A flywheel is a mass rotating about an axis, which can store energy mechanically in the form of kinetic energy. Energy is required to accelerate the flywheel so it is rotating. This is usually achieved by an electric motor when being used in an electrical system. Once it is rotating it is in effect a mechanical battery, that has a certain amount of energy that can be stored depending on its rotational velocity and its moment of inertia. The faster a flywheel rotates, the more energy it stores. This stored energy can be retrieved by slowing down the flywheel and returning the kinetic energy to the electrical motor, which is used as a generator.
| Author: | Mark McHenry, Contract Researcher |
|---|---|
| Modified by: | Nigel Wilmot, Manager - Standards & Testing |
| Authorised by: | Prof. David Harries, Director, RISE |
| HTML Last Modified: | October 10, 2007 - 3:05 PM |
| Content Category: | Associated Content - Material provided by affiliated institutions, or associated organisations |
| Access Level: | world |
| URL: | http://www.rise.org.au/info/Tech/flywheels/index.html |