How does a flywheel energy storage system work?

Flywheel Energy Storage Systems (FESS) rely on a mechanical working principle: An electric motor is used to spin a rotor of high inertia up to 20,000-50,000 rpm. Electrical energy is thus converted to kinetic energy for storage. For discharging, the motor acts as a generator, braking the rotor to produce electricity.

Could flywheels be the future of energy storage?

Flywheels, one of the earliest forms of energy storage, could play a significant role in the transformation of the electrical power system into one that is fully sustainable yet low cost.

What is a flywheel energy storage system (fess)?

Flywheel energy storage systems (FESS) use electric energy input which is stored in the form of kinetic energy. Kinetic energy can be described as “energy of motion,” in this case the motion of a spinning mass, called a rotor. The rotor spins in a nearly frictionless enclosure.

What is kinetic energy stored in a flywheel?

The kinetic energy stored in flywheels - the moment of inertia. A flywheel can be used to smooth energy fluctuations and make the energy flow intermittent operating machine more uniform. Flywheels are used in most combustion piston engines. Energy is stored mechanically in a flywheel as kinetic energy.

How much energy does a flywheel store?

Indeed, the development of high strength, low-density carbon fiber composites (CFCs) in the 1970s generated renewed interest in flywheel energy storage. Based on design strengths typically used in commercial flywheels, σmax /ρ is around 600 kNm/kg for CFC, whereas for wrought flywheel steels, it is around 75 kNm/kg.

Is a flywheel a flying wheel?

A flywheel is not a flying wheel, though if things go sideways, it's possible to find flywheels mid-air. Flywheels are devices used to store energy and release it after smoothing eventual oscillations received during the charging process. Flywheels store energy in the form of rotational energy.