Storing energy in the form of mechanical kinetic energy (for comparatively short periods of time) in flywheels has been known for centuries, and is now being considered again for a much wider field of utilisation, competing with electro chemical batteries. In inertial energy storage systems, energy is stored in the rotating mass of a fly wheel. In ancient potteries, a kick at the lower wheel of the rotating table was the energy input to maintain rotation. The rotating mass stored the short energy input so that rotation could be maintained at a fairly constant rate. Flywheels have been applied in steam and combustion engines for the same purpose since the time of their invention. The application of flywheels for longer storage times is much more recent and has been made possible by developments in materials science and bearing technology. The energy capacity of flywheels, with respect to their weight and cost, has to date been very low, and their utilisation was mainly linked to the unique possibility of being able to deliver very high power for very short periods (mainly for special machine tools).

Inspec keywords: flywheels

Other keywords: energy capacity; electrochemical battery; steam engines; flywheel storage; inertial energy storage systems; mechanical kinetic energy; combustion engines

Subjects: Other energy storage