Superconducting magnetic energy storage

Conference · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/PROC.1983.12727· OSTI ID:7301798

Hassenzahl, W V; Boenig, H J

The U.S. electric utility industry transmits power to customers at a rate equivalent to only 60% of generating capacity because, on an annual basis, the demand for power is not constant. Load leveling and peak shaving units of various types are being used to increase the utilization of the base load nuclear and fossil power plants. The Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) is developing superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) systems which will store and deliver electrical energy for the purpose of load leveling, peak shaving, and the stabilization of electric utility networks. This technology may prove to be an effective means of storing energy for the electric utilities because (1) it has a high efficiency (approximately 90%), (2) it may improve system stability through the fast response of the converter, and (3) there should be fewer siting restrictions than for other load leveling systems. A general SMES system and a reference design for a 10-GWh unit for load leveling are described; and the results of some recent converter tests are presented.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 7301798
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-77-911; CONF-770618-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200107 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Off-Peak Energy Storage-- (1980-)
25 ENERGY STORAGE
250100* -- Energy Storage-- Magnetic
420201 -- Engineering-- Cryogenic Equipment & Devices
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DESIGN
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
LEVELS
LOAD MANAGEMENT
MAGNETIC ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
MANAGEMENT
OFF-PEAK ENERGY STORAGE
STABILIZATION
STORAGE
SUPERCONDUCTING COILS
UNDERGROUND