Gearbox Diagnosis of a Flywheel Energy Storage System

Flywheel Energy Storage Systems (FESS) are a highly effective, dependable, and environmentally friendly method of storing energy. This stored energy can subsequently be deployed during power outages or times of increased demand. Despite their numerous advantages, FESS can be susceptible to various types of malfunctions, such as gear defects, which can have adverse effects on the system's efficiency and overall performance. Therefore, the investigation of vibration monitoring is essential for diagnosing gear faults in the FESS. This paper presents a comprehensive model of the system, consisting primarily of an engine, gear reducer, coupling, and a flywheel. The shafts are supported by electromagnetic bearings (AMBs). Analyzing the temporal and spectral characteristics of the signals provides insights into the vibration levels of each bearing and underscores the significance of the coupling and electromagnetic bearings in the system. A typical gear defect represent a cracked tooth was modeled, and its impact on the performance of our Flywheel Energy Storage System (FESS) was examined.