TURNING MOMENT DIAGRAM & FLYWHEEL

1. TURNING MOMENT DIAGRAM: Turning moment diagram also known as crank effort
diagram is the graphical representation of the turning moment for various position of the crank. It
is plotted on Cartesian co-ordinates in which the turning moment is taken as the ordinate and
crank angle as abscissa.

The turning moment on the crankshaft

𝑆𝑖𝑛 2𝜃
𝑇 = 𝐹𝑃 𝑋 𝑟 (𝑆𝑖𝑛  + )
2√𝑛2 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
𝐹𝑃 = Piston effort (Net force acting on the piston or crosshead pin along the line of stroke)
r = Radius of the crank
n = Ratio of the connecting rod length and radius of the crank
 = Angle turned by the crank from IDC
TURNING MOMENT DIAGRAM for different types of engines are given below:-

(i) SINGLE CYLINDER DOUBLE ACTING STEAM ENGINE

The curve abc represent the turning moment diagram for outstroke and cde represents the inner
stroke.

The area of the turning moment diagram represents the work done per revolution. In actual
practice, the engine is assumed to work against the mean resistive torque represented by AF. The
mean resisting torque line AF cuts the turning moment diagram at BCDE. When the crank moves
from a to p, the work done by the engine is equal to area aBp where as the energy required is
represented by the area aABp. So, the engine has done less work than the requirement. This
amount of energy is taken from the flywheel and the speed of the flywheel decreases. Now the
crank moves from p to q. The work done by the engine is equal to the area pBbCq whereas the
requirement of the energy is represented by the area pBCq. Therefore, the engine has done more
work than requirement. This excess work is stored in the flywheel and hence the speed of the
flywheel increases while the crank moves from p to q. Similarly, when the crank moves from q
to r, more work is taken from the engine than developed. This loss of work is represented by the
area CcD. To supply this loss, the flywheel gives up some of its energy and thus the speed
decreases. As the crank moves from r to s excess energy is again developed given by the area
DdE and the speed again increases.

As the crank moves from s to e again there is a loss of work and the speed decreases. The
variation of energy above and below the mean resisting torque line is called the fluctuation
of energy. Area BbC, CcD, DdE etc. represent fluctuation of energy.

The difference between the maximum and the minimum energy is known as maximum
fluctuation of energy and is represented by emax

emax = Maximum energy (E1) - Minimum energy (E2)

Flywheel stores energy and will have maximum value at maximum speed and minimum value at
minimum speed. Engine has maximum speed either at q or at s and minimum speed either at p or
at r. This is due to the fact that the flywheel absorbs energy while the crank moves from p to q
and r to s. On the other hand, the flywheel gives out some of its energy when the crank moves
from a to p and q to r.

(ii) SINGLE CYLINDER FOUR STROKE ENGINE:

In case of four stroke I. C. Engine, the diagram repeats itself after every two revolution. During
the suction stroke, the pressure inside the cylinder is less than the atmospheric pressure. As a
result a negative loop is formed. A higher negative loop is also obtained during compression
stroke since the work is done on the gas. During the expansion or working stroke, the fuel burns
and the gases expand; therefore a large positive loop is obtained. The work is done by the gases
during this stroke. Again a negative loop is formed during exhaust stroke since the work is done
on the gases
 (iii) MULTICYLINDER ENGINE:

The turning moment diagram is the sum of the turning moment drivers for the three cylinders.
The first cylinder is high pressure cylinder, second is intermediate and third is low pressure
cylinder. The cranks in case of three cylinders are usually places at 120 degree to each other.

Calculation of work done per cycle:

Work done per cycle = Tmean x 

 = angle turned in one cycle

= 2π for two stroke I. C. Engine

= 4π for four stroke I. C. Engine

Maximum fluctuation of energy for multi-cylinder engine

These areas represent some energy which is either added or subtracted from the energy of
moving part of engine. Let,

Energy at A=E

Energy at B=E+a1

Energy at C=E+a1-a2

Energy at D=E+a1-a2+a3

Energy at E=E+a1-a2+a3-a4

Energy at F=E+a1-a2+a3-a4+a5

Energy at G=E+(a1+a3+a5)-(a2+a4+a6)

Maximum fluctuation of energy=Maximum energy-Minimum energy

Flywheel:
Flywheel is used in machines serves as a reservoir which stores energy during the period when
the supply of energy is more than requirement and releases it during the period when the
requirement energy is more than the supply. During the period when it absorbs energy its speed
increases and during the period when it releases energy its speed decreases. Hence, a flywheel
does not maintain a constant speed, it simply reduces the fluctuation of speed. Thus, a flywheel
controls the speed variation caused by the fluctuation of the engine turning moment during each
cycle of operation.

Classification of Flywheel: Based on the mode of operation, there are two kinds of flywheel

(A) Disc type - suited for smaller size engine / machine.

