Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Flywheels

[Danny Campbell <danny.campbell@usa.net>]

I love the idea of storing energy in a flywheel!  Using it for propulsion
would be nice, especially if you wanted a really big boost of power.  But have
you ever considered using one for an exotic attitude control?  Mount a rather
large flywheel on a gimbal inside, approximately at the CG.  Want to turn the
boat?  ...turn the flywheel!  You'd have to take into account gyroscopic
effects - torque acting 90 degrees off of the axis of rotation.  Ultimately,
we all know that external thrusters are the best for maneuvering because gyros
may be used to turn the boat but they'll do nothing for translation.  Just
thought I'd throw that out to keep your brains "turning!"

Danny

Michael B Holt <michaelbholt@juno.com> wrote:
On Wed, 26 Jul 2000 22:18:49 -0700 "Gary R. Boucher" writes:
>     One last note on exotic propulsion systems.  Here's one I bet
nobody 
>thought of.  If you want a great deal of propulsion for a relatively
short 
>period of time build a sub with the propulsion energy stored in 
>flywheels. 

About a thousand years ago, I obtained a set of papers from a 
conference on flywheel power.   Very impressive stuff.  The general
intent was for alternative-power automobiles, but . . . 

There was a torpedo used by the USN, running under flywheel power.
It was replaced by the Whitehead torpedo in about 1908, I think.  I'll 
see what I can find.



Michael
-- 

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