• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2001

A vortical axis flywheel system was conceptualized, which uses a hybrid superconductor bearing set to carry the wheel part load. The multiple designs of magnetic bearing and superconductor bearing were analyzed by using conventional numerical magnetostatic analysis method The best medels were selected among four different types of Permanent magnet bearings for upper bearing and two types of superconductor bearing for lower bearing, respectively These results were discussed in regard of application to the flywheel system with a Passive hybrid magnetic bearing set.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.141-143
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• 2004

For designing a flywheel system using superconductor, it is necessary to understand the basic characteristics of the classical superconductor bearing. It is difficult to expect the characteristics of superconductor bearings using models that have been introduced up to now. In the "Frozen image" concept, the farce between the permanent magnet and the superconductor can be divided into two forces between permanent magnet and two imaginary magnets in the superconductor; one represents attraction farce and the other represents a repulsion force. We calculated the characteristics of two superconductor bearings, such as an axial, the radial stiffness and the levitation force. This calculation method was very helpful to expect the characteristics of the superconductor bearings. Using this model, we established the optimum condition for the superconductor bearing.r bearing.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.66-70
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• 2012

Superconductor flywheel energy storage system (SFESs) is an electro-mechanical battery with high energy storage density, long life, and good environmental affinity. SFESs have been developed for application to a regenerative power of train, the storage of distributed power sources such as solar and wind power, and a power quality improvement. As superconductor bearing is completely passive, it is not necessary to control a system elaborately but accurate analysis in mechanical properties of the HTS bearing is very important for application to SFESs. Stiffness and damping properties are the main index for evaluation the capacity of HTS bearings and make it possible to adjust rotordynamic properties while operating the rotor-bearing system. The superconductor bearing consists of a stator containing single grain YBCO bulks, a ring-type permanent magnet rotor with a strong magnetic field that can reach the bulk surface, and a bearing support for assembly to SFESs frame. In this study, we investigated the stiffness and damping properties of superconductor bearings in 35 kWh SFESs. Finally, we found that 35 kWh superconductor bearing has uniform stiffness properties depend on the various orientations of rotor vibration. We discovered total damping coefficient of superconductor bearing is affected by not only magnetic damping in superconductor bulk but also external damping in bearing support. From the results, it is confirmed that the conducted evaluation can considerably improve energy storage efficiency of the SFESs, and these results can be used for the optimal capacity of superconductor bearings of the SFESs.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.52-59
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• 1997

An experimental study is presented for the characteristics of the high temperature superconductor as an application of the repulsive type magnetic bearing. A ring shaped YBCO type superconductor and Neodium permanent magnets are employed for the experiment. For the case of field cooling, superconductor shows strong repulsive force, which is due to the Meissner effect, as the gap between the superconductor and the magnet gets closer. The repulsive force variation with respect to the gap change shows hysterisis characteristics. The area of the loop of the hysterisis curve represents the dissipation of energy, which reveals that the magnetic bearing with superconductor has large damping. The effect of the initial gap and the magnetic flux density on the repulsive force is analyzed experimentally and the static stiffness variation is calculated from the measured repulsive force variation. The relative sliding velocity between the superconductor and the magnet has little effect on the repulsive force which is quite different from the usual sliding element bearing. As the initial gap for the field cooling becomes larger, the maximum repulsive force at the minimum gap increases and approaches to the value for the case of zero field cooling.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2010

A superconductor flywheel energy storage system (SFES) is an electro-mechanical battery which transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy for storage, and vice versa. Many aspects of the quasi-static behavior of flywheel rotors still need to be studied closely, and the rotors require a stable and highly efficient supporting system such as high temperature superconductor (HTS) bearings, which offer dynamic stability without the use of active control. Quasi-static properties of HTS bearings in the radial direction provide data to solve problems which may occur in a running system. Since stiffness in countering rotor vibration is the main parameter for designing an HTS bearing system, we investigated the quasi-static properties of the magnetic force between permanent magnets(PMs) and HTS bulks in the radial direction. We measured radial stiffness, and discovered that bearing stiffness varied greatly depending on the number of active HTS bulks. This is valuable data for predicting the change in stiffness during partial HTS bearing failure. The quasi-static test results are used for optimal design and performance prediction for the 100 kWh class superconductor bearing.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.1775-1781
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• 2007

