futurism.com/the-byte/electric-train-charges-rolling?utm_campaign=trueanthem_manual&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0EZAmPJYh4sxSwXT29D-JgqCioskVpUx8uljUDVY7U1JTmQ84NWQmDL5E"INGENIOUS ELECTRIC TRAIN FULLY CHARGES ITSELF BY ROLLING DOWNHILL WITH HEAVY LOAD
NOTHING CAN STOP THE INFINITY TRAIN!"
"...Australian mining company Fortescue is looking to reduce the carbon footprint of its operations by allowing a specially designed electric “Infinity Train” to roll down a hill to recharge its massive batteries — without ever relying on an external charging system.
“The Infinity Train has the capacity to be the world’s most efficient battery electric locomotive,” Fortescue CEO Elizabeth Gaines said in a statement. “The regeneration of electricity on the downhill loaded sections will remove the need for the installation of renewable energy generation and recharging infrastructure, making it a capital efficient solution for eliminating diesel and emissions from our rail operations.”
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It’s a cleverly designed system: since the train is far lighter on the way up, it will generate enough energy fully loaded with iron ore on the way down to make it back up to the mine. In other words, it might sound like a perpetual motion machine — which is impossible, of course — but in reality it’s just an ingenious exploit of conventional physics.
Decarbonization
It’s not the only system using the same principle. For instance, 110-ton dump trucks hauling lime off the side of a Swiss mountain also consume zero net energy by relying on a regenerative breaking system. In fact, that “eDumper” system produces a significant surplus of energy each day.
Mining companies around the globe are looking to clean up their act by coming up with novel technologies like the Infinity Train. Just last year, the world’s largest miners pledged to go carbon neutral by 2050.
Fortescue is hoping to get there sooner, promising to fully decarbonize its mining operations by 2030.
“The Infinity Train will not only accelerate Fortescue’s race to reach net zero emissions by 2030, but also lower our operating costs, create maintenance efficiencies and productivity opportunities,” Fortescue founder and chairman Andrew Forrest said in the statement.
The train could have a pretty massive impact when it comes to carbon emissions. Fortescue’s rail operations consumed 82 million liters of diesel last year.
Of course, mining itself isn’t great for the environment — but cleaning up its impact, even slightly, is a step in the right direction.
READ MORE: Battery-electric “Infinity Train” will charge itself using gravity [New Atlas]
More on mining: Corporations Are Sending Huge Mining Machines to the Bottom of the Ocean
Care about supporting clean energy adoption? Find out how much money (and planet!) you could save by switching to solar power at UnderstandSolar.com. By signing up through this link, Futurism.com may receive a small commission..."
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energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Regenerative_braking"...The idea of a brake that could take the kinetic energy it absorbs and turn it into potential energy for later use has been around since the late 1800s..."
"Regenerative braking
Figure 1. A regenerative brake.[1]
Regenerative braking systems (RBSs) are a type of kinetic energy recovery system that transfers the kinetic energy of an object in motion into potential or stored energy to slow the vehicle down, and as a result increases fuel efficiency.[2] These systems are also called kinetic energy recovery systems. There are multiple methods of energy conversion in RBSs including spring, flywheel, electromagnetic and hydraulic. More recently, an electromagnetic-flywheel hybrid RBS has emerged as well. Each type of RBS utilizes a different energy conversion or storage method, giving varying efficiency and applications for each type.
