Design of a Flywheel Storage System

Storing mechanical kinetic energy for short time with flywheels has been known for centuries. However the applications of flywheels for longer storage times like electrochemical batteries is recent. Advanced flywheels have been possible thanks to the development from materials science with high tensile strength composite materials, and bearing technology with magnetic bearing, which suspend rotating shaft or rotor by magnetic forces. This summary report provides a study of the mechanics of flywheel, design considerations, material for advance flywheels, and magnetic bearing. Finally a brief description of a conventional flywheel prototype is given. (Author)