In this paper, the rotational loss of the superconductor flywheel energy storage system (SFES) by motor/generator stator core was assessed. To do this, the vertical axial type SFES with journal type superconductor bearing was manufactured. To quantitatively assess the rotational loss by the stator core, the rotational losses by superconductor bearing and the degree of a vacuum were measured. In case of variation of the inner radius and outer radius of the stator core, the rotational losses were measured. From the experimental results, It is confirmed that the rotational loss can be reduced by means of the optimal stator core design.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 2008

A Superconductor Flywheel Energy Storage System(SFES) mainly consists of a pair of non-contacting High Temperature Superconductor(HTS) bearings that provide very low frictional losses, a composite flywheel with high energy storage density. The HTS bearings, which offer dynamic stability without active control, are the key technology that distinguishes the SFES from other flywheel energy storage devices, and great effort is being put into developing this technology. The Superconductor Journal Bearing(SJB) mainly consists of HTS bulks and a stator, which holds the HTS bulks and also acts as a cold head. Static properties of HTS bearings provide data to solve problems which may occur easily in a running system. Since stiffness to counter vibration is the main parameter in designing an HTS bearing system, we investigate SJB magnetic force through static properties between the Permanent Magnet(PM) and HTS. We measure stiffness in static condition and the results are used to determine the optimal number of HTS bulks for a 100kWh SFES.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2001

A new type of flywheel energy storage system that has a horizontal axle with High $T_c$, superconductor bearings using Y123 single-domained crystals was developed.The dynamic Properties, stiffness and damping of the high $T_c$, superconductor radial bearings were experimentally estimated using a imbalance excitation method. The imbalance excitation method applied to this rotor- bearing system identified the identified stiffness and damping of the high temperature superconductor beatings to be 2.8 $3.3 {\times} 10^5 N/m and 775 204$ Nsec/m respectively.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2012

A superconductor flywheel energy storage system (SFES) is an electro-mechanical battery which transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy for storage, and vice versa. A 35 kWh class SFES module was designed and constructed as part of a 100kWh/1MW class SFES composed of three 35 kWh class SFES modules. The 35 kWh class SFES is composed of a main frame, superconductor bearings, a composite flywheel, a motor/generator, electro-magnetic bearings, and a permanent magnet bearing. The high energy density composite flywheel is levitated by the permanent magnet bearing and superconductor bearings, while being spun by the motor/generator, and the electro-magnetic bearings are activated while passing through the critical speeds. Each of the main components was designed to provide maximum performance within a space-limited compact frame. The 35 kWh class SFES is designed to store 35 kWh, with a 350 kW charge/discharge capacity, in the 8,000 ~ 12,000 rpm operational speed range.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Applied Superconductivity and Cryogenics Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.237-239
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• 2003

A high-temperature superconductor (HTS) journal bearing was studied for loss. Two HTS bearings support the rotor at top and bottom. The rotor weight is 4 kg and the length is about 300 mm. Both the top and bottom bearings have two permanent magnet (PM) rings with an iron pole piece separating them. Each HTS journal bearing is composed of six pieces of superconductor blocks of size 35$\times$25$\times$10 mm. The HTS blocks are encased in a cryochamber through which liquid nitrogen flows. The inner spool of the cryochamber is made from G-10 to reduce eddy current loss, and the rest of the cryochamber is stainless steel. The magnetic field from the PM rings ＜ 10 mT on the stainless part. The rotational drag was measured over the same speed range. Results indicate that the 10 mT design criteria for magnetic field on the stainless part of the cryochamber is too high.