14-01-2013, 03:31 PM
i-ELOOP TECHNOLOGY
i-ELOOP TECHNOLOGY.docx (Size: 318.71 KB / Downloads: 38)
BASIC IDEA OF i-ELOOP TECHNOLOGY
Concept of this regenerative brake is also better understood from bicycle fitted with dynamo. If our bicycle has a dynamo (a small electricity generator) on it for powering the lights, we'll know it's harder to peddle when the dynamo is engaged than when it's switched off. That's because some of our peddling energy is being "stolen" by the dynamo and turned into electrical energy in the lights. If we're going along at speed and we suddenly stop peddling and turn on the dynamo, it'll bring us to a stop more quickly than we would normally, for the same reason: it's stealing our kinetic energy.
Now imagine a bicycle with a dynamo that's 100 times bigger and more powerful. In theory, it could bring our bike to a halt relatively quickly by converting our kinetic energy into electricity, which we could store in a battery and use again later. That's the basic idea behind the i-ELOOP braking technology. This technology is introduced by Mazda. This is an advanced form of the conventional regenerative braking technology.
CONVENTIONAL REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM
Regenerative braking and regenerative brakes are features that can be found in fully electric and gas-electric hybrid vehicles. Cars like the hybrid Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Honda Insight, and the fully electric Tesla Roadster feature regenerative braking systems.
Regenerative braking is based on the principle of physics that states that energy cannot be destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another. Regenerative braking systems capitalize on the similarities in construction of electric motors and electric power generators.
An electric motor's interior is made up of copper windings. It uses an electromagnetic energy field to produce torque through its main shaft when power is applied to it. A generator or dynamo is also comprised of copper windings and makes use of an electromagnetic field; applying a force to turn its rotor allows it to produce electric power.
In electric or hybrid automobiles, the electric motor that drives the car's wheels plays a major part during braking. When the brake pedal is pressed, the regenerative braking circuit switches the motor so that it now operates in reverse to counter the direction of the wheels. This reversal actually makes it perform like a power generator or dynamo that produces electrical energy. The electricity developed is routed towards the car's storage batteries to recharge them.
DRAWBACKS OF REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM
The main drawback of the ordinary braking system was the loss of energy during braking. During braking, due to the friction between friction material and the rotor, material has been loss. The kinetic energy was also wasted because of the conversion to the heat energy. Even though the conventional regenerative braking technology rectified this problem to an extent, it also had some drawbacks. Out of it the main problem with conventional regenerative braking system was the deterioration of battery due to the frequent charging and discharging.