What is a Flywheel? A flywheel is a kind of mechanical device that is made up of steel and basically rotates on conventional bearings. A flywheel basically comprises of a spinning mass that is located in its center and driven by a motor. Whenever energy is required, then spinning force drives a device that is analogous to a turbine to produce electricity by slowing the rate of rotation. It helps in capturing energy from intermittent energy sources over time and supplies constant energy to the grid. Flywheels can also reciprocate to grid signals and delivers frequency regulation and electricity quality improvements.
They can be recharged by using a motor for improving the rotational speed once again. Traditionally, flywheels are crafted with steel and basically rotate on conventional bearings. They usually revolve at a rate of few thousand RPM. But modern flywheels are fabricated with carbon fiber materials and basically stored in vacuum to lessen drag and employ magnetic bearings that allow them to rotate at a speed of 60,000 RPM. Take a look at this article to know more about the flywheel. Definition of Flywheel The flywheel is a type of a hefty wheel that requires a lot of force to spin around. The flywheel can be a big diameter wheel that comes with heavy metal rim and spin, and it can be a smaller-diameter cylinder that basically has carbon-fiber composition. These wheels usually need enormous force to stop as well as start. Now the design and shape of the flywheel are little different from those that were popular during the Industrial Revolution. Flywheels are more compact and basically made up of carbon fiber or