GE has launched a new series of flywheel uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, which would keep electricity flowing to vital systems and equipment until auxiliary generators step in, in the event of a utility power outage.
The new flywheel UPS systems range from 50 to 1,000 kilovolt-amperes and integrate patented flywheel technology from VYCON, a subsidiary of Calnetix Technologies, with GE’s TLE Series and SG Series solutions, the company said in a statement.
The flywheel UPS system is alternative to the battery system, with the former storing “ kinetic energy in the form of a spinning disk and is designed for short-time discharge applications” it explained.
“By utilizing a flywheel UPS, customers can avoid costs associated with storing and replacing batteries” explained Ray Prince, global product manager for UPS Solutions, GE Energy Connections’ Industrial Solutions, adding that “a flywheel UPS system takes up less space in the power room and can reduce a facility’s overall carbon footprint.”
In contrast to battery-based UPS systems, flywheel-based systems have greater reliability, longer service life, a smaller footprint and no hazmat issues, the company said.
In addition, flywheels provide a 96% reduction in embedded carbon emissions compared to lead-acid batteries, “based on a typical 1-megawatt requirement and a 15-year operating period”, equal to approximately 65,000 kilograms of embedded carbon.
Moreover, up to six flywheel UPS modules can be installed in parallel to deliver greater power capacity, longer runtimes or redundancy. The flywheel UPS also can be integrated with batteries — with the flywheel providing the first line of defence for short-duration outages, GE said.