Energy Storage Science and Technology ›› 2023, Vol. 12 ›› Issue (10): 3131-3144.doi: 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2023.0261

• Energy Storage System and Engineering • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Overview of the motor-generator rotor cooling system in a flywheel energy storage system

Yuanyuan JIAO1(), Yifei WANG1, Xingjian DAI1(), Hualiang ZHANG1, Haisheng CHEN1,2   

  1. 1.Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    2.Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2023-04-25 Revised:2023-05-31 Online:2023-10-05 Published:2023-10-09
  • Contact: Xingjian DAI E-mail:jiaoyuanyuan@iet.cn;daixingjian@iet.cn

Abstract:

Motor-generators (MGs) for converting electric energy into kinetic energy are the key components of flywheel energy storage systems (FESSs). However, the compact diameters, high-power design features of MGs, and vacuum operating settings of FESSs cause the MG rotor's temperature to increase, leading typical cooling water jackets to fail in meeting the heat dissipation needs of high-power density MG rotors. This study expands upon the causes of and harm generated by the heat production of FESS MG rotors and analyzes the calculation methods for the rotor eddy current losses and MG temperature fields. Moreover, this work also presents research progress on the passive and active cooling of MG rotors. Note that passive cooling includes heat radiation and conduction, while active cooling include shollow shaft fluid and heat pipe cooling. The applicability of the methods provided in the FESS is evaluated. The heat buildup can be preventedup to a point. The temperature gradients inside MGs can also be lowered by improving the heat conduction of the insulation materials inside the stators and rotor sand enhancing thermal radiation. Heat pipes have a simple installation, high integration, and excellent heat transfer performance. Unfortunately, the heat transmission effects cannot be proven while the shafts spin. The hollow shaft fluid cooling technology has avery mature, straight forward design and construction and a good heat transfer effect; hence, it can be used as the first choice for the rotor cooling of MGs with high-power density flywheels. Finally, a fresh hollow shaft flow cooling system is put forth to solve the heat dissipation issue in MW FESS MG rotor cooling.

Key words: flywheel energy storage system, motor/generator rotor, heat dissipation system, hollow shaft fluidcooling, heat pipe

CLC Number: