Flywheel manufacturer Beacon Power has received a 14-month, $750,000 US Air Force Research Laboratory/Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency contract to study flywheel technology for energy storage on satellites.
Flywheel energy storage systems could power low-Earth-orbit satellites during the 30min per orbit that these spacecraft are in darkness and the solar panels cannot provide electricity. “[The contract] will help us develop key technical innovations that can reduce the cost of future commercial systems,” says Beacon Power president Bill Capp.
The flywheel system is actually a kinetic, or mechanical battery, spinning at speeds above 20,000rpm to store energy that is instantly available when needed. Compared with electrochemical battery alternatives, a flywheel-based energy storage system is expected to be more reliable, have a longer life, be able to be charged and discharged indefinitely, and deliver higher performance even under extreme temperatures - all significant advantages for space applications.
Source: Flight International
