First, what is KERS?
KERS kinetic energy recovery system (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems) abbreviation. Its underlying principle is: the vehicle body by means of techniques braking energy stored and released by using as an auxiliary power in the car acceleration! Use of specific methods may mimic the acceleration button A1 to achieve.
two, FIA why the introduction of KERS?
A lot of people think the introduction of KERS F1 FIA is to increase overtaking opportunities – temporary move taken to control costs soaring, this is completely wrong – to improve the competition excitement, suppress engine research and development!
Now, automotive industry around the world are faced with industrial development and environmental protection this contradiction. Energy, carbon dioxide emissions, is no longer fashionable topic, but it stood in front of, and need for immediate hands-on problem-solving. Last year, Germany introduced the emissions of carbon dioxide per kilometer should not exceed 120 grams indicators, this indicator if it becomes legislation, will mean that a large displacement engine is no longer promising. At the same time, some cities even now plans to only allow the use of hybrid vehicles in the city center, which means that manufacturers in the development of the product, must ensure that their vehicles may optional hybrid system. By these two cases, we can see the high efficiency of environmental technology for the development of the automotive industry how badly. Nowadays, although the major manufacturers have never reached any consensus, but has been basically formed the default development ideas: start with a hybrid start, then the transition to a pure hydrogen or electricity. Only in this way can there be in the future automotive industry.
At this time, known for high-tech, the highest gold spire of F1 motor sport, if they ignore this social trend, will face the risk of elimination of Tao. FIA president Max – Mosley was in 2006, said: “The trend in the world is changing, you will see the most obvious question is about global warming in every part of the world, have a very prominent public movement. If we do not reform now, we will miss this trend, F1 will become obsolete and eventually death. “
Some people might think that if Mosley is alarmist, but the status quo on F1This is the following: 2.4-liter V8 engine, 100 km fuel consumption up to 49KG, 19000 rpm speed limit without any reference significance for civil engines, built at a cost of a 1: 1 wind tunnel cost greater than 50 million euros, excluding the annual 24-hour operation the cost of a one-stop change aerodynamics practical value is zero …….
It is clear now F1 technology development, and is completely out of touch with society, and with increasing energy and environmental issues, it is contrary to the direction of social development. In the past, F1 is known as a testing ground for the automotive industry, the birthplace of advanced civilian technology; and now, with the changes in technology trends, it is this feature has become increasingly weak! In this case, reform is imperative and urgent. Because no one has a social responsibility, would be the use of “outdated” technology, a substantial waste of energy, environmental hazards sports pay homage!
KERS F1 conform precisely this social trend, keeping the first step towards advancement. (Vision about F1 power system, please [click] to view the reports we have before)
three, FIA rules KERS restrictions
In order to encourage and promote KERS technology development, FIA gave the team plenty of space to play. In this year’s July 11 release of version 2009 F1 Technical Regulations, the FIA KERS only a few technical indicators made provisions, all other aspects are open. According to Mosley saying, KERS development is almost unlimited. The new rules below is only bound by the terms:
1, KERS system input and maximum output power shall not exceed 60KW, the amount of energy released per lap shall not exceed 400KJ. (Original Rule 5.2.3)
2 racing during the refueling stop, not to increase the energy storage system KERS. (Original rule 5.2.4)
3 racing engine, gearbox, clutch, differential and KERS and ECU control all the activation mechanism, must be specified by the FIA ECU suppliers ( That standard provides the McLaren ECU). (Original rule 8.2.1)
The current version of Rule 09 restrictions on the KERS and nothing more!
four: the principle of the two technologies KERS system and its advantages and disadvantages (the focus of this article)
In the FIA loose framework of rules, there are two principles of the technology now KERS systems under development: the flywheel kinetic energy recovery system and battery – motor kinetic energy recovery system. Below, we will R & D background, technical principles, parameters indicators, technical difficulties and advantages and disadvantages of the five aspects of its program in detail. First talk has been around for a “flywheel kinetic energy recovery system.”
A, R & D background
This is a technical program will use the Renault, Williams intends to buy! In early 2007, subject to the support of Renault, the Renault F1 Team’s two engineers Jon – Hilton and Doug – Cross left the headquarters Ensto (enstone) specialized in Silverstone formed a company called “Flybrid Systems LLP” s company. Here, Flybrid two English words flywheel (flywheel) and hybrid (hybrid) combination of words, which we translated as “flywheel hybrid system company” [Note: hereinafter collectively referred to as FB company]. The company has developed in mid-2007 in a set of high-efficiency flywheel kinetic energy recovery system (see above).
principle flywheel kinetic energy recovery system is actually very simple. Played back of the toy car childhood friends know that when we let accumulator structure by rolling the wheel backward (usually spring or rubber band structure) after the potential energy savings, and then the car on the ground, the potential energy savings will make the car fast travel together. This basic principle FB’s kinetic energy recovery program, it is used [Note: the foundation principle, that is, from the kinetic energy -gt; potential -gt; conversion of kinetic energy]. But the specific work process will certainly be a lot of complicated, we know this is the speed of over 300 km of F1 racing. Let’s look at the actual configured with:
As shown in FIG: This is a schematic diagram of a system provided by FB (lower right of FIG CAD three-dimensional effect). It is of a total of: a high speed flywheel, two fixed ratio gear sets, a the CVT (noStage gearbox) and a set of clutches (clutch 2), in which the continuously variable transmission provided by the Torotrak technology partner company, another company Xtrac transmission system is responsible for manufacturing. The system works as follows:
When the car during braking, the kinetic energy of the body will pass through the CVT flywheel, this time in a vacuum cassette flywheel is driven, high-speed rotational energy savings . When the car on the exit, the energy accumulated in the flywheel is released by reverse CVT [NOTE: This refers to the reverse flow of energy means, rather than the direction of rotation of the flywheel], and the output end of the main gearbox and in after merging engine power is transmitted to the rear axle as the driving force. Simple and compact whole system, is controlled by the write the SECU (Standard ECU) for matching procedures. In shape, according to user needs, make specific adjustments. That may have a different shape to select!
C, technical difficulties
As we all know, for every kilogram F1 car in terms of quality is useful. In order to achieve the highest possible energy density ratio (Note: The flywheel kinetic energy recovery system This indicator is already high), the heavy impact of the system on the car is equipped to minimize the use of flywheel kinetic energy recovery program needs to do a flywheel energy storage body as small as possible, but how to meet the energy storage indicator?
The adoption FB solution is to improve the speed. Currently, they have reached the prototype flywheel speed 64500 rev / min, which is a crazy number. But this time new problems have emerged, because of the high speed means that the system will generate tremendous heat and face enormous windage loss.
Cross Hilton and the final decision will be packaged in a flywheel vacuum inside the cassette, according to the company, the internal pressure of up to 1×10-7 Pa. This in the end is a kind of concept? Jon – Hilton said it needs to run the equivalent of a gas molecule and another 45KM to meet. But want to have to do it, the flywheel exposure to vacuum box can indeed solve the problem of heat and windage loss, but how to prevent bearing in process input and output power, the tightness is not destroyed (the flywheel) it? New challenges born again! In the prior art, it is a kind of conversion options, but the energy loss is too severe. The results of these two workersEngineers still find a solution, they invented the innovative shaft seal technology, has been patented.