Abstract of Thesis presented at COPPE/UFRJ as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Flywheel Energy Storage System - FESS (Practical Implementation)

Mauricio El-Mann

September/2009

Advisors:

Richard Magdalena Stephan Luís Guilherme Barbosa Rolim

Department:

Eletrical Engineering

      This work presents the experimental results of the practical implementation of a Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS) that begins with simulations of the FESS and presented in recent work, and proposes to give another step in development of that technology at the Laboratory of Applied Superconductivity of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
      The FESS is a mechanical accumulator, where the mechanical energy is stored as kinetic energy in a flywheel. The conversion from mechanical to electrical energy, and vice-versa, is made by a Switched Reluctance Machine (SRM). That device is able to supply energy to an electrical load, during fault occurrences.
      The FESS is formed by a flywheel, connected to a SRM, which operates as a motor/generator. This machine is driven by a Half Bridge Power Converter (SRM Converter), which is connected to a Full Bridge Power Converter (Grid Converter), by means of a DC link. The Grid Converter is connected to the electric grid by means of inductors. The electrical energy can be provided to the DC link or to the electric utility, in agreement of the desired application.