10-09-2014, 03:13 PM
ENERGY HARVESTING BY A REGENERATIVE SHOCK ABSORBER
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ABSTRACT
In an automobile almost 74% of the energy stored in fuel is wasted as heat. Major energy losses are engine losses, idle and standby, braking losses, aerodynamic drag etc. Thus only 26% of the available fuel energy is used to drive the vehicle ie to overcome the resistance from road friction. One important loss is the dissipation of vibration energy by shock absorbers in the vehicle suspension under the excitation of road irregularity and vehicle acceleration or deceleration. Regenerative shock absorbers can efficiently recover the vibration energy wasted in the vehicle suspension system. The different designs put forward for energy regeneration are linear, rotary, rack and pinion and hydraulic electromagnetic shock absorber. Experiments have shown that at 90km/h on good and average roads, 100-400 watts average power is available to recover in the suspension system of a middle sized vehicle.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
A shock absorber is a device used to absorb, damp and dissipate the energy of a shock. The shock absorber dissipates the vibration energy into heat energy. This heat energy is rejected to the atmosphere. The shock from a road bump is absorbed by springs and the energy is dissipated by shock absorber. Hence damper is a technically correct term for a shock absorber. When a piston forces a fluid in a cylinder to pass through some hole a high resistance to the movement of piston is developed, which provides the damping effect. This is the principle of shock absorber. The damping produced is proportional to the square of speed.
2.0 REGENERATIVE SHOCK ABSORBER
Regenerative shock absorber is a device which can isolate as well as recover the energy from the vibrations. It can convert the vibration energy into useful electrical power. This regenerated power can be used to charge the battery. This helps to reduce the load on the alternator which in turn helps to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
CONCLSIONS
Following are the conclusions of the study
1. Regenerated power helps to reduce the work of alternator
2. Increased fuel efficiency of about 10%
3. Reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
4. Improved range in electric and hybrid vehicles