Motor Details @50 degrees)

Seimens IE3 132kW ( 123.552 kW IE3 Effiency at 93.5% at 50 degrees)

Running at 8 pole ,750 RPM
Torque - 1681 Nm

🛞 Goal:
You want to know what motor power (in kW) is needed to spin up a 2-meter radius flywheel, with a mass of 32 tonnes, to 32

📐 Known:
Mass (m) = 32,000 kg

Radius (r) = 2 m

Target speed (RPM) = 325

Moment of Inertia (I) = 12mr2=12⋅32,000⋅22=64,000 kg\cdotpm2\frac{1}{2} m r^2 = \frac{1}{2} \cdot 32,000 \cdot 2^2 = 64

Target Angular Velocity (ω):

ω=2π⋅RPM60=2π⋅32560≈34.01 rad/s\omega = \frac{2\pi \cdot \text{RPM}}{60} = \frac{2\pi \cdot 325}{60} \approx 34.01 \, \

⚡ 1. Energy Required (Kinetic Energy)

KE=12Iω2=12⋅64,000⋅(34.01)2KE = \frac{1}{2} I \omega^2 = \frac{1}{2} \cdot 64,000 \cdot (34.01)^2KE=21​Iω2=21​64,000
⋅ ⋅(34.

2. Motor Power (based on spin-up time)

Now choose how long you want to reach 325 RPM from rest:
 Time to spin up

10 seconds

30 seconds

1 minute

5 minutes
10 minutes

✅ Answer
To spin a 2-meter radius, 32-tonne flywheel to 325 RPM requires about 10.28 kWh of energy.

The motor power in kW depends on how quickly you want to spin it up:

~617 kW to do it in 1 minute

~123 kW in 5 minutes

~62 kW in 10 minutes
wheel, with a mass of 32 tonnes, to 325 RPM — and if it's per hour (kW/hr), we need to know how fast you want to reach that RPM.

rac{1}{2} \cdot 32,000 \cdot 2^2 = 64,000 \, \text{kg·m}^221 ​mr2=21​32,000

⋅ ⋅22=64,000kg\cdotpm2

{2\pi \cdot 325}{60} \approx 34.01 \, \text{rad/s}ω=602π ⋅RPM ​=602π⋅325​≈34.01rad/s

t (34.01)^2KE=21​Iω2=21​64,000
⋅ ⋅(34.01)2 KE≈32,000⋅1157≈37,024,000 J≈10.28 kWhKE \approx 32,000 \cdot 1157 \approx 37,024,000 \, \
 Power required (kW)

10.2810/3600≈3700\frac{10.28}{10/3600} \approx 370010/360010.28​≈3700 kW (3.7 MW)

10.2830/3600≈1233\frac{10.28}{30/3600} \approx 123330/360010.28​≈1233 kW

10.2860/3600≈617\frac{10.28}{60/3600} \approx 61760/360010.28​≈617 kW

10.28300/3600≈123\frac{10.28}{300/3600} \approx 123300/360010.28​≈123 kW

10.28600/3600≈61.7\frac{10.28}{600/3600} \approx 61.7600/360010.28​≈61.7 kW
nt to reach that RPM.

157 \approx 37,024,000 \, \text{J} \approx \boxed{10.28 \, \text{kWh}}KE≈32,000 ⋅1157≈37,024,000J≈10.28kWh ​

Gear Box
Ratio 1:10
Torque at the end of gear box 15970 Nm
Need to calculate efficency based on the gear box design

Awesome — let’s refine the calculation with real-world efficiency and optionally apply a cont

⚙️Realistic Conditions
Assumptions

Motor power: 132 kW

Motor torque: ~1681 Nm

Gearbox ratio: 1:10

Gearbox efficiency: 95%

Flywheel mass: 32,000 kg

Radius: 2 m

Moment of inertia (I): 64,000 kg·m²

Target flywheel RPM: 325 (⇒ 34.05 rad/s)

🔧 Step 1: Adjusted Torque (with 95% gearbox efficiency)

Tmotor=1681 NmT_{\text{motor}} = 1681 \, \text{Nm} Tmotor​=1681Nm Tflywheel=Tmotor×G

