuous momentum for the development of FES worldwide.  The stored energy has reached 100 kWh in a single flywheel energy storage unit, with the charge/discharge power exceeding 1000 kW and the cycle efficiency of the AC terminal of the flywheel energy storage system (FESS) being around 88%. The 20MW flywheel energy storage power station in the United States has been in operation for more than 10 years, and the first Chinese combined 22MW flywheel-to-thermal-power AGC power station was built and put into operation in 2023. Recently, the application of FES, whether independent or mixed with lithium batteries, focuses on the flexible regulation of new energy power, developing beyond past applications such as dynamic UPS, rail transit energy recovery, and frequent peak shaving of independent energy systems.

Before 2010, research on flywheels had been mainly carried out in the United States, Europe, and Japan. In recent years, the Chinese have joined the group and become a major player. In China, in addition to the research on FES supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, major industrial groups have been developing FES prototypes for different applications. Flywheel energy storage technology in China has reached the stage of small-scale industrialization in demonstration with the support of industrial capital.

There are three trends in the future research and development of FES. Firstly, it is necessary to accumulate fatigue characteristic data for flywheel materials, identify flywheel fatigue life assessment methods, and develop the technology to detect the strength state of flywheels. The second challenge is the heat dissipation of the MW FES motor rotor under vacuum and magnetic levitation conditions. Thirdly, it is advisable to expand the FES application modes, build more flywheel array demonstration projects, test the short-term and high-frequency advantages of flywheel energy storage, and achieve the goals of usability, durability, and cost-effectiveness.

