Flywheel energy storage LIFE97 ENV/D/000474 - Construction of a demonstration flywheel energy-storage systems for the reduction of the energy-consumption in public light-rail systems by up to 10%
Overview
Background & policy context:
Considering the need for increased economic efficiency and improved service delivery, local transportation companies are faced with the need for measures to upgrade existing systems in order to improve performance and reduce costs. Energy storage could make an important contribution to meeting these new requirements. Currently, the braking energy of a vehicle is normally converted into heat. However, a system for energy storage would allow the storage of this braking energy and its supply at a later time in the form of acceleration power. In this way, energy that up to now was lost, could be harnessed and reused.
Objectives:
The aim of the project was to use flywheel energy storage to regenerate the braking energy of vehicles. The anticipated reduction in energy consumption was up to 10% of the total energy for the mass transit system. This reduction in energy consumption would result in a direct reduction of CO2 emissions, as less energy has to be produced for the same transportation. The reduced energy consumption, as well as the long-term reliability and effectiveness of the process, were to be proven using a prototype. The use of energy-storage-units for the power supply of regional light rail systems reduces total energy consumption and can bring several advantages for the operation and the dimensioning of the power supply:
- optimised regeneration of the breaking energy of vehicles.
- Smaller dimensioning of substations with constant peak power in the system.
- Rescue of trains from tunnels during power failures in the public supply network.
- Stabilising of the system voltage on distant feeders.
The optimised regeneration of the braking energy can save up to 10% of total energy requirement of a substation. The energy-storage-unit consists of a carbon-fibre flywheel rotating at more than 10.000 rpm. The energy-transport to and from the flywheel was managed by a special synchron motor-generator-unit, which was fed by a special power-converter. The control unit for the power converter was developed especially for this project.
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