Re: Flywheel
Inbox
| Tyrell Gray <tyrellgray@gmail.com> | Tue, Mar 22, 2016, 12:26 PM |  | |
| to me |
Below is a link that will direct you to Beacon Power. They are leading the way with the flywheel technology.
http://beaconpower.com/carbon-fiber-flywheels/
On Tue, Mar 22, 2016 at 5:00 AM, Matt Warren <matthewtwarren3@gmail.com> wrote:
Hey Tyrell,
Do you have any information by chance on that flywheel battery storage? Deb was asking about it and I told her I would follow up.
How are the schools in Utah coming?
Matt Warren
Solar Power Provider
803.603.6580
—
Tyrell Gray
tyrellgray@gmail.com
C-801.636.0604
Carbon Fiber Flywheels
Beacon’s flywheel is essentially a mechanical battery that stores kinetic energy in a rotating mass. Advanced power electronics and a motor/generator convert that kinetic energy to electric energy, making it instantly available when needed. Our systems are modular and can be configured to meet the power capacity demands of a variety of applications, from 100 kW to multi-MW systems.
At the core of Beacon’s flywheel technology is a patented carbon fiber composite rim, supported by a hub and shaft with an attached motor/generator. Together, the rim, hub, shaft and motor/generator form the rotor assembly. Power electronics and the motor/generator efficiently convert electrical energy into mechanical energy when the flywheel is charging and back to electrical energy when discharging. When charging (or absorbing) energy, the flywheel’s motor acts like a load and draws power from the grid to accelerate the rotor to a higher speed. When discharging, the motor is switched into generator mode, and the inertial energy of the rotor drives the generator, creating electricity which is injected back into the grid. Always spinning in the same direction, the flywheel system can instantly shift back and forth between charging and discharging modes.
Beacon’s high-performance rotor assembly spins up to 16,000 rpm. The rotor assembly is enclosed in a sealed vacuum chamber which provides a near frictionless environment and also eliminates exposure to oxygen and moisture which extends the life of the internal components. To reduce wear and further extend the life of the internal parts while minimizing friction, a magnetic lift system uses a non-contacting magnetic field to fully lift and support the rotor. Beacon’s patented top and bottom bearing system ensures the spinning rotor maintains its axis of rotation with extremely low bearing loads. With the ability to perform more than 175,000 full depth charge and discharge cycles, Beacon flywheels can outperform and outlast other storage technologies in high-cycle applications, and the robust design minimizes the need for flywheel system maintenance.
Environmental Benefits
Beacon flywheel storage systems have a positive impact on the environment.
As a technology facilitating delivery of reliable electricity, Beacon flywheel systems are unique. Flywheels store surplus grid energy and rapidly recycle it back into the grid when needed. There is no direct fuel use or air emissions. Further environmental benefits include very low noise levels (conventional cooling fans), no water use, and no use of or need to dispose of harmful chemicals or other hazardous materials in system operations.
As a participant in the bulk electric system, Beacon flywheels enable greater use of renewable generation by managing the impacts of variable output of wind and solar and also reduce the need for conventional generation ramping, resulting in lower system fuel consumption and therefore lower total CO2 and other emissions.
