V3I9P13

Modeling and Simulation of Rotational Energy System: Influence of Mass Distribution of Flywheel Efficiency

J. S. Shadrach^1*, M. E. Emetere^1,2, J. A. Akinpelu²

Abstract

This study is a detailed theoretical and simulation study of effect of flywheel mass distribution on the performance of a rotational energy generation system. A mathematical model was developed based on the principles of rotational energy to investigate the relationship between the different time conditions (150 s, 350 s, 550 s, and 750 s) and flywheel mass (1–30 kg). The simulation result shows that the magnitude of flywheel mass increased by 1kg to 30kg, and the angular velocity decreased by about 42 – 65% when it operated under constant torque, and the stored rotational energy increased by more than 120% because of the increase in the moment of inertia. In addition, dynamic analysis of the systems revealed that an increase in the control time constant increased the stability, with oscillations being reduced by around 30% and steady state conditions being reached earlier (after ~200–300 s). The analysis of the different configurations of the DC motor indicated that the voltage stability of Type 3 and hybrid systems was more than 90%, with a minor voltage drop of about 8–12% for an increased mechanical load on Type 4. Furthermore, it was seen that the initial voltage was linearly related to the output voltage for all the setups with a correlation coefficient of about 0.98. The results offer valuable design information for the optimization of flywheel systems, such as mass distribution and motor configuration, to ensure efficient, stable, and reliable energy generation.

Keywords:

Flywheel Energy System, Mass Distribution, Angular Velocity, Moment of Inertia, DC Motor Configuration