Harvesting and storing energy is a key problem in some applications. Elastic energy storage technology has the advantages of wide-sources, simple structural principle, renewability, high effectiveness and en.
With the elastic energy storage–electric power generation system, grid electrical energy can drive electric motors to wind up a spiral spring group to store energy when power grid is adequate, and the stored energy can drive electric generators to generate electrical energy when power grid is insufficient. The working principle is shown in Fig. 2.
Thus, elastic energy storage via spiral springs can improve the stability and controllability of power grid for supply and demand, improving the quality of power grid. It realizes energy transfer in time to meet the balance of energy supply and demand. Fig. 2. Working principle of elastic energy storage–electric power generation system.
Spiral spring is the most common elastic energy storage device in practical applications. Humanity has developed various types of elastic energy storage devices, such as helical springs, disc springs, leaf springs, and spiral springs, of which the spiral spring is the most frequently-used device. Spiral springs are wound from steel strips [19, 20].
Future researches and developments on elastic energy storage technology can focus on new materials and structures, the mechanical properties and structural dynamics analyses, design and control for new functions.
Based on energy storage and transfer in space and time, elastic energy storage using spiral spring can realize the balance between energy supply and demand in many applications, such as energy adjustment of power grid. Continuous input–spontaneous output working style.
The works present an in-depth review of energy storage technology types and their applications in the grid power networks. The papers present the economic and reliability impacts of energy storage systems in power system networks. The works discuss the application of energy storage systems in different levels of grid voltage.