Chongqing - High Speed Suspension Power Technology Co. Ltd. recently unveiled its latest innovation, the maglev blower, which uses flywheels to store and release electrical energy through high-speed rotation.

At the company's energy storage flywheel testing lab in Zengjia Town, Western (Chongqing) Science City, two 1.2-ton flywheels spin silently at 10,000 Revolutions Per Minute.

Energy storage flywheel. (Photo/Wu Fuqiang)

Lei Zhiwu, head of High Speed Suspension Power's Chongqing office, explained, "Flywheel energy storage converts surplus electrical energy into mechanical energy by driving the flywheel to high-speed rotation. The flywheel slows down when needed, and the motor operates as a generator, converting mechanical energy back into electrical power." 

Flywheel energy storage is vital for balancing the power grid, especially with the intermittent nature of wind and solar power. It can quickly respond to grid demands, maintaining stable voltage and ensuring grid security.

They offer significant advantages over traditional chemical batteries. Unlike lithium-ion batteries with safety and lifespan issues, flywheels use magnetic levitation in a vacuum, eliminating mechanical friction, reducing energy loss, and lasting over 20 years with minimal maintenance.

The key technology lies in reducing drag, with the core being the magnetic levitation-bearing technology. 

In a vacuum environment unaffected by air resistance, the rotor does not contact any parts while in motion. Instead, a small current passes through the magnetic bearings, resulting in almost zero loss.

“The conversion efficiency between electrical energy and kinetic energy exceeds 95%, offering powerful bursts of energy—instantaneous high power that can provide large amounts of power in a short time, achieving high energy density,” said Lei.

The magnetic levitation motor. (Photo/Wu Fuqiang)

High-speed and eco-friendly for the pharma and paper industries

The complexity of the magnetic levitation structure, along with the stringent material requirements, means the initial investment is relatively high. However, from a long-term perspective, the cost-effectiveness is significantly better.

Take a sewage treatment plant as an example. During treatment, enzymes need to be added to the sewage, and aeration blowers are used for oxidative blowing. 

Lei stated that based on actual comparisons, a 200kW blower equipped with a magnetic levitation motor can save 50 kilowatt-hours of electricity per hour. At a cost of 0.8 yuan per kilowatt-hour, a single motor running continuously for a year can save approximately 320,000 yuan in electricity costs, effectively covering the equipment cost in about a year. 

High Speed Suspension Power blower products. (Photo/Wu Fuqiang)

Furthermore, traditional motors require a gearbox for speed increase, but the higher speeds of magnetic levitation motors eliminate the need for a gearbox, significantly reducing equipment size. In industries with higher environmental requirements, such as pharmaceuticals and paper manufacturing, the lubricating oil used in traditional motors can contaminate production lines, an issue avoided with magnetic levitation motors.

Founded in 2019, High Speed Suspension Power's core team comes from aerospace research institutes, bringing extensive technical expertise. With its R&D center in Beijing and production base in Chongqing, High Speed Suspension Power plans to strengthen its Chongqing R&D team. The company is driving industry progress in the evolving maglev technology sector, contributing to the green development of the energy sector with its high-speed innovations.