RBSs are installed along the drive train or fitted to the drive wheels of a vehicle where they inhibit the motion of the wheels using magnetic fields or mechanical torque. These methods of motion inhibition allow energy to be generated under braking, as opposed to friction brakes which simply waste away energy to slow the vehicle by turning the kinetic energy into thermal energy. Due to the maximum charging rate of the energy storage mechanisms, the braking force from a RBS is limited. Therefore, a traditional friction brake system is required to maintain the safe operation of a vehicle when heavy braking is necessary. RBS can improve fuel consumption and reduce the overall braking load taken on by the vehicles friction brakes, reducing the wear on the brake pads.[3]
RBSs are used in almost every electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. In addition, public transportation such as buses and bullet trains make use of RBSs to decrease the environmental impacts of the transportation fleet and save money.[4]
History
The idea of a brake that could take the kinetic energy it absorbs and turn it into potential energy for later use has been around since the late 1800s. Some of the early attempts of this technology were to install spring type RBS on front wheel drive bicycles or horse-drawn cabs.[5][6]
The Baku-Tbilisi-Batumi railway started applying RBS in the early 1930s. This is one example of early using of this technology in railway system.[6]
In the 1950s, Swiss company Oerlikon developed the gyrobus, which utilized flywheel as its energy storage method. The effects of gyroscopic motion on the bus soon resulted in it being discontinued.[7]
In 1967, the American Motor Car Company (AMC) created an electrical energy regeneration brake for their concept electric car, the AMC Amitron. Toyota was the first car manufacturer to commercialize RBS technology in their Prius series hybrid cars.[6]
Since then, RBSs have evolved to be used in almost all electric and hybrid cars, as well as some gas-powered vehicles.
Methods of Energy Conversion and Storage
There are multiple methods of energy conversion in RBS including spring, flywheel, electromagnetic and hydraulic. More recently, an electromagnetic-flywheel hybrid RBS has emerged as well. Each type of RBS utilizes a different energy conversion or storage method, giving varying efficiency and applications for each type. Currently, the most commonly used type is the electromagnetic system.[8]
Electromagnetic
In electromagnetic system, the drive shaft of the vehicles is connected to an electric generator, which uses magnetic fields to restrict the rotation of the drive shaft, slowing the vehicle and generating electricity. In the case of electric and hybrid vehicles, the electricity generated is sent to the batteries, giving them a recharge. In gas powered vehicles, the electricity can be used to power the cars electronics or sent to a battery where it can later used to give the vehicle an extra boost of power. This technique is currently used in some Le Mans Prototype racing cars.[9]
Flywheel
In flywheel RBS, the system collects the kinetic energy of the vehicle to spin a flywheel that is connected to the drive shaft through a transmission and gear box. The spinning flywheel can then provide torque to the drive shaft, giving the vehicle a power boost.
Electromagnetic-flywheel
Electro flywheel regenerative brake is a hybrid model of electromagnetic and flywheel RBSs. It shares the basic power generation methods with the electromagnetic system; however, the energy is stored in a flywheel rather than in batteries. In this sense, the flywheel serves as a mechanical battery, where electrical energy can be stored and recovered.[10] Due to the longevity of flywheel batteries compared to lithium-ion batteries, electric flywheel RBS is the more cost effective electricity storage method. [11]
Spring
The spring loaded regenerative braking system is typically used on human powered vehicles, such as bicycles or wheelchairs. In spring RBS, a coil or spring is winded around a cone during braking to store energy in the form of elastic potential. The potential can then be returned to assist the driver while going up hill or over rough terrain.[12]
Hydraulic
The hydraulic RBS slows the vehicle by generating electricity which is then used to compress a fluid. Nitrogen gas is often chosen as the working fluid. Hydraulic RBSs have the longest energy storage capability of any system, as compressed fluid does not dissipate energy over time. However, compressing gas with a pump is a slow process and severely limits the power of the hydraulic RBS.
Applications
Hybrid and Electric Cars
Modern hybrid and electric cars both utilize an electric engine to power the car which makes applying regenerative braking very simple and efficient. In the vast majority of these cars, the transmission of the car is set up such that when the driver applies the brakes, the electric motor reverses itself and applies a resistance to the wheels rather than power. The resistance applied to the wheels is then put through the electric motor where it is used to recharge the batteries.
