Manuel S.

Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City College of Engineering

An Autonomous University

LESSON 6:

THE FLYWHEEL
MEAB 312A – Machine Elements Lecture
3rd Year Mechanical Engineering

ENGR. DANIELLE JOSEPH H. BUBAN, RMEE

FACULTY – Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City
An Autonomous University College of Engineering

LESSON LEARNING OUTCOMES

After the lesson, the student must be able to:
1. Discuss what are flywheels
2. Identify, distinguish and recognize different types of flywheels
3. Apply and utilize the different formulas involved in the flywheel
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City
An Autonomous University College of Engineering

WHAT ARE FLYWHEELS?

A simple yet effective device, the flywheel in your car is a vital part
of the drivetrain that does wonders for the power delivery from the
engine. It resembles a large, heavy disc that is connected to the end
of the crankshaft and interacts with the clutch disc to engage drive
to the wheels.

The physics behind a flywheel mean that it needs a large amount of

torque to get it rotating, but in turn it also needs a large torque to
slow it down, meaning that it conserves angular momentum very
effectively. This makes a flywheel a simple energy storage device
and when applied at the tail end of the crankshaft, it uses that
conserved rotational energy to smooth the power delivery from the
engine.
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City
An Autonomous University College of Engineering

WHAT ARE FLYWHEELS?

A rotating energy reservoir which absorbs energy from a power

source during a portion of the operating cycle and delivers that
stored energy as useful work during the other portion of the cycle.

A flywheel is a mechanical device that uses conservation of angular

momentum to store rotational energy; a form of kinetic energy that
is proportional to the product of its moment of inertia and the
square of its rotational speed.
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City
An Autonomous University College of Engineering

MECHANICAL FLYWHEELS

FLYWHEEL APPLICATIONS:
1. PUNCH PRESS
2. SHEARS
3. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
4. COMPRESSORS
5. RECIPROCATING PUMPS
6. STEAM ENGINES
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City
An Autonomous University College of Engineering

FLYWHEEL
Kinetic Energy Released by the Flywheel
𝑾
𝐊𝐄 = 𝑽𝒎𝒂𝒙 𝟐 − 𝑽𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝟐
𝟐𝒈

Total Weight of the Flywheel

𝐖 = 𝑾𝒓 + 𝑾𝒂𝒉

Weight of the Flywheel Rim

𝐖𝒓 = 𝑽 × 𝝆

𝐖𝒓 = (𝝅𝑫𝒘𝒕)(𝝆)
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City
An Autonomous University College of Engineering

FLYWHEEL
Energy Required to Punch a Metal
𝟏
𝐄 = 𝑭 𝒕𝒑
𝟐
𝟏
𝐄 = (𝑺𝒔𝒖 × 𝑨)(𝒕𝒑 )
𝟐
Power Needed to Punch A Whole
𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲
𝐏=
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞

Take note:
Kinetic energy released by the flywheel = energy needed to punch a hole
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City
An Autonomous University College of Engineering

FLYWHEEL
Coefficient of Fluctuation
𝟐(𝑽𝒎𝒂𝒙 − 𝑽𝒎𝒊𝒏 )
𝑪𝒇 =
𝑽𝒎𝒂𝒙 + 𝑽𝒎𝒊𝒏
Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City
An Autonomous University College of Engineering

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City
An Autonomous University College of Engineering

PROBLEM 1
A cast iron flywheel at a speed of 1200 rpm and having a mean radius of 1 foot. If the
weight of the rim is 30 lbs, what is the centrifugal force? Use factor C = 41.
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City
An Autonomous University College of Engineering

PROBLEM 2
A press is used to punch 10 holes per minute of a 30 mm diameter hole from 25 mm
thick plate. Determine the power needed to punch a hole if the ultimate shear stress
is 400 Mpa.
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City
An Autonomous University College of Engineering

PROBLEM 3
The kinetic energy needed to punch a hole is 5 KJ. What is the maximum thickness of
a hole that can be punched if the hole diameter is 25 mm and ultimate shearing
stress of the plate is 420 Mpa.
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City
An Autonomous University College of Engineering

PROBLEM 4
During a punching process of 350 kg flywheel the speed varies from 200 rpm to 180
rpm with 1 meter mean diameter. Determine the kinetic energy released by the
flywheel.
Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City
An Autonomous University College of Engineering

ANY QUESTION????
Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City
An Autonomous University College of Engineering

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