Optimal Design of Magnetically Levitated Flywheel Energy Storage System Based on System Stability Using Rigid-Body Model

Owing to the increasing worldwide interest in green technology and renewable energy sources, flywheel energy storage systems (FESSs) are gaining importance as a viable alternative to traditional battery systems. Since the energy storage capacity of an FESS is proportional to the principal mass-moment of inertia and the square of the running speed, a design that maximizes the principal inertia while operatingrunning at the highest possible speed is important. However, the requirements for the stability of the system may impose a constraint on the optimal design. In this paper, an optimal design of an FESS that not only maximizes the energy capacity but also satisfies the requirements for system stability and reduces the sensitivity to external disturbances is proposed. Cross feedback control in combination with a conventional proportional-derivative (PD) controller is essential to reduce the effect of gyroscopic coupling and to increase the stored energy and the specific energy density.