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U.S. Department of Energy
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Hybrid superconducting magnetic bearing for kinetic energy storage applications and its frictional energy loss

Conference ·
OSTI ID:416740
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Houston, TX (United States); and others
A hybrid superconducting magnetic bearing (HSMB) has been designed, constructed and implemented in a flywheel energy storage (FES) prototype. The HSMB design uses magnetic forces from permanent magnets for levitation and high temperature superconductor YBCO in between the magnets for stabilization. A 19 kg (42 lb.) flywheel currently can rotate up to 6,000 RPM with kinetic energy of 8 Wh stored. To identify the factors of frictional energy loss in the bearings, the authors have conducted a series of spin-down experiments in different operational conditions. The result from the recent test under the air pressure of 10{sup {minus}5} torr indicates an average frictional energy loss <2% per hour, with the imperfect system alignment and an unbalanced rotor.
OSTI ID:
416740
Report Number(s):
CONF-950722--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English