Simulation and evaluation of flexible enhancement of thermal power unit coupled with flywheel energy storage array

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 281; p. 128239
• Main Authors: Yang, Tingting, Liu, Ziyuan, Zeng, Deliang, Zhu, Yansong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.10.2023
• Subjects: Automatic generation control; Charge and discharge control; Coal-fired power unit; Flywheel energy storage array; Frequency modulation; Frequency modulation; Charge and discharge control; Coal-fired power unit; Flywheel energy storage array; Automatic generation control
• ISSN: 0360-5442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.128239

Under the background of “carbon neutrality” and “carbon peak” concepts, China desires to develop a new power system based on renewable energy sources (RES), which will be the primary energy support in prospective China. Thus, it is imperative to improve the peak shaving capability of power system to address the problem of random fluctuation and intermittency of RES by developing various energy storage systems. An innovative approach to enhance the flexibility of the conventional thermal power unit (TPU) through the utilization of flywheel energy storage array (FESA) is presented, simulated, and evaluated in this paper. Using the relatively practical and specific model of TPU and FESA, modified frequency modulation and automatic generation control (AGC) instruction tracing operation scenario models are constructed. A comprehensive control strategy of FESA and a well-designed operation coordinated control method for TPU with FESA are proposed and applied. The simulation results are distinctively processed and evaluated by the methods in “two documents”, aiming to assess the real-world operation performance of the model proposed in this paper. The comprehensive analysis of the indicators demonstrates that the FESA can improve the flexibility and economy of the units. This research may guide the usage of FESA to improve the operational flexibility of TPU. •Composition and Control Methods of the flywheel energy storage array are provided.•A coordinated control scheme for the thermal power unit with flywheel energy storage array is proposed.•Frequency modulation and AGC instruction tracking scenario models are constructed and simulated.•AGC regulation indicators are conducted and analyzed to evaluate the unit's performance.