Flywheels as Superior Energy Storage Systems

The products from Osterode help TV stations, telecommunications providers, internet computer centers, banks, insurance companies, airports and many industrial processes such as in chip or automotive factories to function safely and reliably.

Energy from movement

The principle of kinetic energy storage – power from movement – is nothing new. Flywheels are used in many applications, from pottery wheels to steam engines to streetcars. Even in motor racing, flywheels provide an extra acceleration kick. The magic formula is KERS, short for kinetic energy recovery system.

In its POWERBRIDGE™ kinetic energy storage system, Piller uses power from the flywheel’s movement. The largest kinetic energy storage system can deliver power above 3 MW and provide 1 MW of electrical power for over 60 seconds. The energy supply depends on the flywheel’s mass and speed, i.e. its revolutions per minute.

The flywheel is always moving and storing kinetic energy, in other words energy generated by movement, by continuously driving a compact rotor in a low-friction environment. Whenever power is needed at short notice due to voltage fluctuations or even interruptions of the power supply, the moment of inertia keeps the flywheel and thus the rotor turning, and the stored kinetic energy is transformed into electricity.

KNF vacuum pump ensures the flywheel’s frictionless efficiency

To minimize energy loss due to friction, the vertical flywheel runs in a vacuum environment.

And this is where the KNF vacuum pump, which has been customized for Piller, comes into play. To prevent the high rotational energy of the flywheels from being reduced by air resistance, a vacuum is created in the rotation chamber. The two-headed KNF diaphragm pump creates a consistent vacuum. The pump evacuates up to a setpoint and automatically comes on again when a predefined limit value is reached. This requires the pump to start up against the higher resistance caused by the vacuum inside the chamber.

Where energy storage in a UPS system is concerned, kinetic storage systems are more economical and more reliable than conventional batteries. Their median operating life is four times that of batteries. What’s more, their production is cleaner and uses less energy than that of batteries and the materials used can be recycled, eliminating any disposal issues. The footprint of a Piller system with integrated energy storage is up to 75 percent smaller than that of conventional systems, and the fact that no air-conditioning for a battery and no switch cabinets and cabling are needed saves additional space.

Safe, economical, eco-friendly

Piller systems using KNF vacuum pumps have been installed all around the world. In India, Microsoft relies on Piller Critical Power Modules (CPM) with the PB6+ kinetic energy store. Having installed this system constitutes another step on Microsoft’s path towards implementing its sustainability commitment of becoming climate-neutral by 2030.

Piller’s UPS systems with kinetic energy storage are known for their small footprint, minimum maintenance requirements and outstanding efficiency and reliability.

This goes perfectly with KNF’s claim to provide reliable pumps for important tasks.