In high performance electric cars, improving the feel of the car is very important to car manufacturers. Many customers support electric super-cars but are against purchasing them because of the lack of high performance feel. One important aspect of this feel is engine braking. In a standard internal combustion engine, once power is not being applied to the engine, the natural friction inside the engine works to slow the vehicle down. In electric cars, this friction force does not apply; however, car companies such as Mercedes and Porsche have begun to use regenerative braking systems to give the driver the same feel of a gas-powered car while recovering energy for the batteries.[13]
Auto Racing
In 2009, Formula 1 (a common type of race car) introduced a regenerative braking system called the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). The uptake of the system was slow at first and had no teams using it in the 2010 season; however, improvements to the system in the 2011 season made it extremely beneficial to cars and almost all teams adopted some form of the system. Formula one cars use either a four flywheel or electric generator system to store energy under braking. This stored energy can then be utilized by the driver by pushing a button on thier steering wheel. The FIA restricts the use to 6.67 seconds per lap during which the system gives the car an extra 81 hp.[14]
Limitations
Due to the maximum recharging rate of the circuit and the capacity of battery, the braking force from an electromagnetic type RBS is always limited. Therefore, a traditional friction brake system is required to convert the excess energy from the vehicle. The friction brake can also prevent the loss of braking ability in the case of RBS failure.
RBS can only be installed on driving wheels since a drive train is required for energy recovery. The waste heat is not significantly reduced unless the vehicle is an all wheel drive model.
Adding a RBS to a vehicle means to increase the curb weight of it. Although RBS can improve fuel economy under start-and-stop driving conditions, it may have negative effect on fuel consumption during highway cruising.
The design of RBS involves varieties of sensors and logic control units to adjust the operation of RBS.
The reliability concern of these electrical parts should not be neglected.[15]
For Further Reading
For further information please see the related pages below:
Kinetic energy recovery system
Fuel efficiency
Torque
Drive train (there's a fun video explaining differentials there)
Drive shaft
Or explore a random page
Reference
Wikimedia Commons. (October 3, 2015). Flybird Systems KERS [Online]. Available:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Flybrid_Systems_Kinetic_Energy_Recovery_System.jpg M. Bodie and K. Majeed, “Regenerative braking method,” 5,707,1151998.
Robert Bosch GmbH, “Regenerative braking Active safety - Regenerative Braking Systems,” Bosch Automotive Technology. [Online]. Available:
www.bosch-automotivetechnology.com/en/de/component/SF_PC_AS_Regenerative-Braking-Systems_SF_PC_Active-Safety_2575.html. [Accessed: 27-Oct-2013].
R. Chicurel, “A compromise solution for energy recovery in vehicle braking,” Energy, vol. 24, no. 12, pp. 1029–1034, Jan. 1999.
B. RIEDER, “Regenerative Braking System for Bicycles,” 2340641880.
W. W. Clark II and G. Cooke, Global Energy Innovation: Why America Must Lead. Praeger, 2011.
J. Hampl, “Concept of the Mechanically Powered Gyrobus,” Trans. Transp. Sci., vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 27–38, Jan. 2013.
P. Clarke, T. Muneer, and K. Cullinane, “Cutting vehicle emissions with regenerative braking,” Transp. Res. Part D Transp. Environ., vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 160–167, May 2010.
“Mercedes-Benz SLS Electric Drive driven full road test car review - BBC Top Gear - BBC Top Gear.” [Online]. Available:
www.topgear.com/uk/mercedes-benz/sls/road-test/electric-drive-driven. [Accessed: 02-Dec-2013].
B. Bolund, H. Bernhoff, and M. Leijon, “Flywheel energy and power storage systems,” Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 235–258, Feb. 2007.
J. Li, E. Murphy, J. Winnick, and P. . Kohl, “Studies on the cycle life of commercial lithium ion batteries during rapid charge–discharge cycling,” J. Power Sources, vol. 102, no. 1–2, pp. 294–301, Dec. 2001.
S.J.Clegg, “A review of regenerative braking systems,” Leeds, England. econ.kuleuven.be, 1996.
Mercedes-Benz SLS Electric Drive driven full road test car review - BBC Top Gear - BBC Top Gear. (n.d.). Retrieved from
www.topgear.com/uk/mercedes-benz/sls/road-test/electric-drive-driven Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website. (n.d.). Retrieved from
www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/8763.html J. Ahn, K. Jung, D. Kim, and H. Jin, “Analysis of a regenerative braking system for hybrid electric vehicles using an electro-mechanical brake,” Int. J. …, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 229–235, 2009.
Authors and Editors
Bethel Afework, Tyler Cunningham, Jordan Hanania, Braden Heffernan, James Jenden, Kai, Kailyn Stenhouse, Matthew Tierney, Jason Donev ..."
