TheRMVR wrote:Ok so I've been reading a lot on this site about the flywheel system that Williams has developed. People said it was too big and heavy to instal in a F1 car. I believe even Williams said that.
Then I found this video on youtube about a company that makes a KERS system with a flywheel. Now the guy in the video claims that the flywheel system is actually up to 50% lighter and more compact than a battery system. Is he just talking bs or is Williams their system not good enough?
This is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PcIt0FP ... re=related
This design uses a toloroidal CVT transmission to drive the flywheel storage device. To operate the CVT requires a high pressure to be applied to the mechanism to maintain friction drive contact between the toloroidal disks.
This is all wasted energy. The system is fully mechanical and has some applications in miniature systems and heavy vehicles and plant.
The current systems including the Williams system, use a fully sealed flywheel storage device that is charged/spun up using electrical energy from a generator/motor by induction.
The toloroidal system is to heavy, bulky and limited in energy capacity.
The induction spun units have potential but are similarily limited in energy capacity and bulk. Depending on the weight regulations, there is a trade off point between flywheel storage, which transfers energy faster and batteries which can store more and are potentialy lighter and less bulky for higher energy use.
All three system types use extra gearing and components that have to be externaly added to the powertrain.
(My ESERU is part of the gearbox and does away with the direct engagement clutch making it suitable in any KERS that is decided on in any new regulations. The only extra bulk is the energy storage and the control system.) sorry mod but it is relevent