🔢 Step 2: Angular Acceleration

α=TI=15969.564000≈0.2495 rad/s2\alpha = \frac{T}{I} = \frac{15969.5}{64000} \approx 0.2495
Step 3: Time to Reach 34.05 rad/s
t=ωα=34.050.2495≈136.5 secondst = \frac{\omega}{\alpha} = \frac{34.05}{0.2495} \approx 13

So with 95% efficiency, time to spin the flywheel from 0 to 325 RPM is ~137 seconds (≈ 2 min

🪜 Bonus: Controlled Ramp Profile

Let’s say you want a linear ramp with limited acceleration to reduce stress on components —

If you use a triangular profile (gradual increase, then gradual decrease), total time might incre

So, estimated time could range from 180 to 200 seconds depending on ramp settings and to

✅ Summary
Factor Value
Ideal time (100% eff) ~130 sec
Real-world (95% eff) ~137 sec
Controlled ramp
~180–200 sec
(estimate)

⚙️Scenario: Linear Torque Ramp-Up and Down

Let’s assume a triangular torque profile (like what a VFD might use to gently bring a flywheel

We'll compare this to constant torque to see how time increases.

🔧 Parameters Recap

Max Torque @ Flywheel: 15,969.5 Nm

Moment of Inertia (I): 64,000 kg·m²

Target Angular Speed (ω): 34.05 rad/s

 Profile: Linear up, then linear down (triangular)

🧮 Triangular Profile Approximation

With a triangular torque profile:

Average torque is half of the max →

Tavg=15,969.52=7,984.75 NmT_{\text{avg}} = \frac{15,969.5}{2} = 7,984.75 \, \text{Nm}Tavg

Resulting angular acceleration:

αavg=TavgI=7,984.7564,000≈0.1248 rad/s2\alpha_{\text{avg}} = \frac{T_{\text{avg}}}{I} = \fr

Time to reach final speed:

t=ωαavg=34.050.1248≈273 secondst = \frac{\omega}{\alpha_{\text{avg}}} = \frac{34.05}{0.1

📊 Summary

Time to Reach
Torque Profile
325 RPM

Constant Full Torque ~137 seconds

Linear Ramp (Triangle) ~273 seconds

4.55 approx 5 minutes

Would you like me to generate a graph showing the torque, angular speed, and time for this
y and optionally apply a controlled ramp profile.

earbox efficiency)
681Nm Tflywheel=Tmotor×Gear Ratio×Efficiency=1681×10×0.95≈15,969.5 NmT_{\text{flywheel}} = T_{\text{motor}} \times \text{Gear Ra

969.5}{64000} \approx 0.2495 \, \text{rad/s}^2α=IT ​=6400015969.5​≈0.2495rad/s2

ac{34.05}{0.2495} \approx 136.5 \, \text{seconds}t=αω ​=0.249534.05​≈136.5seconds

PM is ~137 seconds (≈ 2 min 17 sec).

uce stress on components — e.g., start slow and gradually increase torque.

crease), total time might increase by ~30–50%.

nding on ramp settings and torque control methods (e.g., VFD ramping or torque-limited startup).

nd Down
se to gently bring a flywheel up to speed), where torque ramps up linearly to a max, then ramps down linearly to 0 as the flywheel appro
} = 7,984.75 \, \text{Nm}Tavg​=215,969.5​=7,984.75Nm

= \frac{T_{\text{avg}}}{I} = \frac{7,984.75}{64,000} \approx 0.1248 \, \text{rad/s}^2αavg ​=ITavg​​=64,0007,984.75​≈0.1248rad/s2

\text{avg}}} = \frac{34.05}{0.1248} \approx 273 \, \text{seconds}t=αavg ​ω​=0.124834.05​≈273seconds

approx 5 minutes

ular speed, and time for this ramp-up? I can make a smooth visual that lays it all out clearly.
{motor}} \times \text{Gear Ratio} \times \text{Efficiency} = 1681 \times 10 \times 0.95 \approx 15,969.5 \, \text{Nm}Tflywheel ​=Tmotor​×G
arly to 0 as the flywheel approaches target speed.
4.75​≈0.1248rad/s2
text{Nm}Tflywheel ​=Tmotor​×Gear Ratio×Efficiency=1681×10×0.95≈15,969.5Nm
Ball bearing
232/710
Efficiency 95%
Flywheel details

