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.

1. 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 a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License . HNC In Engineering – Mechanical Science Edexcel HN Unit: Engineering Science (NQF L4)

4. Flywheels – An Alternative Energy Storage Method © Peripitus 2007 Sourced from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giant_SA_meat_corporation_flywheel.jpg and available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

15. NASA application of a flywheel to be used for deep space propulsion

17. 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 !

18. 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 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License. The JISC logo is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales Licence. All reproductions must comply with the terms of that licence. The HEA logo is owned by the Higher Education Academy Limited may be freely distributed and copied for educational purposes only, provided that appropriate acknowledgement is given to the Higher Education Academy as the copyright holder and original publisher. The Leicester College name and logo is owned by the College and should not be produced without the express permission of the College.