The availability analysis of a 100 kWh superconducting magnetic energy storage

The availability aspects of a 100 kWh SMES have been studied. This kind of a unit with independent control of real and reactive power is suitable for load management for example in foundries. A conceptual design of a reference unit has been used as a basis of the study. Therefore the lack of the detailed design leads to uncertainty in evaluating the failure data for single components. The results will help to chart the critical points of this particular design. The extrapolation of data from other technologies is problematic but in most cases the only way to get results at all. The method used is based on the failure modes effects and criticality analysis (FMECA). Fault trees describe the outage logic based on the functional analysis. Event trees clarify the consequences of the primary events and the criticality of the consequences are expressed as system down times.<>