Kinetic Energy Storage for High Reliability Power Supply Back-up

This paper proposes the use of kinetic energy storage using a flywheel for high lifetime power system back-up applications. The design combines a digitally-controlled, high-speed sinusoidal permanent magnet motor with a MOSFET inverter to provide controlled acceleration of the flywheel to operating velocity and to accomplish switch-over to generation mode. A moderate-velocity mechanical prototype is analyzed through modeling and experimental results. The proposed design is an option offering potential improvements in lifetime, maintenance requirements and reliability in comparison with the existing electrochemical technology. Experimental results are presented.