1. What is Flywheel Inertia?

The moment of inertia (I) of a flywheel is a measure of its resistance to changes in rotational speed. For a solid disk flywheel, it depends on the mass and how that mass is distributed relative to the axis of rotation.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the flywheel inertia equation:

Where:

• \( I \) — Moment of inertia (kg·m²)
• \( m \) — Mass of the flywheel (kg)
• \( r \) — Radius of the flywheel (m)

Explanation: The equation shows that inertia increases with the square of the radius, making radius distribution more important than mass alone.

3. Importance of Inertia Calculation

Details: Flywheel inertia is crucial for energy storage applications, engine balancing, and rotational systems where smooth operation is required despite torque fluctuations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter mass in kilograms and radius in meters. Both values must be positive numbers. The radius should be measured from the center of rotation to the outer edge.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if my flywheel isn't a perfect disk?
A: Different shapes have different inertia equations. For rings, hollow cylinders, or complex shapes, different formulas apply.

Q2: How does inertia affect performance?
A: Higher inertia means more energy storage but slower acceleration. It provides smoothing of rotational speed but requires more torque to change speed.

Q3: What are typical inertia values?
A: Values vary widely based on application - from small engine flywheels (0.01-0.1 kg·m²) to industrial energy storage (100+ kg·m²).

Q4: Does material density matter?
A: The equation uses total mass, so material density only matters in how it affects the total mass for a given size.

Q5: How to increase flywheel energy storage?
A: Energy storage increases with both mass and the square of rotational speed, but practical limits are set by material strength.