Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS)

What is Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS)?
The device recovers the kinetic energy that is present in the waste heat created by the car’s braking process. It stores that energy and converts it into power that can be called upon to boost acceleration.

How does it work you ask?

There are principally two types of system - battery (electrical) and flywheel (mechanical). Electrical systems use a motor-generator incorporated in the car’s transmission which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa. Once the energy has been harnessed, it is stored in a battery and released when required.

Mechanical systems capture braking energy and use it to turn a small flywheel which can spin at up to 80,000 rpm. When extra power is required, the flywheel is connected to the car’s rear wheels. In contrast to an electrical KERS, the mechanical energy doesn’t change state and is therefore more efficient.,¹

This is how KERS is put out by the techies within the Official Website. Unequivocally frustration and hard to understand. But like most new technology within the sport, once you get a handle on it, the tech speak seems less and less daunting. So let's start over.

Introduction:

KERS stands for Kinetic Energy Recovery System. In short, what it does is to convert a part of the energy lost in braking and recovering it at a later point of time. Thus the KERS works under the law of conservation of Energy.

The various parts of KERS are

• 1. Braking system: This is the part from where the energy to be stored is collected,
• 2.a. Generator/Motor unit (GMU): This is used in the Electronic KERS where either the generator or motor will take over depending on whether the battery is being charged or discharged.
• 2.b. Flywheel: This is used in Mechanical KERS. It is used to store and release mechanical energy.
• 3. KERS control unit: This unit controls the signals and the levels on how much energy should be transferred from one part of vehicle to another, meaning the storing of energy and releasing of energy. It also performs an array of other operations.
• 4. Storage system: It is either the flywheel or battery, depending on which type of KERS is used.

How Mechanical KERS work:

This type of KERS gets mechanical energy and stores mechanical energy. This includes a flywheel that spins at around 64,000 rpm and collects energy from the brakes. Later when required, the wheels are coupled to the flywhee, thus giving additional acceleration to the car.

How Electric KERS work:

In this type of KERS the mechanical energy is stored as electrical energy and then later it is converted from electrical energy to mechanical energy. There is a generator/motor unit (GMU) which stores and releases the energy. When the car is braked, the transmission drives the generators which store the energy in super capacitor batteries. Later when required, the battery drives the electric motor which transmits energy to the wheels.

Disadvantages of KERS technology:

Electronic KERS, as they store charge in the battery and as they charge and discharge very quickly, get hot very quickly. There is also a risk of the user or any other individual getting a shock when KERS is activated.  So the driver is protected by well insulated dress and the other individuals get to see a warning light that says when the KERS is on or not.

The drawback with Mechanical KERS is that the flywheel will be spinning at high rate and there is a danger of the flywheel affecting the driver if it disintegrates and is not properly shielded.

The advantages of KERS:

The performance of the car could be improved by the estimated 0.3 second per lap, which on the track can make or break your race. Of course there is easier overtaking as well. Giving the drivers a little more to assist in passing their opponents.

From 2009 we have a video from At&t Williams introducing and explained the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems)





¹Sources from formula1.com