Improving the dynamics of a flywheel energy storage system with superconducting magnetic bearings

This paper describes a new method for improving the dynamics of a flywheel energy storage system using superconducting magnetic bearings (SMBs). The SMBs are composed of a ring-shaped superconductor and some permanent magnets (PM). Changes in stiffness and damping coefficient of the SMBs were investigated. Forced displacements are given to the SMBs to improve the stiffness and the damping coefficient. The stiffness and the damping coefficient are also evaluated by using the energy storage flywheel system.