Prof. Dr. Xingjian Dai
Prof. Dr. Changsheng Zhu
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 12309 KiB  
Article
Optimising Flywheel Energy Storage Systems: The Critical Role of Taylor–Couette Flow in Reducing Windage Losses and Enhancing Heat Transfer
by Mahmoud Eltaweel and Mohammad Reza Herfatmanesh
Energies 2024, 17(17), 4466; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17174466 - 5 Sep 2024
Viewed by 610
Abstract
Amidst the growing demand for efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions, Flywheel Energy Storage Systems (FESSs) have garnered attention for their potential to meet modern energy needs. This study uses Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate and optimise the aerodynamic performance of [...] Read more.
Amidst the growing demand for efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions, Flywheel Energy Storage Systems (FESSs) have garnered attention for their potential to meet modern energy needs. This study uses Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate and optimise the aerodynamic performance of FESSs. Key parameters such as radius ratio, aspect ratio, and rotational velocity were analysed to understand their impact on windage losses and heat transfer. This study reveals the critical role of Taylor–Couette flow on the aerodynamic performance of FESSs. The formation of Taylor vortices within the airgap was examined, demonstrating their effect on temperature distribution and overall system performance. Through a detailed examination of the skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number under different conditions, this study identified a nonlinear relationship between rotor temperature and rotational speed, highlighting the accelerated temperature rise at higher speeds. The findings indicate that optimising these parameters can significantly enhance the efficiency of FESSs, reducing windage losses and improving heat transfer. This research provides valuable insights into the aerodynamic and thermal optimisation of FESSs, offering pathways to improve their design and performance. The results contribute to advancing guidelines for the effective implementation of FESSs in the energy sector, promoting more sustainable energy storage solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Past, Present, and Future of Flywheel Energy Storage)
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18 pages, 8462 KiB  
Article
Fatigue Life of Flywheel Energy Storage Rotors Composed of 30Cr2Ni4MoV Steel
by Dongxu Hu, Xingjian Dai, Bo Xie, Wen Li, Hongyan Yu and Haisheng Chen
Energies 2024, 17(15), 3730; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17153730 - 29 Jul 2024
Viewed by 680
Abstract
In supporting the stable operation of high-penetration renewable energy grids, flywheel energy storage systems undergo frequent charge–discharge cycles, resulting in significant stress fluctuations in the rotor core. This paper investigates the fatigue life of flywheel energy storage rotors fabricated from 30Cr2Ni4MoV alloy steel, [...] Read more.
In supporting the stable operation of high-penetration renewable energy grids, flywheel energy storage systems undergo frequent charge–discharge cycles, resulting in significant stress fluctuations in the rotor core. This paper investigates the fatigue life of flywheel energy storage rotors fabricated from 30Cr2Ni4MoV alloy steel, attempting to elucidate the material’s mechanical properties, crack propagation behavior, and impact of internal defects on fatigue life. Tensile tests reveal that the material exhibited high yield (992 MPa) and tensile strengths (1130 MPa). The Paris formula is used to model crack growth rates, ending in good agreement with the experimental data. Fatigue tests at various stress conditions highlight the material’s significant variability in fatigue life and emphasize the need for reliable design approaches. This paper also demonstrates that internal defect size and location critically affect fatigue life, calling for improvements in forging inspection standards. Overall, the present study provides a comprehensive analysis of 30Cr2Ni4MoV steel’s suitability for flywheel rotors, balancing safety, and operational efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Past, Present, and Future of Flywheel Energy Storage)
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15 pages, 7434 KiB  
Article
Preliminary Study on Recontrol Evaluation of a Magnetic Bearing Rotor Falling on Touch-Down Bearings
by Kai Zhang and Yang Xu
Energies 2024, 17(14), 3457; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17143457 - 13 Jul 2024
Viewed by 657
Abstract
The dynamic control of an active magnetic bearing (AMB) rotor after the rotor falls to its touch-down bearings has always been a difficult problem for applications such as flywheel energy storage. The rotor drop process has obvious nonlinear dynamic characteristics. This paper first [...] Read more.
The dynamic control of an active magnetic bearing (AMB) rotor after the rotor falls to its touch-down bearings has always been a difficult problem for applications such as flywheel energy storage. The rotor drop process has obvious nonlinear dynamic characteristics. This paper first discusses the structure of AMBs and the basic principles of their control. Starting from the electromagnetic forces that electromagnets can provide, the problem is simplified to the influence of an electromagnetic force with constant damping characteristics on the dynamic characteristics of a dropped rotor. A dynamic model of an AMB rotor with touch-down bearings was built and the contact force model between the rotor and the touch-down bearings was determined. A constant damping electromagnetic force was applied in two ways to verify the dynamic control feasibility of a dropped rotor through magnetic bearings. The simulation results show that the dropped rotor recovery control is feasible by applying a reasonable electromagnetic force. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Past, Present, and Future of Flywheel Energy Storage)
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22 pages, 10030 KiB  
Article
Inertial Energy Storage Integration with Wind Power Generation Using Transgenerator–Flywheel Technology
by Yi Deng and Mehrdad Ehsani
Energies 2024, 17(13), 3218; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17133218 - 30 Jun 2024
Viewed by 900
Abstract
A new type of generator, a transgenerator, is introduced, which integrates the wind turbine and flywheel into one system, aiming to make flywheel-distributed energy storage (FDES) more modular and scalable than the conventional FDES. The transgenerator is a three-member dual-mechanical-port (DMP) machine with [...] Read more.
A new type of generator, a transgenerator, is introduced, which integrates the wind turbine and flywheel into one system, aiming to make flywheel-distributed energy storage (FDES) more modular and scalable than the conventional FDES. The transgenerator is a three-member dual-mechanical-port (DMP) machine with two rotating members (inner and outer rotors) and one stationary member (stator). The transgenerator–flywheel system is introduced with its configuration, transgenerator overview, flywheel operation principle and power management strategies, and control system. Simulations are performed in MATLAB 2023b/Simulink to verify the system viability, including control system verification and flywheel storage performance evaluation. The results show that the inner and outer rotors can be controlled independently with an accurate and fast control response, and the grid-side control works properly. The flywheel performs well, with considerable charging power and storage capacity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Past, Present, and Future of Flywheel Energy Storage)
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28 pages, 13716 KiB  
Article
Stability Assessment of the High-Speed Flywheel with AMBs on a Rotating Platform
by Yulan Zhao, Pingfan Liu, Qichao Lv, Kai Zhang and Lei Zhao
Energies 2024, 17(11), 2746; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17112746 - 4 Jun 2024
Viewed by 718
Abstract
With the continuous improvement of the performance and capabilities of spacecrafts, the application of active magnetic bearings (AMBs) has become a major focus in current research. The AMBs-flywheel system is not only responsible for attitude control but also provides the required energy during [...] Read more.
With the continuous improvement of the performance and capabilities of spacecrafts, the application of active magnetic bearings (AMBs) has become a major focus in current research. The AMBs-flywheel system is not only responsible for attitude control but also provides the required energy during shadow periods. In magnetically suspended single gimbal control moment gyroscope (SGCMG), self-excited vibration caused by high-speed rotor rotation significantly affects the stability of the AMB system. The research focus lies in magnetically supporting the flywheel at high speeds with low power consumption to explore gyroscopic mechanics at ultra-high speeds and assess the corresponding stability. This study presents an assessment of the stability performance of a high-speed flywheel equipped on a single gimbal with an angular momentum of 75 Nm. To achieve ultra-high-speed operation under low driving power, a high-precise dynamic balance was performed followed by a novel unbalance control strategy of a radial and axial automatic balancing algorithm to suppress effectively synchronous vibrations due to nutation and precession. Corresponding experiments including static stable suspension experiments as well as low-speed, high-speed, and series-based stability assessments were conducted. Stable suspension at any speed ranging from 0 to 30,000 r/min was successfully implemented. The stability performance of the high-speed flywheel on a rotating platform at different gimbal speeds was verified, with a maximum speed reaching 31,200 r/min. The entire output torque process within the range of 30,000 r/min was revealed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Past, Present, and Future of Flywheel Energy Storage)
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