The flywheel (3) comprises a flywheel mass (5) and an automatic starting device (9) for driving into rotation the flywheel mass (5), coaxial with the flywheel mass (5), rotatable with respect to the flywheel mass, and adapted to be torsionally coupled to a motion input (7). The automatic starting device (9) comprises a drag torque transmission member for transmitting drag torque from the automatic starting device (9) to the flywheel mass (5), adapted to transmit a torque that increases as the angular speed of the automatic starting device increases.

The flywheel (3) comprises a flywheel mass (5) and an automatic starting device (9) for driving into rotation the flywheel mass (5), coaxial with the flywheel mass (5), rotatable with respect to the flywheel mass, and adapted to be torsionally coupled to a motion input (7). The automatic starting device (9) comprises a drag torque transmission member for transmitting drag torque from the automatic starting device (9) to the flywheel mass (5), adapted to transmit a torque that increases as the angular speed of the automatic starting device increases.

A method of controlling engine restart may include selecting, by a start controller, a first start situation and a second start situation for restarting an engine; determining a current possible start-up through the first and second start situations; prioritizing possible start-ups; and attempting to restart the engine by setting the first and second start situations as first start control and second start control, respectively, based on the priorities of the start-ups.

An engine assembly may include an internal combustion engine and an expander couplable to the internal combustion engine in a force transmitting manner. The engine assembly may also include a pulley mounted rotatably on a shaft of the expander. The pulley may be coupled to the internal combustion engine in a force-transmitting manner via a belt drive. The engine assembly may further include a first driver plate connected non-rotatably to the pulley and a second driver plate arranged adjacent thereto and connected non-rotatably to the shaft. The engine assembly may additionally include a clutch device including at least one actuating device and a coupling wheel. The coupling wheel may contact the first driver plate and the second driver plate when the clutch device is closed such that the pulley is connected with the shaft of the expander in a driving manner.

An engine assembly may include an internal combustion engine and an expander couplable to the internal combustion engine in a force transmitting manner. The engine assembly may also include a pulley mounted rotatably on a shaft of the expander. The pulley may be coupled to the internal combustion engine in a force-transmitting manner via a belt drive. The engine assembly may further include a first driver plate connected non-rotatably to the pulley and a second driver plate arranged adjacent thereto and connected non-rotatably to the shaft. The engine assembly may additionally include a clutch device including at least one actuating device and a coupling wheel. The coupling wheel may contact the first driver plate and the second driver plate when the clutch device is closed such that the pulley is connected with the shaft of the expander in a driving manner.

A power supply system includes a regulated power source that has an a synchronous machine, a flywheel with the shaft connected thereto, an electrical generator electrically connected through a switch to the synchronous machine of the regulated power source, an engine having a main shaft coupled to the shaft of the electrical generator, a power supply, and a switch connected between the electrical generator, the power supply and the regulated power source. The switch transfers power from the regulated power source to the electrical generator so as to cause the electrical generator to rotate the shaft in order to rotate the shaft of the engine during engine start-up.

Upon a request for switching from a first travel mode of traveling with a clutch disengaged and operation of an engine stopped to a second travel mode of traveling with the clutch engaged and the engine operating, a controller for a hybrid vehicle restarts the engine in the following manner. That is, the controller restarts the engine in a first start mode of starting combustion in the engine with the clutch non-fully engaged when a rotation speed of a motor is greater than a determination value and restarts the engine in a second start mode of starting combustion in the engine with the clutch fully engaged when the rotation speed of the motor is less than or equal to the determination value.

A controller for a hybrid vehicle restarts an engine in a start mode selected from multiple start modes. The multiple start modes include a first start mode of starting combustion in the engine when a clutch starts transmitting torque and a second start mode of starting combustion in the engine after the clutch starts transmitting torque. The controller is configured to, in a case in which the engine is restarted in the second start mode, measure a cranking start time from when engagement of the clutch is commanded to when transmission of the torque through the clutch is started, and only when measurement of the cranking start time has been completed after the vehicle is activated, restart the engine in the first start mode.

A method and system of power generating is provided to reduce a startup time of a genset for providing requested power to a utility grid or a load. The genset includes a generator, a turbocharger, and an energy storage. The generator includes an engine. The genset responds to a genset start signal by accelerating an engine speed of the generator to reach a synchronous speed. The engine speed is accelerated more rapidly by activating the energy storage device to supply power to at least one of the generator and the turbocharger. The generator then supplies power to the utility grid or load.

A method and system of power generating is provided to reduce a startup time of a genset for providing requested power to a utility grid or a load. The genset includes a generator, a turbocharger, and an energy storage. The generator includes an engine. The genset responds to a genset start signal by accelerating an engine speed of the generator to reach a synchronous speed. The engine speed is accelerated more rapidly by activating the energy storage device to supply power to at least one of the generator and the turbocharger. The generator then supplies power to the utility grid or load.