A control algorithm for a simple flywheel energy storage system to be used in space applications

Authors: KUTLAY AYDIN, MEHMET TİMUR AYDEMİR

Abstract: Flywheels have been under consideration to be used for energy storage purposes in space applications to replace electrochemical batteries. An electrical machine is used as a motor to store kinetic energy when the solar energy is available, and then the stored energy is converted back to electrical energy by running the machine as a generator when the solar energy is no longer available. A control algorithm for these systems is proposed in this paper. The proposed method uses a current reference rather than a speed reference in the motor mode. A method is also suggested to properly determine the current reference to overcome the losses and to create constant acceleration. The proposed algorithm is tested on an experimental set-up and the results are given.

Keywords: Flywheel energy storage, motor-generator operation, satellite attitude systems

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