I do wonder if we aren't thinking out of the box enough --
solar and wind are great - when the sun shines and the wind blows - no one argues against that
the only problem is the down times - where we need some kind of battery - chemical or hydro
maybe we're overlooking some things ---------like perhaps could we use river flow to trap energy stored in centrifuges?
let the rive do the work at say point 1 - have a system there
then, a couple of kilometres downstream - where gravity has reloaded the force - have another one - and so on and so on
a whole series of stepped power stations - used only for a battery for when solar and wind are low. The river flow is allowed to build the stored force AND maintain it.
we have explored it a little - but, have we explored it in how to capture the energy and use it as a backup etc?? I don't know
We have explored storing energy mechanically, particularly through the use of flywheels, which store energy as rotational kinetic energy. This approach effectively utilizes centrifugal force for energy storage. Here are the key points about flywheel energy storage systems (FESS):
1. Operating principle: FESS work by accelerating a rotor (flywheel) to very high speeds, maintaining energy in the system as rotational energy[1].
2. Energy storage and retrieval: When energy is added to the system, the flywheel's rotational speed increases. Conversely, when energy is extracted, the rotational speed decreases[1].
3. Components: A typical flywheel system consists of a rotor, motor/generator, bearings, and a vacuum enclosure[1][4].
4. Advanced materials: Modern flywheels often use high-strength carbon-fiber composites for the rotor, allowing for higher rotational speeds and energy density[1].
5. Rotational speeds: Advanced FESS can reach speeds from 20,000 to over 50,000 rpm[1], with some systems capable of up to 60,000 rpm[2].
6. Efficiency: Flywheel systems can achieve energy efficiencies up to 90%, with some advanced systems maintaining 97% mechanical efficiency[1].
7. Advantages: FESS offer long lifetimes (decades with little maintenance), high specific energy (100-130 Wh/kg), large power output, and rapid charging (less than 15 minutes)[1][2].
8. Applications: Flywheels are particularly useful for high power, low energy applications requiring frequent cycling, such as grid frequency regulation and power quality improvement[2].
9. Design considerations: To optimize energy storage, flywheels should have a large outer radius and a thin rim[3]. The flywheel's axis of rotation should be parallel to the Earth's axis to reduce friction and energy loss[1][3].
10. Limitations: The maximum energy storage is limited by the material's tensile strength, as excessive rotational speeds can cause the flywheel to be torn apart by centrifugal forces[5].
While flywheel technology has been around for a while, recent advancements in materials and design have made it a more viable option for energy storage in various applications, particularly where rapid cycling and high power output are required.
Citations:[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flywheel_energy_storage[2] https://cleanpower.org/facts/clean-energy-storage/mechanical-electricity-storage/[3] https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1569537/FULLTEXT02[4] http://ifsa.my/articles/flywheel-power-storing-energy-mechanically[5] https://eng.libretexts.org/Sandboxe...y_Kinetic_Energy___Electricity_Storage_Scheme
