Mechanical design of flywheels for energy storage: A review with state-of-the-art developments

Abstract

For years, engineers and designers have capitalized on electrochemical batteries for long-term energy storage, which can only last for a finite number of charge–discharge cycles. More recently, compressed hydrogen is being scrutinized as a large-scale storage medium but this poses the risk of spreading high-pressure vessels with inflammable content. Historically, flywheels have provided an effective way to smooth out speed fluctuations in irregular machines and mechanisms. With advancements in composite materials, magnetic bearings, and mechatronic drives, flywheels have become the subject of extensive research as power storage devices for mobile or fixed installations. Flywheel energy storage systems are considered to be an attractive alternative to electrochemical batteries due to higher stored energy density, higher life term, deterministic state of charge and ecological operation. The mechanical performance of a flywheel can be attributed to three factors: material strength, geometry, and rotational speed. Focusing on the simple relationship between these variables, this paper reviews the literature of flywheel technology and explores the merits of four simple but unconventional flywheel configurations that have not been examined so far. Two geometries assume the use of monolithic isotropic materials two solutions are based on the use of high-strength strips or tapes wound up to form a multilayered structure.

A Review of Control Techniques and Energy Storage for Inverter-Based Dynamic Voltage Restorer in Grid-Integrated Renewable Sources

“…e energy storage of intermittent renewable sources is an extensive area of research since energy storage is utilized in several applications in the grid, including energy shifting, electricity supply capability, supporting frequencies and voltages, and the management of electricity bills [90][91][92]. Energy storage technologies are pumped hydroelectric (PHS) [93], compressed air energy storage (CAES) [94], flywheel energy storage (FES) [95], battery energy storage (BES) [96], thermal storage [97], and hydrogen [98]. Hydroelectricity Association (IHA), PHS is the most advanced and well-established storage technology in the world, with a total installed capacity of 153 GW in 2018 and is expected to increase by almost 50 percent to about 240 GW by 2030 [112].…”

“…Technology in CAES can provide services of flexible power quality, but it also suffers from the same problem as PHS such as geographically limited. During the industrial revolution, flywheel technology was quickly developed as the mechanism for smoothing steam engines [95]. Energy storage batteries are an electrochemical storage system that delivers quality services in power and were recently used to supply variable renewable storage systems such as solar PV and wind, in part driven by reductions in battery costs.…”

Simulation analysis of multi-ring interference assembly of large capacity composite flywheel rotor

“…Flywheel energy storage offers remarkable advantages, including rapid response, high efficiency, lack of pollution, and extended lifespan. [1][2][3][4] It makes FESS a good candidate for electrical grid regulation to improve distribution efficiency and smoothing power output from renewable energy sources like wind farms. 5 It is an internationally recognized high-quality grid frequency modulation resource.…”

Applications of Tungsten Pseudo-Alloys in the Energy Sector

“…Currently, and in terms of material availability, steel rotors are the most commonly used. However, there are also other options, such as aluminium alloys [9] or carbon fibre [1].…”