Chapter 4

Flywheel for Internal Combustion Engine

Introduction
A flywheel is an inertial energy-storage device. It
stores energy when the supply of energy is more than
the requirement and releases it when the
requirement of energy is more than the supply.
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• The main function of a flywheel is to smoothen out
variations in the speed of a crank shaft caused by
torque fluctuations.

• Internal combustion engines with one or two

cylinders are a typical example. Piston compressors,
punch presses, rock crushers etc. are the other
systems that have flywheel.
• The change in the shaft speed during a cycle is called the speed
fluctuation and is equal to
ωmax – ωmin

• Coefficient of speed fluctuation (Cf)

Cf = ωmax – ωmin (1)
ω

ωmax – ωmin = Cf . ω or ω = ωmax – ωmin / Cf

• Kinetic energy (KE) in a rotating cycle

KE = ½ I (ω²) (2)
Where, I is the mass moment of inertia about the centre of rotation
that measure of resistance to torque applied on spinning object
• The change in kinetic energy of a system
ΔKE = KEmax - KEmin
=½ I ω²max - ½ I ω²min
= ½ I (ω²max – ω²min), and ωmax - ωmin = Cf . ω
= ½ I (2ω) (Cf ω)
ΔKE= I ω² Cf ; Units = Nm or J (3)
While,
I = ΔKE / Cf ω² ; Units = kg.m² (4)

The above equation can be used to obtain appropriate

flywheel inertia I corresponding to the known energy
change KE for a specific value coefficient of speed
fluctuation Cf
Exercise 4.1
A 2.0 kw, 900 rpm motor powers the cam driven ram
of a press through a gearing of 6:1 ratio. The rated
capacity of the press is 20 kN and has a stroke of 200
mm. Assuming that the cam driven ram is capable of
delivering the rated load at a constant velocity during
the last 15% of a constant velocity stroke. Design a
suitable flywheel Inertia that can maintain a
coefficient of Speed fluctuation of 0.02. (Note:
assume the system operates as a two stroke engine.
i.e. 2 strokes = 1 revolution).
 Solution
Given,
P = 2*10³ W
N = 960 rpm
Gear ratio (GR) = 6/1 = 6
F = 20*10³ N
1 Stroke = ½ revolution = Crank radius (r) = 0.2 m
Cf = 0.02

• Mean torque on the shaft.

τ = p/ω = 2*10³/ 2π 900 = 21.22 Nm
60
• Work done by the cycle.
work Input = 2π*τ*GR = 2π*21.22*6 = 800 Nm
• Work done by the press.
work output = F*r* 15/100 = 20*10³*0.2*0.15 = 600 Nm
• Efficiency.

Energy absorbed work output 600

η =
Energy supplied = work input = = 0.75 = 75%
800
• Fluctuation in kinetic energy (ΔKE)
ΔKE = KE max. – KE min.
ΔKE = Energy supplied – Energy absorbed
= 800 – 600 = 200 N.m
• Flywheel Inertia.
I = ΔKE / Cf ω²
= 200 / 0.02 (2π 900/60)² = 1.12 Kg.m²
Assignment 4
• A 2.4 kw motor power drives cam shaft and produce
750 rpm through a gear ratio of 4:1 The shaft
diameter is 500 mm and the force applied on the axis
equals to 18 kN. Assuming that the cam shaft system
is capable of delivering the rated load at a constant
velocity during the last 10% of a constant speed.
Design a suitable flywheel Inertia that can maintain a
coefficient of Speed fluctuation of 0.02. (Note:
assume the system operates as a two stroke engine.
i.e. 2 strokes = 1 revolution).