Flywheels:

An Alternative Energy Source

Author: Leicester College
Date created:
Date revised: 2009

Abstract:
The use of flywheels to capture and store rotational kinetic energy has been used in a range of systems for the past
two hundred years or so. This document explores some of the modern applications of these devices and their
implications for future use. An example of the calculation of the rotational kinetic energy is given and the parameters
associated with this calculation are discussed.

Leicester College 2009. This work is licensed under HNC In Engineering Mechanical Science
a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License. Edexcel HN Unit: Engineering Science (NQF L4)
Contents

Aims and objectives

Flywheels An Alternative Energy Storage Method
Flywheels - The Kinetic Battery
The energy stored in a flywheel is given by the following ...
The moment of inertia is given by; I = kMr 2
The magnitude of the engineering challenge should not be ...
Flywheels are preferred over conventional batteries in ma...
NASA application of a flywheel to be used for deep space ...
Terms associated with flywheels
A typical flywheel problem;

These files support the Edexcel HN unit Design for Manufacture (NQF L4)

File Name Unit Outcome Key Words

Macaullay Method 2.1,2.2,2.3 Beams, stress, loading, UDL, slope, deflection, method
Poissons ratio 1.1, 1.2 Poisson ratio, equations, axial, lateral, strain, stress
Balancing 4.1 Beams, balancing, rotation, mass, stress, shafts
Selecting beams 2.2 Beams, columns, selection, slenderness, stress, section
modulus
Flywheels 4.3,4.4 Kinetic, battery, flywheel, inertia, energy storage, energy

For further information regarding unit outcomes go to Edexcel.org.uk/ HN/ Engineering / Specifications
Aims and objectives

Aims
Investigate the dynamics of rotating systems
Determine the energy storage capabilities of
flywheels
Objectives
Ability to understand and effectively use Angular
motion theory and concepts
Determine by calculation the energy capabilities of
flywheels
Explain in descriptive terms the technical aspects and
engineering applications of flywheels
Flywheels
An Alternative Energy Storage Method

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g and available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Unported license.
Flywheels - The Kinetic Battery

Energy storage in a flywheel is as old as the

potters wheel or the steam engine shown
above.
In more modern times slow speed flywheels,
combined with opportunity charging at bus
stops have been used since the 1950s for
public transport applications, however they
are very bulky and very heavy and this has
limited their adoption.
The energy stored in a flywheel is given by the
following formula;
Rotational Kinetic Energy - E = I2

Where I is the moment of inertia of the

flywheel (ability of an object to resist changes
in its rotational velocity) and is its rotational
velocity (Rad / sec)).
Note Increase I (mass away from centre) or
rotational velocity and E increases
The moment of inertia is given by;
I = kMr 2
Where M is the mass of the flywheel, r its
radius and k is its inertial constant.
k depends on the shape of the rotating
object. For a flywheel loaded at rim such as a
bicycle wheel or hollow cylinder rotating on its
axis, k = 1, for a solid disk of uniform
thickness or a solid cylinder, k = .

So for a solid disk ; I = Mr 2 /2

Modern super flywheels store kinetic energy
in a high speed rotating drum which forms the
rotor of a motor generator. When surplus
electrical energy is available it is used to
speed up the drum. When the energy is
needed the drum provides it by driving the
generator.
Modern high energy flywheels use composite
rotors made with carbon-fibre materials. The
rotors have a very high strength-to-density
ratio, and rotate at speeds up to 100,000 rpm.
in a vacuum chamber to minimize
aerodynamic losses.
The use of super conducting electromagnetic
bearings can virtually eliminate energy losses
through friction.
The magnitude of the engineering challenge
should not be underestimated

A 0.3m diameter flywheel, 0.3m in length,

weighing 10 kg spinning at 100,000 rpm will store
3 kWh of energy. However at this rotational speed
the surface speed at the rim of the flywheel will
be about 6000 kmph (3500mph). or 4.8 times the
speed of sound and the centrifugal force on
particles at the rim is equivalent to 1.7 million G.
The tensile strength of material used for the
flywheel rim must be over 500,000 psi (3.3 Gpa) to
stop the rotor from flying apart.
Typical applications for flywheels include;
dynamic balancing of rotating elements
energy storage in small scale electricity
generator sets
automotive applications such as clutches
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
Advanced flywheels are also now used for
protecting against interruptions to the national
electricity grid.
The flywheel provides power during period
between the loss of utility supplied power and
either the return of utility power or the start of
a sufficient back-up power system (i.e., diesel
generator). Flywheels can discharge at 100
kilowatts (kW) for 15 seconds and recharge
immediately at the same rate, providing 1-30
seconds of ride-through time. Back-up
generators are typically online within 5-20
seconds.
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, however containment of
the high speed rotor in case of accident or
mechanical failure would require a massive
enclosure negating any power density
advantages. The huge gyroscopic forces of
these high speed flywheels are an added
complication. Practicalities have so far
prevented the large scale adoption of
flywheels for portable applications.
NASA application of a flywheel to be used
for deep space propulsion
Terms associated with flywheels

= Angular velocity (rad/s)

= Angular acceleration (rad/s2)
T = Torque (Nm) = I
I = Moment of inertia (kgm2) = mk2 OR mr2/2
R = radius (m)
m = mass (kg)
k = radius of gyration (m)
Ke = Kinetic energy (J)
A typical flywheel problem;
A flywheel of mass 100kg and diameter
1.2m is accelerated from rest to a
speed of 450 revs/min in 8 seconds.
Determine the torque required to
achieve this motion and the kinetic
energy of the flywheel when up to
operating speed.
TRY IT !
This resource was created Leicester College and released as an open educational resource through
the Open Engineering Resources project of the Higher Education Academy Engineering Subject
Centre. The Open Engineering Resources project was funded by HEFCE and part of the JISC/HE
Academy UKOER programme.

2009 Leicester College

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