Diameter 4 Meters
Mass 32 Tonnes
Great question! If your flywheel slows down to 250 RPM and you want to re-accelerate it back up to 325 RPM using the same

🔁 Step-by-step Breakdown:

1. Known Parameters:

Flywheel mass = 32,000 kg

Flywheel radius = 2 m

Moment of inertia (I) = 64,000 kg·m²

RPM range = 250 to 325 RPM → convert to rad/s:

ωstart=250×2π60≈26.18 rad/s\omega_{start} = \frac{250 \times 2\pi}{60} \approx 26.18 \ \text{rad/s}ωstart​=60250×2π​≈26.

2. Energy required (ΔE):

Kinetic energy of a rotating body:

E=12Iω2E = \frac{1}{2} I \omega^2E=21​Iω2 ΔE=12⋅64000⋅(34.012−26.182)≈6.14×106 Joules (or 6.14 MJ)\Delta E = \frac{1}{2}

3. Time to accelerate

We'll assume the same linear torque ramping profile as before, but now only for the smaller delta in RPM:

Previously, 0 to 325 RPM took 272 seconds.

Now, you're only accelerating across a portion of that speed band:

New time=(34.01−26.1834.01)×272≈63.6 seconds\text{New time} = \left(\frac{34.01 - 26.18}{34.01}\right) \times 272 \approx

⚡ 4. Power over time

Since torque ramps linearly (and angular velocity increases linearly), power = torque × angular velocity becomes a quadratic c

You can think of it like this:

Start of ramp: Power = 0 (low torque, low RPM)

 Midway: Power peaks (~half torque × ~half ω)

End: Power = moderate torque × high ω

To estimate average power:

Average Power=Total EnergyTime=6.14×10663.6≈96.6 kW\text{Average Power} = \frac{\text{Total Energy}}{\text{Time}} = \fr

Peak power might go a bit higher depending on the ramp profile — perhaps ~130–140 kW max.

✅ Summary:

Parameter

Speed range

Angular speed range

Duration

Energy required

Average power

Peak power (approx.)

using the same linear torque ramping method (like before), we can calculate the power required over time during the re-acceleration.

60250×2π​≈26.18 rad/s ωend=325×2π60≈34.01 rad/s\omega_{end} = \frac{325 \times 2\pi}{60} \approx 34.01 \ \text{rad/s}ωend​=60325×

E = \frac{1}{2} \cdot 64000 \cdot (34.01^2 - 26.18^2) \approx 6.14 \times 10^6 \ \text{Joules} \ (\text{or 6.14 MJ})ΔE=21 ⋅​64000⋅(34.012−2

es 272 \approx 63.6 \ \text{seconds}New time=(34.0134.01−26.18​)×272≈63.6 seconds

es a quadratic curve over time.

xt{Time}} = \frac{6.14 \times 10^6}{63.6} \approx 96.6 \ \text{kW}Average Power=TimeTotal Energy​=63.66.14×106​≈96.6 kW

Value

250 RPM →
325 RPM

26.18 →
34.01 rad/s

~63.6
seconds

~6.14 MJ

~96.6 kW

~130–140
kW
uring the re-acceleration.

1 \ \text{rad/s}ωend​=60325×2π​≈34.01 rad/s

MJ})ΔE=21 ⋅​64000⋅(34.012−26.182)≈6.14×106 Joules (or 6.14 MJ)

