The Missing Link Technology for the National Power Grid Daniel Weisman ChE 359 Technology Presentation ?

Outline Discuss U.S. Energy Situation Discuss U.S. Energy Situation Familiarize electric grid Familiarize electric grid Challenges electric based transportation Challenges electric based transportation Technological Solutions Technological Solutions High Temp. Superconductivity High Temp. Superconductivity Flywheel Energy Storage Flywheel Energy Storage Conclusions Conclusions

American Energy Independence Domestic Energy Generation = Domestic Energy Demand US Generates 21% of the World’s Electricity Import 70% of our Transportation Fuel Switch Transportation Energy Source from Fossil Fuels to Electricity Electricity Primarily Domestic Energy Source

The Missing Link 07/08/nuclear-power-plant-9igh.jpg ttp://...wikipedia /windfarm.jpg concept-07.jpg ? The National Power Grid!

The Grid Right Now (From the U.S Department of Energy, 2004) April 2003, Industry Leaders Compose “Grid: 2030” Referred to grid as“ aging, inefficient, congested, and incapable of meeting future energy needs.” August 2003, Northeast Blackout Projected Increase in Electrical Demand (w/out plug-in autos).

Electric Transmission Losses Lose ~7.2% of generated electricity in transmission resistance Lose ~7.2% of generated electricity in transmission resistance Limited to regional electricity supply Limited to regional electricity supply Locks away national renewable resources Locks away national renewable resources Reduces National Stability Reduces National Stability Gasoline vs. Electricity in Texas Gasoline vs. Electricity in Texas

Renewable Resources vs. Population Wind Resources Solar Resources Population Density html -Cannot transfer renewable electricity to where its needed most

High Temperature Superconducting Wires Wire display zero resistance at 37K Wire display zero resistance at 37K Ytterbium based ceramic, YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 Ytterbium based ceramic, YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 ~0 Resistance losses ~0 Resistance losses Compressed He – Liq. N 2 Compressed He – Liq. N 2 Positive Energy Balance Positive Energy Balance 150x more current 150x more current 3-5x more power 3-5x more power Compared to Cu wire Compared to Cu wire

Superconducting Pros and Cons Pros Pros National access to resources National access to resources National supply and demand National supply and demand Reduced line losses Reduced line losses Cons Cons Expensive to manufacture Expensive to manufacture 220m requires 150,000m of wire No large scale refrigeration system yet No large scale refrigeration system yet

Energy Storage Efficient use of renewable resources Efficient use of renewable resources Increase efficiency of existing plants Increase efficiency of existing plants Necessary to meet new peaks Necessary to meet new peaks Stabilize grid Stabilize grid

Flywheel Energy Storage Transfer of kinetic-electric energy Transfer of kinetic-electric energy Electric Motor / Generator Electric Motor / Generator Large cylinders spin in near frictionless vacuum Large cylinders spin in near frictionless vacuum Superconducting bearings Superconducting bearings heel.gif

Flywheel Specs Pilot plant integrating with grid Pilot plant integrating with grid Wheel Weight 2500 Lbs Wheel Weight 2500 Lbs 16,000 rpm 16,000 rpm Fiber glass, epoxy, carbon fiber Fiber glass, epoxy, carbon fiber $200K per wheel $200K per wheel Daily household capacity Daily household capacity 85-90% Efficient 85-90% Efficient

The Future of the Electric Grid Superconductivity Superconductivity Gov’t must subsidize: Costly yet vital Gov’t must subsidize: Costly yet vital Energy Storage Energy Storage Market Stable: Profitable Market Stable: Profitable Mandatory for Renewable/Plug-in Hybrid Mandatory for Renewable/Plug-in Hybrid Increased Efficiency Increased Efficiency Renewables Renewables Existing Plants Existing Plants

References 1-Energy Information Administration. U.S. Imports of Crude Oil and Petroleum Products. Released Jul U.S. Department of Energy. Nov “Grid: 2030, A National Vision For Electricity’s Second 100 Years. Transforming the Grid to Revolutionize Electric Power in North America.” U.S. Department of Energy. Office of Electric Transmission and Distribution. Released July Nov “Technology Options for the Near and Long Term.” U.S. Climate Change Technology Program. Released Nov Nov “When Superconductivity Became Clear (to Some).” Chang, Kenneth. Jan. 8, New York Times. Found on-line through LexisNexis. 5-“ Transmission & Distribution - Transmission-Voltage HTS - a First for Long Island.” Varley, James. Aug Modern Power Systems. Copyright 2008 Wilmington Publishing Limited. Found on-line through LexisNexis. ocLinkInd=true&risb=21_T &format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resu ltsUrlKey=29_T &cisb=22_T &treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=168861& docNo=3 6-“Reinventing the Flywheel: Giant Electricity Storage and Generation Units Might Help Power Grids Run More Smoothly.” Bray, Hiawatha. Sept The Boston Globe. Found on-line through LexisNexis. 7-“The World Factbook.” Central Intelligence Agency. Revised Nov The University of Texas at Austin-Center for Electro-mechanics.