(B) Arm type – suited for larger size engine / machine.

Co-efficient of fluctuation of energy:

It is defined as the ratio of the maximum fluctuation of energy to the work done per cycle

Maximum fluctuation of energy

CE =
Workdone per cycle

Co-efficient of fluctuation of speed:

The difference between maximum and minimum speed is known as maximum fluctuation of
speed. The ratio of the maximum fluctuation of speed to the mean speed is known as co-efficient
of fluctuation of speed.

Let,

N1 = Maximum speed in rpm, w1 = Maximum angular speed

N2 = Minimum speed in rpm, w2 = Minimum angular speed

N = Mean speed in rpm w = Mean angular speed

(𝑁1 − 𝑁2 ) (𝑁1 + 𝑁2 )
𝑞= , 𝑁=
𝑁 2

q= 2(N1-N2)/(N1+N2)

= 2(w1-w2)/ (w1+w2)

Energy stored in a flywheel:

Let,

E1 = Maximum energy

E2 = Minimum energy

I = mass moment of inertia of the flywheel= mk2

e max = E1- E2
=1/2Iw12- 1/2Iw22

= 1/2I [w12-w22]

= 1/2I [w1+w2][w1-w2]

= Iw2 (w1-w2)/w

= 2*Iw2q/2

=2Eq

Therefore, e max= Iw2q

Function of flywheel:
The main function of a flywheel is to smoothen out variations in the speed of a shaft caused by
torque fluctuations. If the source of the driving torque or load torque is fluctuating in nature, then
a flywheel is usually called for. Many machines have load patterns that cause the torque time
function to vary over the cycle. In ternal combustion engines with one or two cylinders are a
typical example. Piston compressors, punch presses, rock crushers etc. are the other systems that
have flywheel. Flywheel absorbs mechanical energy by increasing its angular velocity and
delivers the stored energy by decreasing its velocity.

DIMENSIONS OF THE FLYWHEEL RIM:

Let

 = angular velocity of the flywheel, rad/sec

A = cross sectional area of the rim, m2

R = mean radius of the rim, m

t = thickness of the rim, m

 = density of the material , kg/m3

 = tensile stress or hoop stress due to the centrifugal force, N/m2

v = linear velocity at the mean radius, m/sec

Consider small element of the rim shaded in the figure. Let it subtends an angle  at the centre
of the flywheel.

Volume of the small element, dV = AR 

Mass of the small element, dm =  AR 

Centrifugal force of the element acting radially outwards, dF = dm  R [C = m  r ]

=  AR2 
Vertical component of dF = dF sin  =  AR2 sin  

Total vertical upward force tends to burst the rim across the diameter XX.
𝜋
=∫0 𝑑𝐹 sin 
𝜋
= ∫0  AR2  sin  =  AR2 

This vertical upward force will produce hoop stress.

Total resisting force = 2  A

Equating, 2  A =  AR2 

 =  (R) =  v2

APPLICATIONS: (i) IC Engine (ii) Sheet metal press (iii) Kinetic energy recovery system
(KERS)

(ii) SHEET METAL PRESS - FLYWHEEL IN PUNCHING PRESS: Generally punching

presses are driven by motors or by IC Engines. The energy supplied by motor is constant. When
the load is applied on the press, the speed decreases and when the load decreases, the speed
increases. Drop in speed will be large when the load is suddenly applied.

Let d = diameter of the hole

t = thickness of the plate

u = ultimate shear stress

Maximum shear force, Fs= Area sheared X ultimate shear stress = dtu

As the hole is punched the shear force decreases uniformly from maximum value to zero.
𝐹𝑠
Energy required for punching hole per revolution, 𝐸1 = 𝑋𝑡
2

The energy supplied by the motor to the crankshaft during actual punching operation

𝐸1 (2 −1)
𝐸2 =
2𝜋

Balance energy required for punching = Maximum fluctuation of energy which is supplied by the
flywheel

(2 −1)
 = E1- E2 = 𝐸1 [1 − ]
2𝜋
 (2 −1) 𝑡 𝑡
Since = = where s = stroke = 2r
2𝜋 2𝑠 4𝑟
𝑡 𝐹𝑠
 = 𝐸1 [1 − ] where 𝐸1 = 𝑋𝑡
4𝑟 2

(iii) KERS: While driving a vehicle, the speed of the vehicle is not always constant. Brakes are
applied as and when required. While applying brakes, the K. E. of the vehicle is reduced. The K.
E is converted into non-recoverable energy in the form of heat or sound at the brake shoes and is
dissipated into the surroundings. KERS is an efficient method of recovering this energy, which
would otherwise be wasted. The mechanical KERS use high speed flywheel kept inside a
vacuum seated container as the energy storage device. KERS are used effectively in Formula 1
racing car. The energy lost by the car in the curves is stored and can be used in straight track.