Video of the italian flywheel energy storage experiment accident

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.

Are energy storage flywheels dangerous?

Even though there are hardly any known accidents involving energy storage flywheels that actually resulted in personal injury, incidents such as the much-cited rotor burst in Beacon Power ’s grid stability plant in Stephentown are sufficient to fuel mistrust of FESS technology [ 1 ].

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.

What are experimental flywheels used for?

It must be remembered at this point that the experimental test flywheels are only used as “projectiles” for the examination of the burst housings and represent sacrificial parts. In this case, the strength of the housing, not the rotor, will be examined.

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 absorbed by a flywheel?

The total energy of the flywheel is converted in equal shares into purely translational energy of the fragments; thus, energy absorption by crack growth, deformation, friction, etc. is neglected. Only the impact of a fragment is examined, because it is assumed that all three impacts are completely identical.