• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2001

A new type of flywheel energy storage system that has a horizontal axle with High $T_c$, superconductor bearings using Y123 single-domained crystals was developed.The dynamic Properties, stiffness and damping of the high $T_c$, superconductor radial bearings were experimentally estimated using a imbalance excitation method. The imbalance excitation method applied to this rotor- bearing system identified the identified stiffness and damping of the high temperature superconductor beatings to be 2.8 $3.3 {\times} 10^5 N/m and 775 204$ Nsec/m respectively.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2011

A superconductor flywheel energy storage system (SFES) is an electro-mechanical battery which transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy for storage, and vice versa. The 35 kWh class SFES is composed of a main frame, superconductor bearings, electro-magnetic dampers, a motor/generator, and a composite flywheel. The energy storing capacity of the SFES can be limited by the operational speed range of the system. The operational speed range is limited by many factors, especially the resonant frequency of the main frame and flywheel. In this study, a steel frame has been designed and constructed for a 35 kWh class SFES. All the main parts, their housings, and the flywheel are aligned and assembled on to the main frame. While in operation, the flywheel excites the main frame, as well as all the parts assembled to it, causing the system to vibrate at the rotating speed. If the main frame is excited at its resonant frequency, the system will resonate, which may lead to unstable levitation at the superconductor bearings and electro-magnetic dampers. The main frame for the 35 kWh class SFES has been designed and constructed to improve stiffness for the stable operation of the system within the operational speed range.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2012

A superconductor flywheel energy storage system (SFES) is an electro-mechanical battery which transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy for storage, and vice versa. A 35 kWh class SFES module was designed and constructed as part of a 100kWh/1MW class SFES composed of three 35 kWh class SFES modules. The 35 kWh class SFES is composed of a main frame, superconductor bearings, a composite flywheel, a motor/generator, electro-magnetic bearings, and a permanent magnet bearing. The high energy density composite flywheel is levitated by the permanent magnet bearing and superconductor bearings, while being spun by the motor/generator, and the electro-magnetic bearings are activated while passing through the critical speeds. Each of the main components was designed to provide maximum performance within a space-limited compact frame. The 35 kWh class SFES is designed to store 35 kWh, with a 350 kW charge/discharge capacity, in the 8,000 ~ 12,000 rpm operational speed range.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2011

A superconductor flywheel energy storage system (SFES) is an electro-mechanical battery which transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy for storage, and vice versa. A 10 kWh class flywheel energy storage system (FESS) has been developed to evaluate the feasibility of a 35 kWh class SFES with a flywheel $I_p/I_t$ ratio larger than 1. The 10 kWh class FESS is composed of a main frame, a composite flywheel, active magnetic dampers (AMDs), a permanent magnet bearing, and a motor/generator. The flywheel of the FESS rotates at a very high speed to store energy, while being levitated by a permanent magnetic bearing and a pair of thrust AMDs. The 10 kWh class flywheel is mainly composed of a composite rotor assembly, where most of the energy is stored, two radial and two thrust AMD rotors, which dissipate vibration at critical speeds, a permanent magnet rotor, which supports most of the flywheel weight, a motor rotor, which spins the flywheel, and a central hollow shaft, where the parts are assembled and aligned to. The stators of each of the main components are assembled on to housings, which are assembled and aligned to the main frame. Many factors have been considered while designing each part of the flywheel, stator and frame. In this study, a 10 kWh class flywheel energy storage system has been designed and constructed for test operation.