Cody Hyman HC399

What is Regenerative Braking?

Conventional braking systems convert kinetic energy into heat, usually via friction.
This wastes a great deal of energy!

Regenerative braking systems reclaim and storing the kinetic energy in a reusable manner Many modern electric drive vehicles including electric locomotives and HEVs have regenerative braking systems

Regen Braking Principles in Electric Transportation

EVs use their drive motors to convert kinetic energy into electromagnetic energy
Motors and generators operate under the same

principle and can be used interchangeably. The First Law of Thermodynamics dictates that the EV will slow down as this occurs.

The generated electrical energy can be dissipated through a resistive network (Dynamic Braking) or stored (Regen Braking)

How Regen Braking Works Part 1: The Mechanical Aspect

Vehicle has forward momentum The wheels are coupled to the rotors of electric traction motors in an EV

Instead of a current being applied to the motor

to turn the rotors, the rotors are turned by the wheels of the EV

The rotors experience opposing torque as current is induced in the motor coils This opposing torque slows the vehicle The generated electrical energy is stored

Diagram of a Regen Braking System

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/regenerativebrake-diagram.jpg

Part 2: Brake Control Circuitry

Complex electronic circuits that handle braking functions

Coordinates motor and friction brakes under a wide

range of situations The controller will take the following parameters into account and determines how the vehicle will brake
Speed of vehicle Driver input (pedals) Storage medium state-of-charge

Routes and regulates generated power

Depending on the desired output, the brake

controller must be able to supply vehicle batteries or capacitors with the proper polarity, current, and voltage for safe charging (depends on battery state of charge)

Options for storing the Energy

Recharging vehicle battery packs

State of charge influences how much of the

generated current can be safely stored Ubiquitous method for hybrid cars

Charging an array of capacitors/supercapacitors

Pro: Very high charge/discharge rate (high

power density) Con: Much lower energy density than batteries Allows for regen braking if batteries are at a high state of charge Implemented on some buses

Non-electrical methods
Fluid compression Flywheels

Mechanical Methods

Hydraulic Regenerative Braking

Slows the vehicle by

compressing gas and storing it in an accumulator Pressure is used to assist the engine upon forward acceleration Potentially more efficient than electric regenerative brake systems
Source: http://www.hybridcars.com/relatedtechnologies/hydraulic-hybrids.html

A VW Beetle converted to a hydraulic hybrid that claims up to 80% regeneration efficiency

Regenerative Braking in Rail Vehicles

Dynamic Braking has been frequently used in rail vehicles to reduce brake wear Diesel-Electric locomotives require onboard energy storage for regeneration
Impractical

Some electric rail/overhead line locomotives with regenerative braking can send power back through supply line
Power can be received by other trains

connected to the line or sent back to the grid

Differences Between AC and DC Rail Lines

AC Locomotives
Can feed power back into the grid without the need for

large power inverters The New Delhi Metro, after implementing regenerative capabilities, cut down its power consumption by 30%, a total savings of 112MWh between 2004-2007 Other AC traction lines in the UK and NZ have achieved improvements of 15-17%

DC Locomotives
Cannot easily feed power back to external networks but it

can power other trains on the same line Efficiency depends on the number of nearby locomotives that can receive power from regeneration

DC Railway Regeneration Estimates

% Energy recapture figures for DC Catenary Locomotives
Potential if additional technologies are used 11% 25% 32% 14% Theoretical potential Potential without additional technology

Main lines Regional lines Local lines Freight lines

15% 35% 45% 20%

2% 10% 16% 3%

Source: Institute for Futures Studies and Technology Assessment

Regen Braking in Road Vehicles

Road vehicles require onboard energy storage as well as relatively quick braking compared to rail vehicles Regen braking improves the efficiency in stop and go city traffic more than high speed travel Efficiency gains vary greatly from vehicle to vehicle and under the driving conditions Prius regen efficiency 30%

Road Vehicle Efficiency Data

Source: http://www.privatenrg.com/

Cars with Regenerative Braking

Toyota Prius Honda Insight Ford Escape Hybrid Tesla Roadster Chevy Volt

It actually does have

Toyota Prius

regen braking*

Tesla Roadster
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/automobiles/au toreviews/22-chevy-volt.html?_r=1&ref=technology

Regenerative Braking is not All That New

The electric vehicle in this 1906 had

regenerative braking capabilities

Image source: http://www.shorpy.com/node/5734

Benefits of Regen Braking

Increase of overall energy efficiency of a vehicle

Increases vehicle range Cuts down on pollution related to electricity

generation

Increases the lifespan of friction braking systems

Less use of traditional mechanical brakes

leads to less wear over time

The Downsides
Added complexity of brake control system Only works for wheels connected to motors

Most vehicle operation is done in 2WD

Friction brakes are still necessary

Safety Motor braking power decreases as the

kinetic energy of the vehicle decreases

Conclusion
Regenerative braking is an effective method of improving vehicle efficiency and longevity Is already in use in many EVs The technology to do it exists and is often well worth it Mostly dependent on the wider adoption of EVs or further development of hydraulic regeneration systems

Sources
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8. 9.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/brakes/braketypes/regenerative-braking.htm http://www.hybridcars.com/components/regenerativebraking.html http://www.hybridcars.com/related-technologies/hydraulichybrids.html http://www.railway-technical.com/brake1.shtml http://www.shorpy.com/node/5734 http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/singleview/view//regenerative-braking-boosts-green-credentials.html http://www.railwayenergy.org/static/Regenerative_braking_in_DC_systems_103. php http://privatenrg.com/ http://cleantech.com/news/4201/delhi-metro-earns-carboncredits-re