FLYWHEEL

WHAT IS A FLYWHEEL?

• A rotating mechanical device that is used to store rotational energy.

• A flywheel is used in machines , serves as a reservoir which stores energy during the period where
the supply of energy is more than the requirement.
• Conversely, a flywheel releases stored energy by applying torque to a mechanical load, thereby
decreasing the flywheel's rotational speed.
• Energy is stored in the form of kinetic energy.
• In other words it can be defined as “it stores energy during power stroke and delivers during idle
strokes”.
• A little considerations will show that when the flywheel absorbs energy, its speed increases and
when it releases, the speed decreases. Hence a flywheel does not maintain a constant speed, it
simply reduces the fluctuation of speed.
• The flywheel’s position is between the engine and clutch patch to the starter.
• A Flywheel is used to maintain constant angular velocity of the crankshaft in a
reciprocating engine. In this case, the flywheel—which is mounted on the
crankshaft— stores energy when torque is exerted on it by a firing piston and it
releases energy to its mechanical loads when no piston is exerting torque on it.
 FUNCTIONS OF A FLYWHEEL

• To store and release energy when needed during the work cycle
• To reduce the power capacity of electric motor
• To reduce the amplitude of speed fluctuations.
 FLYWHEEL AND GOVERNOR

• Reduces the unavoidable fluctuation of speed • Governor • Controls the mean speed of the
,arising from fluctuations of turning moment on engine by varying the fuel supply to the
the crankshaft. engine.
• It neither has influence on mean speed nor it • It has no influence on cyclic speed
maintains a constant speed. • Always remains fluctuations.
in operation when the engine is running
• Only operates when the engine is running
• It may not be used if the cyclic fluctuations of away from its mean speed.
energy output are small or negligible.
• It is essential for all types of engines to adjust
• Energy stored is in the form of kinetic energy the fuel supply as per the demand.
and is 100% convertible to work without
• It involves frictional losses
friction.
 MATERIALS FOR FLYWHEEL

• • It is generally made of cast iron, as it has following advantages;

• C.I Flywheels are cheapest.
• C.I Flywheels can be given any complex shape without involving machining
operations.
• Excellent ability to damp vibrations However it has poor tensile strength, and its
failure is sudden and total.
 ENERGY STORED IN A FLYWHEEL
• Rotational Kinetic Energy, E = ½ Iω^2where,
• I - moment of inertia of the flywheel (ability of an object to resist changes in its
rotational velocity)
• ω - rotational velocity (Rad / sec) The moment of inertia,
• I = kMr^2
• where, M - mass of the flywheel
• r - radius of flywheel
• k - inertial constant.
• k depends on the shape of the rotating object. Shape-factor K for different planar
stress geometries
CO EFFICIENT OF FLUCTUATION OF SPEED
( CS )
• The difference between the max and min speeds during a cycle is called the max
fluctuation of speed.
• The ratio of the max fluctuation of speed to the mean speed is called coefficient of
fluctuation of speed.
• Cs = (N1 - N2 )/N
= 2( N1 -N2 ) / N1 + N2 where
N1 = max speed in r.p.m
N2 = min speed in r.p.m.
N = mean speed in r.p.m. = (N1 + N2 ) / 2
 PERMISSIBLE VALUES FOR CS
S.NO TYPES OF MACHINES COEFFICENT OF
FLUCTUATION OF SPEED
(Cs)
1) Engines with belt transmission 0.030

