SMES on the Way - Promises to Improve Operations, Control Cost

Transmission networks may soon include Superconductive Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) units. SMESs will avoid the shock of sudden loss of generation capacity, improve load leveling and peak shaving, dampen system oscillations, economically replace spinning reserve, improve power transfer characteris...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Transmission & distribution world 1989-01, Vol.41 (1), p.22
Main Author: Helfrecht, Donald J
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Cost reduction
Electric utilities
Electricity distribution
Energy storage
Innovations
Superconductivity
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Transmission networks may soon include Superconductive Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) units. SMESs will avoid the shock of sudden loss of generation capacity, improve load leveling and peak shaving, dampen system oscillations, economically replace spinning reserve, improve power transfer characteristics, and improve control of reactive power and voltage. An SMES device for electric utility use would be made up of an underground superconducting magnetic energy storage solenoid connected to the utility through a reversible, rectifier-inverter power converter. The solenoid is charged by converting energy to dc and feeding it into the solenoid, which will store the energy as a current circulating in a zero-resistance coil. To discharge the solenoid, the dc will be drawn from it, converted to ac, and fed into the utility network. SMES development is in an early stage in which 2 teams are currently competing. One team is headed by Bechtel Corp., the other by Ebasco Services Inc.
ISSN:1087-0849