Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Flywheels

["Gary R. Boucher" <protek@shreve.net>]

At 09:45 PM 8/3/00 , you wrote:
>Back again.
>I didn't realize the Inertialess Technologies Co. I mentioned had a Webb
>page and it still looks like they are going.
>http://www.inertialessdrive.co.nz/


     I wish I had never brought up this idea of flywheels.  First, allow me 
to place my disclaimer on my original post.  A flywheel as an energy source 
is more like a capacitor than a battery.  Both store energy but with a 
flywheel system you can release the total stored energy at almost any rate 
you desire.  With a battery you have to take the energy over a period of 
time at least in minutes.  My only thought here was that if you used a 
flywheel as a source of energy you could obtain literally thousands of 
horsepower for a short period of time, perhaps 30 seconds.  It was just an 
interesting thought to me as it might relate to some exotic sub propulsion 
system not unlike the huge engines used to power dragsters for 1/4 mile 
distances.  They are not practical for dragging Main Street but designed 
for a very specific purpose.  It was something to think about that to me 
was interesting but not necessary down to earth.
     I looked at the above website and can sum up the inertialess whatever 
in two words and the first word starts with a "B."  It amazes me how people 
can take a small tidbit of physics and become an "Inventor."  If you wanted 
to kill the gyroscopic tendencies of flywheels simply place a second mass 
rotating along the same axis but with opposite direction so that the two 
angular momentums cancel.  Very simple!
     Once again, I don't incourage anyone to pursue this method by wasting 
a lot of time researching it unless it is just for fun.  If anyone is 
serious about sub building, I would suggest using conventional technology, 
conventional materials, and conventional methods for your first sub.  After 
which you will have a better base to consider the what-ifs.

Gary Boucher