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In the field of aviation, solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have attracted attention owing to their high-altitude cruise and the availability of renewable energy , .
As shown in Fig. 1(a), the energy supply system, which includes photovoltaic and battery systems, provides the UAVs with energy during the cruise. The photovoltaic system contains photovoltaic arrays and a maximum power point tracker (MPPT).
Considering the actual situation in the flight process, the principle of energy distribution was used to distribute the energy inside the UAVs, and the energy distribution of solar-powered UAVs was optimized using a multi-objective genetic algorithm. A solution flow chart involving all models is shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 7. Model solving flow chart.
Fuel cells, particularly proton exchange membranes, demonstrate high energy density, enabling long flight durations for lightweight UAVs, yet face challenges such as slow response and hydrogen storage limitations.
In Ontario, Canada, Temporal Power Ltd. has operated a flywheel storage power plant since 2014. It consists of 10 flywheels made of steel. Each flywheel weighs four tons and is 2.5 meters high. The maximum rotational speed is 11,500 rpm. The maximum power is 2 MW. The system is used for frequency regulation.
The city of Fresno in California is running flywheel storage power plants built by Amber Kinetics to store solar energy, which is produced in excess quantity in the daytime, for consumption at night. Intermittent nature of variable renewable energy is another challenge.
Flywheel energy storage systems are suitable and economical when frequent charge and discharge cycles are required. Furthermore, flywheel batteries have high power density and a low environmental footprint. Various techniques are being employed to improve the efficiency of the flywheel, including the use of composite materials.
However, the high cost of purchase and maintenance of solar batteries has been a major hindrance. Flywheel energy storage systems are suitable and economical when frequent charge and discharge cycles are required. Furthermore, flywheel batteries have high power density and a low environmental footprint.
