Superconducting Flywheel Model for Energy Storage Applications

TL;DR

This paper presents a physics-based computer model of a superconducting flywheel for energy storage, enabling simulation of its dynamics and energy loss mechanisms, with methods to reduce parasitic resonances and energy loss.

Contribution

It introduces a versatile real-physics model for superconducting flywheels, allowing for detailed analysis and optimization of damping and elasticity to improve energy storage efficiency.

Findings

Derived energy loss law for superconducting bearings

Identified damping strategies to reduce parasitic resonances

Demonstrated potential for minimizing energy loss in flywheels

Abstract

In order to explore the complexity and diversity of the flywheels' dynamics, we have developed the real-physics computer model of a universal mechanical rotor. Due to an arbitrary external force concept, the model can be adjusted to operate identical to the real experimental prototype. Taking the high-speed magnetic rotor on superconducting bearings as the prototype, the law for the energy loss in real high temperature superconducting bearings has been derived. Varying the laws of damping and elasticity in the system, we have found a way to effectively damp the parasitic resonances and minimize the loss of energy storage.