Safety hazards of flywheel energy storage

Are flywheel energy storage systems safe?

While supercaps and batteries have no moving parts and potential danger lies primarily in possible electric shock or fire due to a short circuit, a flywheel energy storage system requires a different, comprehensive safety concept. The main problem with FESS is that the entire kinetic energy can be released within a very short time.

What is a flywheel energy storage system (fess)?

Flywheel Energy Storage Systems (FESS) play an important role in the energy storage business. Its ability to cycle and deliver high power, as well as, high power gradients makes them superior for storage applications such as frequency regulation, voltage support and power firming.

Is a flywheel energy storage system a burst containment?

The housing of a flywheel energy storage system (FESS) also serves as a burst containment in the case of rotor failure of vehicle crash. In this chapter, the requirements for this safety-critical component are discussed, followed by an analysis of historical and contemporary burst containment designs.

What makes a safe flywheel system?

Robust system design, in combination with the use of certified critical materials, relevant quality control measures and documentation, are the basis for the construction of safe flywheel systems. These can be certified by appropriate independent parties as in the manufacture of many other products.

How is energy stored in a flywheel?

Energy is stored in a flywheel by converting electrical energy into mechanical energy in the form of rotational kinetic energy. The principle of rotating mass is used. The energy fed to a Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS) is mostly dragged from an electrical energy source, which may or may not be connected to the grid.

Can flywheel energy storage system be used for wind energy applications?

There have been studies on using flywheel energy storage systems for wind energy applications, as evidenced by the research article 'DSTATCOM with flywheel energy storage system for wind energy applications: control design and simulation' published in Electr Pow Syst res. in 2010. Choudhury, Bhowmik, and Rout were among the researchers involved in this study.