Study of superconductor bearings for a 35kWh superconductor flywheel energy storage system

A Superconductor Flywheel Energy Storage system (SFES) is used as an electro-mechanical battery which transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy and vice versa. A 35 kWh SFES using hybrid bearing sets was developed in KEPRI. Mechanical properties of HTS bearings are the critical factors for stability of the flywheel and the main parameter in designing the system. The properties of the HTS bearing were studied. The stiffness and the damping coefficient of the HTS bearing were 346.6 +/- 6.7 kN/m and 1255 +/- 102 N s/m, respectively. The damping coefficient was twelve times bigger than the estimate value. Therefore, we concluded that there were some external damping mechanisms. Finally, the 35 kWh SFES was test operated up to 4000 rpm. After passing two predicted critical speeds, the amplitude of vibration decreased and reached a stable rotation state. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.