SBIR-STTR Award

Shipboard Flywheel Energy Storage Parasitic Reduction
Award last edited on: 4/17/2023

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : Navy
Total Award Amount
$124,995
Award Phase
1
Solicitation Topic Code
N171-095
Principal Investigator
Richard J Hayes

Company Information

Balcones Technologies LLC

10532 Grand Oak Circle
Austin, TX 78750
   (512) 627-4203
   richard@balconestech.com
   www.balconestech.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 37
County: Williamson

Phase I

Contract Number: N68335-17-C-0311
Start Date: 6/1/2017    Completed: 12/1/2017
Phase I year
2017
Phase I Amount
$124,995
Our team proposes to build on our previous high temperature superconducting magnetic bearing (HTSMB) design experience to enable multi-MW class flywheel energy storage systems (FESS) to exhibit low standby leak-down rates, comparable to Li-ion batteries. Comparing the current state of the art for FESS to chemical energy storage generally leads to the conclusion that FESS offers major advantages for high power and high cycle life applications and for load-leveling power demand transients to shield electrical grids from high power demand spikes. BT-CEMs previous efforts studying low loss bearings for flywheels concluded that an HTSMB can provide the lowest system level losses but will require a reliable damping solution. Our teams proprietary controlled damping approach, which achieves full rotordynamic stability with very low (strategically placed) forces and very low losses, only incurs losses when damping is required. ONRs Combat Hybrid Power System (CHPS) is a primary example of leading edge technology for shipboard MW-class flywheel load-leveling systems. The CHPS machine will serve as the focus application for our teams HTSMB-CD development efforts. Our team proposes to fully develop this design for a CHPS type application as the result of this Phase I effort.

Benefit:
The proposed effort will allow a single energy storage system compatible with the naval ship pitch, roll and shock environments to capture the advantages of both high performance flywheel systems and high performance battery systems. Due to the high speeds required for high performance flywheel systems to maximize power and energy density these systems must operate on magnetic bearings with the rotor in a vacuum. Based on our decades of experience, the only viable bearing approach we have identified with spin down rates comparable to Li-ion battery losses requires the use of HTS magnetic bearings. Additionally, the only reliable approach our team has identified for adding sufficient rotor stability is to add controlled damping. The proposed system will result in a high power, low loss, flywheel system suitable for a wide range of military and commercial applications. Potential commercial applications include markets for long term energy storage where large battery packs are currently the preferred solution. Some examples of these include energy storage for wind and solar generation systems, recharging stations for the transportation sector, space applications where solar energy storage is the only viable solution, and industrial power quality applications for manufacturing and large data centers.

Keywords:
High Temperature Superconducting Magnetic Bearing Controlled Damper, High Temperature Superconducting Magnetic Bearing Controlled Damper

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
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Phase II Amount
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