SBIR Phase I: Reliable, Low Cost Support System for Flywheel Energy Storage

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将探索飞轮储能（FES）系统作为电池的替代品，用于偏远寒冷环境中的电能存储。 风能和太阳能中可再生能源的使用由于缺乏合适的储存而变得复杂。 电池通常很重，运输成本高;寿命有限，需要温暖才能有效运行;在寿命结束时会出现处置问题。 FES可以提供更高的能量密度，无限的寿命，对低温相对不敏感，并且没有有毒化合物。 由于高转速，飞轮需要磁轴承支撑，但主动磁轴承需要电源和控制电子设备，这降低了存储效率并存在故障点和维护需求。 被动磁轴承是固定式FES系统的更好选择，但一直难以制造并且受到低阻尼的影响。 第一阶段将开发一个被动轴承系统，更容易，更便宜的制造。 飞轮及其阻尼系统将允许这些新的轴承应用于固定FES系统。 商业应用分为三类：替代能源存储，公用事业负载均衡和不间断电源应用。 太阳能发电系统被认为是一个增长的市场，其中FES具有传统电池的优势。 公用事业负荷均衡应用将导致维护和峰值电力设施成本的成本节约。 不间断电源也可能是一个增长市场。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will explore Flywheel Energy Storage (FES) systems as an alternative to batteries for electrical energy storage in remote, cold environments. Use of renewable energy sources in wind and solar power is complicated by a lack of suitable storage. Batteries are typically heavy and expensive to transport; have limited life, require warmth for effective operation; and pose disposal problems at the end of their life. FES may offer higher energy densities, unlimited life, relative insensitivity to low temperatures, and absence of toxic compounds. Due to the high rotational speeds, flywheels require magnetic bearing support, but active magnetic bearings require power supplies and control electronics that reduce storage efficiency and present failure points and maintenance needs. Passive magnetic bearings are a better choice for stationary FES systems but have been difficult to manufacture and suffer from low damping. Phase I will develop a passive bearing system that is easier, and less expensive to manufacture. The flywheel and its damping systems would allow these new bearings to be applied to stationary FES systems. The commercial applications fall into three classes: alternative energy storage, utility load leveling, and uninterruptible power applications. Solar electric systems are thought to be a growth market in which FES has advantages over conventional batteries. Utility load leveling applications would result in cost savings in maintenance and peaking power facility costs. Uninterruptible power supplies may also be a growth market.