1. What is Flywheel Energy Storage?

Flywheel energy storage is a mechanical battery that stores kinetic energy in a rotating mass. It's used for energy storage, power quality improvement, and uninterruptible power supplies.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the flywheel energy equation:

Where:

• \( E \) — Energy stored (Joules)
• \( I \) — Moment of inertia (kg·m²)
• \( \omega \) — Angular velocity (radians per second)

Explanation: The energy stored is proportional to the moment of inertia and the square of the angular velocity.

3. Importance of Flywheel Energy Calculation

Details: Accurate energy calculation is crucial for designing flywheel systems, determining storage capacity, and assessing system performance.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter moment of inertia in kg·m² and angular velocity in rad/s. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's typical moment of inertia for flywheels?
A: Commercial flywheels range from 0.1 to 100 kg·m² depending on size and material.

Q2: How does angular velocity affect energy storage?
A: Energy increases with the square of angular velocity, making speed more important than mass for energy density.

Q3: What are safety considerations?
A: High-speed flywheels require containment systems as they can store enormous amounts of kinetic energy.

Q4: How efficient are flywheel systems?
A: Modern systems can achieve 85-95% round-trip efficiency with magnetic bearings and vacuum chambers.

Q5: What are common applications?
A: Used in UPS systems, grid frequency regulation, electric vehicles, and space applications.