Grant: Strategic Projects - Group

This project aims to develop efficient power conversion equipment to enable the cost-effective use of flywheel energy storage systems as a replacement for existing battery technology. Developing efficient power conversion systems, the research will carry out prototype testing on 120kW systems, investigating the applicability of flywheel energy system to both mobile and fixed applications. To gain realistic data on mobile operations, the research team will partner with the City of Edmonton Transit Services in the analyis of three different designs of hybrid bus. These vehicles will be compared against traditional diesel powered buses and optimised to provide maximum performance, with minimal fuel use and pollution. The information on hybrid powered buses will be shared with the citizens of Edmonton, the city transit services and the bus manufacturers in order to better develop future transit systems. Taking the data from bus operations, requirements for electrical energy storage will be analysed. Combining these requirements with those specified by the Alberta Energy supply Operator for wind powered generation, a set of comprehensive of requirements for electricity storage systems will be developed. The project will research, design and build hardware capable of converting the energy stored in high speed flywheels into usable electrical energy to meet these requirements. Challenges to be solved include: the design of efficient, cost effective, power electronic converters capable of supplying 120kW at frequencies 16 times higher than standard industrial equipment; design of fault limiting motor-generators for use in close proximity to passengers in transit applications; development of controllers so that the system can rapidly respond to changes in power demand. The project will address: energy storage for grid support, helping to limit power outages; expanded use of wind generation, reducing carbon dioxide emissions; optimal performance of clean transit systems, again addressing clean air and carbon reduction targets under the Kyoto protocol