IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v17y2024i17p4466-d1472286.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimising Flywheel Energy Storage Systems: The Critical Role of Taylor–Couette Flow in Reducing Windage Losses and Enhancing Heat Transfer

Author

Listed:
  • Mahmoud Eltaweel

    (School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK)

  • Mohammad Reza Herfatmanesh

    (School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK)

Abstract

Amidst the growing demand for efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions, Flywheel Energy Storage Systems (FESSs) have garnered attention for their potential to meet modern energy needs. This study uses Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate and optimise the aerodynamic performance of FESSs. Key parameters such as radius ratio, aspect ratio, and rotational velocity were analysed to understand their impact on windage losses and heat transfer. This study reveals the critical role of Taylor–Couette flow on the aerodynamic performance of FESSs. The formation of Taylor vortices within the airgap was examined, demonstrating their effect on temperature distribution and overall system performance. Through a detailed examination of the skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number under different conditions, this study identified a nonlinear relationship between rotor temperature and rotational speed, highlighting the accelerated temperature rise at higher speeds. The findings indicate that optimising these parameters can significantly enhance the efficiency of FESSs, reducing windage losses and improving heat transfer. This research provides valuable insights into the aerodynamic and thermal optimisation of FESSs, offering pathways to improve their design and performance. The results contribute to advancing guidelines for the effective implementation of FESSs in the energy sector, promoting more sustainable energy storage solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Mahmoud Eltaweel & Mohammad Reza Herfatmanesh, 2024. "Optimising Flywheel Energy Storage Systems: The Critical Role of Taylor–Couette Flow in Reducing Windage Losses and Enhancing Heat Transfer," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-28, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:17:p:4466-:d:1472286
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/17/4466/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/17/4466/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hosain, Md Lokman & Bel Fdhila, Rebei & Rönnberg, Kristian, 2017. "Taylor-Couette flow and transient heat transfer inside the annulus air-gap of rotating electrical machines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 624-633.
    2. Tatsumi, Tomomasa, 2000. "Turbulence as a complex mechanical-system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 67(1-2), pages 91-116, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hosain, Md Lokman & Bel Fdhila, Rebei & Rönnberg, Kristian, 2017. "Taylor-Couette flow and transient heat transfer inside the annulus air-gap of rotating electrical machines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 624-633.
    2. Mao, Yufeng & Zhong, Mingliang & Wang, Ji X., 2023. "Dimensionless study of phase-change-based thermal protection for pulsed electromagnetic machines: Towards heat absorption-dissipation matching," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 352(C).
    3. Hosain, M.L. & Domínguez, J.M. & Bel Fdhila, R. & Kyprianidis, K., 2019. "Smoothed particle hydrodynamics modeling of industrial processes involving heat transfer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 1-1.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:17:p:4466-:d:1472286. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.