Flywheels:

Flywheel – is a rotating member that acts as a storage or reservoir for energy.

Two distinct classes of services performed by the flywheel:

1. The flywheel absorbs energy from a power source during the greater portion of the operating cycle and delivers a large
amount of energy as useful work in a very short portion of the cycle. Example: punch press and shearing machines.
2. The flywheel smooth out the speed fluctuations caused by non-uniform flow of power from pistons during each energy
cycle. Example: Internal combustion engines, compressors and reciprocating pumps.
Kinetic Energy for a Rotating Member: Change of Kinetic Energy:
Iw 2 mk 2
K.E. = KE = (w 22  w 12 )
2 2
where: I  moment of inertia where: w1  minimum angular velocity
I = mk 2 w 2  miximum angular velocity
w  angular velocity Coefficient of Fluctuation:
k  radius of gyration (w 2  w1 ) (n 2  n1 ) (vS2  vS1 )
Cf   
W w n vS
m=
g Average or mean values:
m  mass (w 2 + w1 )
where: w =
W  weight 2
g = 32.2 ft/s 2 (n + n )
n= 2 1
1 slug = 32.2 lbs 2
m k2w2 (v + v )
K.E. = vS  S2 S1
2 2
consult Table 20.3 p.534 DOME by Faires
 W 2 Figure: b
from: KE = (vS2  vS1
2
)
2g
t
W
KE  (vS2  vS1 )(vS2 + vS1 )
2g
W
KE = (Cf vS2 )
g
D
Weight of Flywheel Rim Required:
gKE
W=
Cf vS2
W = V
Volume of Material in the Rim:
V = πDbt
Illustrative Problem:

A cast-iron flywheel with a mean diameter of 36 in. changes speed from 400 rpm to 380 rpm while giving up 8,000
ft-lb of energy. What is the coefficient of fluctuation, the weight, and the approximate sectional area of the rim? ρ = 0.26
lb/in.3

a) Coefficient of Fluctuation:
2(n 2  n1 ) 2(400  380)
Cf    0.0513
n 2 + n1 400 + 380
b) Weight:
 400 + 380 
vS  π(36)    3, 675.66 ft/min
 2
32.2(8,000)(3,600)
W=  1,338 lbs
0.0513(3, 675.66) 2
c) Approximate Sectional Area of the Rim:
W 1,338
V=   5,146.15 in.3
 0.26
5,146.15
bt =  45.5 in.2
π(36)
Illustrative Problem:

A flywheel with a mass of 910 kg has a radius of gyration of 1524 mm. Determine the change in the kinetic energy of
the flywheel when it slows down from 120 rpm to 60 rpm while delivering energy.

Change in Kinetic Energy:

mk 2
KE = (w 22  w12 )
2
120 
where: w1    2π = 4π rad/s
 60 
 60 
w 2    2π = 2π rad/s
 60 
910(1.524) 2
KE = (4π) 2  (2π) 2 
2(1,000)
KE = 125.16 kJ