Advanced high-speed flywheel energy storage systems for pulsed power applications

A flywheel energy storage system (FESS) for naval applications based around a high-speed surface mount permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) is explored in this paper. A back-to-back converter controls the bi-directional flow of energy for charging and discharging the flywheel. At first, the impacts of power factor and armature reaction on the operation of the PMSM are discussed and then the developed control method is outlined. Finally, the operation of the FESS in the discharge mode with leading power factor and no armature reaction is explained. The overall system is simulated in PSIM package and the results are presented as a proof of what has been claimed.