4×106​≈96.6 kW
Time (s) RPM Angular Velocity (rad/s) Kinetic Energy (J) ΔKE (J)
0 250 26 21932454 0
1 251.25 26 22152327 219873
2 252.5 26 22373297 220969
3 253.75 27 22595363 222066
4 255 27 22818525 223163
5 256.25 27 23042785 224259
6 257.5 27 23268141 225356
7 258.75 27 23494593 226453
8 260 27 23722142 227549
9 261.25 27 23950788 228646
10 262.5 27 24180531 229742
11 263.75 28 24411370 230839
12 265 28 24643306 231936
13 266.25 28 24876338 233032
14 267.5 28 25110467 234129
15 268.75 28 25345692 235226
16 270 28 25582015 236322
17 271.25 28 25819433 237419
18 272.5 29 26057949 238515
19 273.75 29 26297561 239612
20 275 29 26538270 240709
21 276.25 29 26780075 241805
22 277.5 29 27022977 242902
23 278.75 29 27266975 243999
24 280 29 27512071 245095
25 281.25 29 27758262 246192
26 282.5 30 28005551 247288
27 283.75 30 28253936 248385
28 285 30 28503418 249482
29 286.25 30 28753996 250578
30 287.5 30 29005671 251675
31 288.75 30 29258442 252772
32 290 30 29512310 253868
33 291.25 30 29767275 254965
34 292.5 31 30023337 256061
35 293.75 31 30280495 257158
36 295 31 30538749 258255
37 296.25 31 30798101 259351
38 297.5 31 31058548 260448
39 298.75 31 31320093 261545
40 300 31 31582734 262641
41 301.25 32 31846472 263738
42 302.5 32 32111306 264834
43 303.75 32 32377237 265931
44 305 32 32644265 267028
45 306.25 32 32912389 268124
46 307.5 32 33181610 269221
47 308.75 32 33451927 270317
48 310 32 33723342 271414
49 311.25 33 33995852 272511
50 312.5 33 34269460 273607
51 313.75 33 34544164 274704
52 315 33 34819964 275801
53 316.25 33 35096862 276897
54 317.5 33 35374855 277994
55 318.75 33 35653946 279090
56 320 34 35934133 280187
57 321.25 34 36215417 281284
58 322.5 34 36497797 282380
59 323.75 34 36781274 283477
60 325 34 37065848 284574
Power (W) Power (kW)
0 0
219873 220
220969 221
222066 222
223163 223
224259 224
225356 225
226453 226
227549 228
228646 229
229742 230
230839 231
231936 232
233032 233
234129 234
235226 235
236322 236
237419 237
238515 239
239612 240
240709 241
241805 242
242902 243
243999 244
245095 245
246192 246
247288 247
248385 248
249482 249
250578 251
251675 252
252772 253
253868 254
254965 255
256061 256
257158 257
258255 258
259351 259
260448 260
261545 262
262641 263
263738 264
264834 265
265931 266
267028 267
268124 268
269221 269
270317 270
271414 271
272511 273
273607 274
274704 275
275801 276
276897 277
277994 278
279090 279
280187 280
281284 281
282380 282
283477 283
284574 285
🔁 Flywheel Behavior Assumptions

1. Start-up phase: Ramp-up from 0 to 325 RPM (already calculated over 60 seconds).

2. Discharge phase: Flywheel slows from 325 to 250 RPM (generating power).

3. Pulse phase: Motor pulses to bring it back from 250 to 325 RPM.

4. Cycle repeats over the 1 hour (3600 seconds).

📌 Given:

Flywheel mass: 32,000 kg

Radius: 2 m → moment of inertia I=64,000 kg\cdotpm2I = 64,000 \, \text{kg·m}^2I=64,000kg\cdotpm2

Angular speed:

Max: 325 RPM → ω1=34.03 rad/s\omega_1 = 34.03 \, \text{rad/s}ω1​=34.03rad/s

Min: 250 RPM → ω2=26.18 rad/s\omega_2 = 26.18 \, \text{rad/s}ω2​=26.18rad/s

⚡ Energy Released per Cycle

Kinetic energy released as flywheel slows:

ΔE=12I(ω12−ω22)ΔE=12×64000×(34.032−26.182)ΔE≈64000×(1158.05−685.39)/2≈15,109,760 JΔE≈15.11 MJ (or 4.2

Number of Cycles per Hour

Let’s say each full cycle (ramp down + ramp up) takes about:

