Anyone who’s been following Formula One for the past few years will know that KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) is controversial. In GP races it’s used to give drivers, or should I say their car, a boost of energy when they want to pass.
There is nothing really new in the concept as regenerative brake systems are used in hybrid and electric cars. Volvo, however, is one of the first to try out a new variation called Flywheel KERS, which is fitted to the rear axle.
During retardation, braking energy causes a flywheel to spin at up to 60,000 rpm. When the car starts moving off again, the flywheel’s rotation is transferred to the rear wheels via a specially designed transmission. The regular gasoline engine driving the front wheels is switched off as soon as the braking begins. The energy in the flywheel can be used to accelerate the vehicle when it is time to move or to power the vehicle once it reaches cruising speed.
Volvo says it tested flywheel propulsion assistance back in the 1980s but heavy flywheels made of steel were a problem. The flywheel that Volvo will use in its test car is made of carbon fiber. It has a diameter of about 8 inches, weighs about three pounds, and spins in a vacuum to minimize frictional losses.
Volvo is working on this concept with SKF and has received a grant from the Swedish Energy Agency to test the system on the highway. Volvo Powertrain engineers claim it could reduce fuel consumption in a four-cylinder engine by up to 20 percent while giving the engine the acceleration potential of a six-cylinder engine.
Since the flywheel is only activated while braking and has limited storage duration it will obviously work best in busy stop and start conditions. Hey, if it works as expected you might not use any fuel while stuck in traffic. Likewise you might be able to garner better fuel consumption while driving briskly on twisty roads instead of taking a boring straight highway.
Related posts:
"Source : Google Reader
No comments:
Post a Comment