The key factors in the design and construction of advanced flywheel energy storage systems and their application to improve telecommunication power back-up

This paper develops a flywheel energy storage system from first principles and illustrates this with a design for Pirouette/sup TM/ by International Energy Systems. The performance of Pirouette/sup TM/ is reported together with a discussion on its application to telecommunications. The features of this technology that are beneficial to the operator are identified. The authors discuss flywheel shape, suspension system, power transfer, mechanical failure management, performance, reliability and safety.