Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Fiber-composite systems for energy-storage flywheels

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7311671
A study of four fiber-composite systems for use in energy-storage flywheels (Kevlar 49/epoxy, Kevlar 29/epoxy, S2-glass/epoxy, and E-glass/epoxy) has been completed. The overall goals were to compare the performance of the four materials and to obtain a relationship between results of conventional materials tests and spin tests. For each material, tensile tests of epoxy-coated strands, hydroburst tests of NOL rings, and hydroburst and spin tests of thin-rim composite rotors about 406 mm in diameter were performed. The results of the rotor and NOL ring hydroburst tests were the same as the results of the spin tests. Thus, for the thin-rim rotor design, hydroburst tests of the rotor or of the NOL ring can be used to predict spin performance. In terms of energy density, Kevlar 49/epoxy ranked highest, but in terms of energy density per unit cost, E-glass/epoxy was best.
Research Organization:
California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
7311671
Report Number(s):
UCRL-78610; CONF-770407-2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English