2) 2 Gear wheel transmission 0.020

3) 3 Crushing machines 0.200

4) 4 Electrical machines 0.003

5) 5 Hammering machines 0.200

6) 6 Pumping machines 0.03-0.05

7) Machine tools 0.030

 STRESSES IN A FLYWHEEL RIM

• A flywheel consists of a rim at which the major portion of the mass or weight of
flywheel is concentrated, a boss or hub for fixing the flywheel on to shaft and a
number of arms for supporting the rim on the hub.
• The following stresses are induced in the rim:
 Tensile stress due to centrifugal force.
 Tensile bending stress caused by the restraint of the arms.
 TENSILE STRESS DUE TO THE
CENTRIFUGAL FORCE.
• The tensile stress in the rim due to the centrifugal force, assuming that the rim is
unstrained by the arms, is determined in the similar way as the thin cylinder
subjected to internal pressure
• ft = ρ.R2 .ω2 = ρ.v 2 ( v = R.ω )
• When ρ is in kg/m3 , v is in m/sec, ft will be in N/m2 where
• ρ = density of the flywheel material
• ω = angular speed of the flywheel
• R = mean radius of the flywheel
• v = linear velocity of the flywheel
 TENSILE BENDING STRESS CAUSED BY
RESTRAINT OF ARMS
• The tensile bending stress in the rim due to the restraint of arms is based on the assumption that
each portion of the rim between a pair of arms behaves like a beam fixed at both ends and
uniformly loaded, such that length between fixed ends,
L = π.D/n = 2.π.R / n
where n - number of arms
• The max bending moment,
M = w.l2 /12 = b.t.ρ.ω2 .R/12(2.π.R/n)
Section modulus, Z = 1/6 (b.t2 )
So bending stress fb = M/Z = b.t.ρ.ω2 .R/12 (2.π.R/n) * 6 / (b.t2 )
Total stress in the rim f = f t + fb
 STRESSES IN FLYWHEEL ARMS

• The following stresses are induced in the arms of the flywheel.

• Tensile stresses due to centrifugal force acting on the rim
• Bending stress due to the torque transmitted from the rim to the shaft or from the shaft
to the rim.
 CONSTRUCTION OF FLYWHEEL

• Flywheels are typically made of steel and rotate on conventional bearings; these are
generally limited to a revolution rate of a few thousand RPM
• The flywheel of smaller size( upto 600 mm dia )are casted in one piece. The rim and
the hub are joined together by means of web.
 CONSTRUCTION

• If flywheel is of larger size (upto 2-5 meters diameter ), then it is made of arms.
• The number of arms depends upon the size of the flywheel and its speed of rotation.
But the flywheels above 2-5 meters are usually casted in two pieces. Such a flywheel
is known as “ split flywheel “
• A split flywheel has the advantage of relieving the shrinkage stresses in the arms
due to unequal rates of cooling of casting.
 APPLICATIONS

• Providing continuous energy when the energy source is discontinuous. For example,
flywheels are used in reciprocating engines because the energy source, torque from
the engine, is intermittent.
• Delivering energy at rates beyond the ability of a continuous energy source. This is
achieved by collecting energy in the flywheel over time and then releasing the
energy quickly, at rates that exceed the abilities of the energy source.
• Dynamic balancing of rotating elements.
• Energy storage in small scale electricity generator sets
 ADVANCE AND MODERN FLYWHEEL

• Flywheels have also been proposed as a power booster for electric vehicles. Speeds
of 100,000 rpm have been used to achieve very high power densities.
• Modern high energy flywheels use composite rotors made with carbon-fibre
materials. The rotors have a very high strength-todensity ratio, and rotate at speeds
up to 100,000 rpm. in a vacuum chamber to minimize aerodynamic losses.
 BENEFITS IN AEROSPACE

• Flywheels are preferred over conventional batteries in many aerospace applications

because of the following benefits:
• 5 to 10+ times greater specific energy
• Lower mass / kW output
• Long life. Unaffected by number of charge / discharge cycles
• 85-95% round trip efficiency
• Fewer regulators / controls needed
• Greater peak load capability
• Reduced maintenance / life cycle costs
 DISADVANTAGES

• There are safety concerns associated with flywheels due to their high speed rotor
and the possibility of it breaking loose & releasing all of it's energy in an uncontrolled
manner.
• Its Bulkier, adds more weight to the vehicle.
 CONCLUSION

• Recent advances in the mechanical properties of composites has regained the

interest in using the inertia of a spinning wheel to store energy.
• Carbon-composite flywheel batteries have recently been manufactured and are
proving to be viable in real-world tests on mainstream cars. Additionally, their
disposal is more ecofriendly
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Wikipedia
• Google images
• Theory of machines by r.s ratan