Discharge (325 → 250 RPM): ~120 seconds

 Recharge (250 → 325 RPM): ~60 seconds
→ Total cycle = 180 seconds (3 minutes)

So in 1 hour (3600 s):

3600/180=20 full cycles3600 / 180 = 20 \text{ full cycles}3600/180=20 full cycles

🔋 Total Power Generated

If each cycle generates 4.2 kWh, then over 20 cycles:

Total energy=20×4.2=84 kWh\text{Total energy} = 20 \times 4.2 = \boxed{84 \, \text{kWh}}Total energy=20×4.2=84

✅ Final Answer:

Approximately 84 kWh of energy would be generated by the alternator over 1 hour, assuming ideal conditions and

Would you like me to make an Excel version of this as well for easy tweaking?

4o

You said:

what would be the total power consumed to generate this

ChatGPT said:

Great follow-up! To find the total power consumed to generate 84 kWh, we need to look at:

⚙️Key Parts of the Cycle

In each cycle:

1. The motor spins the flywheel from 250 RPM to 325 RPM.

2. This consumes energy to restore the lost kinetic energy.

3. Then the flywheel slows from 325 → 250 RPM, and the alternator generates 4.2 kWh (as calculated earlier).

So the power consumed is basically the same energy it takes to spin up the flywheel from 250 to 325 RPM — plus l
📊 Energy Needed to Spin Up (per cycle)

We already calculated:

Kinetic energy to go from 250 → 325 RPM = 15.11 MJ = 4.2 kWh

But motors aren’t 100% efficient. Let’s factor in motor + gearbox + controller efficiency.

⚠️Assume Efficiency:

Motor efficiency: ~95%

Gearbox efficiency: ~90%

Total efficiency ≈ 0.95×0.90=0.8550.95 \times 0.90 = 0.8550.95×0.90=0.855 → 85.5%

🔋 Energy Consumed per Cycle:

Energy input=4.2 kWh0.855≈4.91 kWh\text{Energy input} = \frac{4.2 \, \text{kWh}}{0.855} ≈ 4.91 \, \text{kWh}Ener

Over 1 Hour (20 Cycles):

Total input energy=4.91×20=98.2 kWh\text{Total input energy} = 4.91 \times 20 = \boxed{98.2 \, \text{kWh}}Total

✅ Summary:

Description Value
84.0
Energy Generated (1 hour)
kWh
98.2
Energy Consumed (1 hour)
kWh
14.2
Net Loss (heat/friction)
kWh
~85.5
Overall System Efficiency
%
 Description
Kinetic Energy Added per Cycle (kWh)
Energy Input per Cycle (kWh)
Total Energy Generated (20 cycles, kWh)
Total Energy Consumed (20 cycles, kWh)
Net Loss (kWh)
System Efficiency (%)

000kg\cdotpm2

,760 JΔE≈15.11 MJ (or 4.2 kWh)\Delta E = \frac{1}{2} I (\omega_1^2 - \omega_2^2) \\ \Delta E = \frac{1}{2} \times 64000 \times (34.03^2
h}}Total energy=20×4.2=84kWh​

uming ideal conditions and no losses (e.g., friction, conversion losses, etc.).

h (as calculated earlier).

m 250 to 325 RPM — plus losses.

5} ≈ 4.91 \, \text{kWh}Energy input=0.8554.2kWh​≈4.91kWh

{98.2 \, \text{kWh}}Total input energy=4.91×20=98.2kWh​

 Value
4.2
4.92
84.07
98.33
14.26
85.5

c{1}{2} \times 64000 \times (34.03^2 - 26.18^2) \\ \Delta E ≈ 64000 \times (1158.05 - 685.39) / 2 ≈ 15,109,760 \, \text{J} \\ \Delta E ≈ 15.11
\, \text{J} \\ \Delta E ≈ 15.11 \, \text{MJ} \text{ (or 4.2 kWh)}ΔE=21 ​I(ω12​−ω22​)ΔE=21​×64000×(34.032−26.182)ΔE≈64000×(1158.05−685.3
82)ΔE≈64000×(1158.05−685.39)/2≈15,109,760JΔE≈15.11MJ (or 4.2 kWh)