Development of a Superconducting Magnetic Bearing Capable of Supporting Large Loads in a Flywheel Energy Storage System for Railway Application

Abstract

Application of the flywheel energy storage system (FESS) using high temperature superconducting magnetic bearings (SMB) has been demonstrated at the Komekurayama photovoltaic power plant located in Yamanashi Prefecture. In order for the FESS to be applied to railways as a system able to prevent cancellation of regenerative braking its storage capacity must be increased. Therefore, levitation force tests up to 158 kN and tests to determine the creep characteristics of the levitation force were carried out to verify the margin in SMB levitation force. Furthermore, to evaluate long-term reliability and durability of the levitation and rotation characteristics of the SMB against repeated change in rotation speed, new SMB test apparatus capable of simultaneously testing both the levitating and rotating states of the SMB is being developed.