What makes a safe flywheel system?

Robust system design, in combination with the use of certified critical materials, relevant quality control measures and documentation, are the basis for the construction of safe flywheel systems. These can be certified by appropriate independent parties as in the manufacture of many other products.

Are flywheels safe?

The safety design criteria were validated though a series of induced failures and overstress events. The flywheels were completely tolerant of a number of fault scenarios such as a loss of vacuum, loss of power, and overspeed; they survived these types of events without damage and were easily put back into service.

Are flywheels reliable for energy storage?

This data is a solid foundation for establishing the reliability of flywheels to meet the demands of utility scale energy storage. The rated energy storage capacity for the M25 at the beginning of the project was 25 kilowatt hours (kWh) with a 4-hour discharge duration (6.2kW power rating).

Are stornetic flywheels safe if a rotor burst?

In addition to the Sandia guidelines (4), Stornetic also believes that flywheels up to a certain energy content can be contained and mounted safely even in the event of a severe rotor burst. These designs offer additional safety opportunities to those of the Sandia recommendations.

Can a flywheel withstand a loss of vacuum?

Flywheels are a heavy rotating mass contained in a vacuum environment to minimize air friction. They are supported by an upper and lower bearing to axially constrain the rotation. Amber Kinetics has determined through multiple safety validation tests that flywheels can tolerate the loss of vacuum without damage.

What happens if a flywheel goes bad?

If there are problems with your flywheel, it’s much harder to change gears, and it’s also possible to inflict irreversible and costly damage to the clutch. The flywheel is a large, round metal disc, usually made from cast iron, steel or aluminum.