Kinetic Energy Recovery System (Reader Response Draft 2)
To promote the development of road car-relevant technologies that are sustainable, the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) was introduced to Formula 1 (F1) racing in 2009, later becoming more prominent and used by all racing teams after 2011 (Abidi, 2022). Angadi (2023) states that when a car brakes, the kinetic energy that is lost as heat is harvested into electrical energy and stored in the battery for later deployment. The stored energy can then be used to boost the car by giving extra power to the engine for up to 60kW and releasing energy for up to 400kJ a lap, as governed by the regulations (Racecar Engineering, 2009). Motorsports aside, KERS is also present in road cars, such as the Volvo XC90. As compared to a petrol-electric hybrid system, a mechanical KERS is more compact and lightweight and it has a fuel efficiency that is similar to a hybrid, decreasing consumption by up to 25 percent (Jones, 2014).
KERS incorporates an innovative approach to vehicular efficiency, harvesting kinetic energy through regenerative braking and repurposing it to boost performance, reducing fuel consumption and in turn decreasing carbon emissions, contributing to a greener and sustainable world.
According to Angadi (2023), the electrical KERS system stores the generated electrical energy in a battery, which is commonly found in Formula 1 cars. This system uses an electric generator, called the Motor Generating Unit-Kinetic (MGU-K), which harvests the heat energy that results from braking and converts it into electrical energy. The racing driver can then press the 'overtake' button on their steering wheel to deploy the stored energy, similar to nitrous systems in racing video games. This promotes a more competitive and strategic racing, without compromising the environment.
Volvo Car Group tested the flywheel KERS on a Volvo S60 and found that it has the potential to reduce fuel consumption by up to 25% when paired with a four-cylinder turbo engine, with performance levels that are comparable to a six-cylinder. This gave the car an additional power of 80 horsepower, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds. The flywheel KERS is installed at the rear axle of the car. The energy produced under braking will spin the flywheel to up to 60,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), which is then transferred to the rear wheels via a unique transmission design when the car moves off again (Green Car Congress, 2013). This is particularly beneficial in a stop and go traffic situation, when the road is heavily congested and we are slowly advancing but frequently having to stop. Every time we brake, the energy produced from braking spins the flywheel. When we move off again, the energy from the flywheel transfers to the rear wheels, propelling the car forward without having to burn fuel.
Conclusion
References
Angadi, D. (2023, April 15). Is KERS still used in F1? Exploring its uses, how it works, and more. Sportskeeda. https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/is-kers-still-used-f1-exploring-uses-works
Abidi, Y. (2022, December 19). How Does the KERS System in F1 Cars Work? Make Use Of. https://www.makeuseof.com/how-the-kers-system-in-f1-works/
Jones, M. (2014, March 25). Why we need cars with KERS. Top Gear. https://www.topgear.com/car-news/future-tech/why-we-need-cars-kers
Racecar Engineering. (2009, April 14). The basics of F1 KERS. https://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/the-basics-of-f1-kers/
Green Car Congress. (2013, April 25). Volvo Cars’ tests of flywheel technology confirm fuel savings of up to 25%. https://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/04/kers-20130425.html
Unused:
Comments
Post a Comment