Advantages and Disadvantages of the Flywheel Energy Storage System [FESS]
Researcher: Engr. Afsaneh Cooper
Advantages of the FESS
7. Unlike conventional coal and gas generators, which have an efficiency ratio of 35-40%, the flywheel operates
at upwards of 85-90% efficiently. [6 – link 3 – para. 4 for efficiency]
8. Flywheels are highly reliable, safe, long life, energy efficient and non-polluting
9. The increasing focus and intermittent nature of renewable sources increases the demand for energy storage,
such as flywheels
10. The power output from solar photovoltaic (PV) depends on the strength of sun rays, which vary according to
the time of the day and the amount of cloud cover. Managing this variability can be overcome by the use of
flywheel technology, which can stabilize frequency and voltage based on requirement. [6 – link 10-para.2]
[6-link 11]
11. “Much higher charging and discharging rate
12. Able to cyclic discharge to zero energy without degrading
13. High power output
14. Large energy storage capacity
15. Less overall cost
16. Power compensation is very effective [6 – link 8 – Slide 14]
17. The system cost can be kept minimum by optimum use of small capacity flywheel energy storage system.
[6 – link 8]
18. “Technavio expects the flywheel energy storage market to grow at a CAGR of almost 20% during the forecast
period. The two major factors impacting the growth of the market are intensive industrial development and
growing populations.Boththesefactorshavesignificantlyincreasedtheglobaldemandfor power. In developing
nations, the demand-supply gap of energy frequently leads to power shortages, leading to greater demand for
power backups.” [6 – link 9]
19. There is a retailer for flywheel energy storage, which did not exist, even one during my PhD study
[1990-1994]: [6 – link 16]
Disadvantages of the FESS
1. “Complexity of durable and low loss bearings
2. Mechanical stress and fatigue limits
3. Material limits at around 700 M/Sec tip speed
4. Potentially hazardous failure modes
5. Short discharge time” [6 – link 2 – Slide 19]
6. “Current Flywheels have low specific energy
7. There are safety concerns associated with flywheels due to their high speed rotor and the possibility of it breaking loose & releasing all of its energy in an uncontrolled manner
8. Flywheels are a less mature technology than chemical batteries, and the current cost is too high to make them competitive in the market” [6 – link 7 – Slide 12] [ 6 – link 7 – Slide 13]
______________________________________
Reference:
6. http://ewindfly.shubayr.net/flywheel.html 88 links to “2016 web pages” about flywheel energy storage system
- “High power density
- High energy density
- The life time of the flywheel is almost independent of the depth of the charge and discharge cycle
- No periodic maintenance is required, easily and inexpensively maintained
- Short recharge time
- Flywheel systems are not sensitive to temperature since they are operating in a vacuum containment”
7. Unlike conventional coal and gas generators, which have an efficiency ratio of 35-40%, the flywheel operates
at upwards of 85-90% efficiently. [6 – link 3 – para. 4 for efficiency]
8. Flywheels are highly reliable, safe, long life, energy efficient and non-polluting
9. The increasing focus and intermittent nature of renewable sources increases the demand for energy storage,
such as flywheels
10. The power output from solar photovoltaic (PV) depends on the strength of sun rays, which vary according to
the time of the day and the amount of cloud cover. Managing this variability can be overcome by the use of
flywheel technology, which can stabilize frequency and voltage based on requirement. [6 – link 10-para.2]
[6-link 11]
11. “Much higher charging and discharging rate
12. Able to cyclic discharge to zero energy without degrading
13. High power output
14. Large energy storage capacity
15. Less overall cost
16. Power compensation is very effective [6 – link 8 – Slide 14]
17. The system cost can be kept minimum by optimum use of small capacity flywheel energy storage system.
[6 – link 8]
18. “Technavio expects the flywheel energy storage market to grow at a CAGR of almost 20% during the forecast
period. The two major factors impacting the growth of the market are intensive industrial development and
growing populations.Boththesefactorshavesignificantlyincreasedtheglobaldemandfor power. In developing
nations, the demand-supply gap of energy frequently leads to power shortages, leading to greater demand for
power backups.” [6 – link 9]
19. There is a retailer for flywheel energy storage, which did not exist, even one during my PhD study
[1990-1994]: [6 – link 16]
Disadvantages of the FESS
1. “Complexity of durable and low loss bearings
2. Mechanical stress and fatigue limits
3. Material limits at around 700 M/Sec tip speed
4. Potentially hazardous failure modes
5. Short discharge time” [6 – link 2 – Slide 19]
6. “Current Flywheels have low specific energy
7. There are safety concerns associated with flywheels due to their high speed rotor and the possibility of it breaking loose & releasing all of its energy in an uncontrolled manner
8. Flywheels are a less mature technology than chemical batteries, and the current cost is too high to make them competitive in the market” [6 – link 7 – Slide 12] [ 6 – link 7 – Slide 13]
______________________________________
Reference:
6. http://ewindfly.shubayr.net/flywheel.html 88 links to “2016 web pages” about flywheel energy storage system