If I have a bicycle generator with a flywheel. Can I make it more efficient

R

Rob

New member
with a bigger or more heavy wheel? I can generate about 400watts of electricity from attaching a DC generator to my rear wheel of my bike (stationary bike of course). Could I do better if my flywheel were heavier or larger in diameter, or both? I want to see how much energy I could produce with the most efficiency.
 
Assuming your bearings don't lose significantly more energy with the heavier wheel, the heavier flywheel won't make your generator more or less efficient.

What it will do is increase the inertia of the flywheel, so it will be harder to get it going but will lose its speed more slowly. This may be desirable for getting a steady voltage from your generator if you are getting a measurable drop in voltage as you shift from foot to foot while you pedal. A bigger flywheel of the same mass will also have more inertia, so the effect will be about the same.
 
You have a misconception of the term "efficiency".
If the kinetic energy available to drive your generator enough for its capacity and to the full limit then heavier flywheel will not do anything to increase the capacity (not efficiency) of your generator.
 
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