International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET)
Volume 8, Issue 5, May 2017, pp. 104–112, Article ID: IJMET_08_05_012
Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/issues.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=8&IType=5
ISSN Print: 0976-6340 and ISSN Online: 0976-6359
© IAEME Publication
Scopus Indexed
KINETIC ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM IN
BICYCLE
D. Mojeswara Rao
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
K L Univeristy, Andhra Pradesh, India
CH. Dharma Teja, N. Harshadeep, S. Jagadish Varma, N. Nitin Sai Kumar
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
K L Univeristy, Andhra Pradesh, India
ABSTRACT
A Kinetic Energy Recovery System is also called as as KERS or kers in short as a
automotive system for recouping a moving vehicle's kinetic energy under braking. The
recouped energy is put away in a reservoir, this reservoir may be high voltage
batteries or a flywheel, for later use under acceleration. When we are riding a bike
and we apply brakes a large amount of Kinetic Energy is lost, to start the bike again it
is a very strenuous and problematic. In this recovery system the recouped Kinetic
Energy is stored and reused which will help the rider when he is again running the
bike. When the vehicle is ascending or descending the rider can charge the Voltage
Batteries or the flywheel. The flywheel or High Voltage Batteries builds greatest
acceleration and nets 10% pedal energy investment savings in the midst of a ride
where rates are in the region of 12.5 and 15 mph.
Key words: Kinetic Energy Recovery System, flywheel, bicycle
Cite this Article: D. Mojeswara Rao, CH. Dharma Teja, N. Harshadeep, S. Jagadish
Varma and N. Nitin Sai Kumar, Kinetic Energy Recovery System in Bicycle.
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, 8(5), 2017, pp.
104–112.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/issues.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=8&IType=5
1. INTRODUCTION
KERS is a gathering of parts which takes a portion of the kinetic energy of a vehicle under
deceleration, stores this energy and after that discharges this put away energy once more into
the drive train of the vehicle, giving a power lift to that vehicle. For the driver, it resembles
having two power sources available to him, one of the power sources is the motor while the
other is the put away kinetic energy. Kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) store energy
when the vehicle is braking and return it while quickening.
During braking, energy is squandered in light of the fact that kinetic energy is for the most
part changed over into warmth energy or some of the time sound energy that is scattered into
the earth. Vehicles with KERS can handle some of this active vitality and in doing all things
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D. Mojeswara Rao, CH. Dharma Teja, N. Harshadeep, S. Jagadish Varma and N. Nitin Sai Kumar
considered will help with braking. By a touch of a catch, this put away energy is changed over
once more into kinetic energy giving the vehicle additional increase in power.
2. HARDWARE DESCRIPTION
Introduction
Herewith the block diagram of the project and plan aspect of independent modules are
considered. The block diagram diagram is hereby shown in the fig: 3.1:
Block diagram of kinetic energy recovery system
As per the project the the main blocks are the Pedals and the RBS
The general terms to be known for this project are given below
Acceleration & Deceleration
Acceleration, in physics, is the rate of progress of speed of a question. A question's
acceleration is the net eventual outcome of all powers following up on the test, as depicted by
Newton's Second Law (The acceleration of a protest as made by a net compel is direct
corresponding to the greatness of the net drive, in an indistinguishable heading from the net
constrained drive, and conflictingly in respect to the mass of the challenge.). The SI unit for
increasing speed is meter each second squared (m/s2). Accelerations are vector amounts (they
have extent and course) and add as indicated by the parallelogram law. As a vector, the
computed net drive is equivalent to the result of the test's mass (a scalar amount) and the
acceleration. For instance, when an auto begins from a stop (zero relative speed) and goes in a
straight line at expanding speeds, it is quickening toward travel. On the off chance that the
auto turns there is acceleration toward the new course.
For this case, we can call the quickening of the auto forward a "direct acceleration", which
travelers in the auto may understanding as constraint driving them once more into their seats.
While evolving headings, we may call this "non-direct acceleration", which travelers may
contribution as a sideways drive. If the speed of the auto diminishes, this is an acceleration the
other method for the heading of the vehicle, occasionally called deceleration. Travelers may
experience deceleration as a constraint lifting them far from their seats.
Numerically, there is the same formula for deceleration, as both are changes in speed.
Each of these increasing velocities (coordinate, non-straight, deceleration) may be felt by
explorers until their (speed and heading) organize that of the auto.
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Kinetic Energy Recovery System in Bicycle
Brake boost
Most cutting edge vehicles use a vacuum helped brake structure that incredibly expands the
constraint connected to the vehicle's brakes by its administrator. This extra constraint is given
by the complex vacuum created through air stream being hindered by the throttle on a running
engine. This drive is incredibly diminished when the engine is running at totally open throttle,
as the refinement between surrounding air weight and complex (total) air weight is
diminished, and thusly accessible vacuum is decreased. In any case, brakes are once in a
while connected at full throttle; the driver takes the right foot off the gas pedal and moves it to
the brake pedal - unless left-foot braking is used.
Due to low vacuum at high RPM, reports of unintended acceleration are every now and
again joined by protests of fizzled or debilitated brakes, as the high-revving engine, having an
open throttle, can't give enough vacuum to control the brake promoter. This issue is
exacerbated in vehicles equipped with programmed transmissions as the vehicle will
consequently unending supply of the brakes, in this way expanding the torque passed on to
the chose wheels in contact with the street surface
Noise
Albeit in a perfect world a brake would change over all the kinetic energy into heat,
practically speaking a noteworthy sum might be changed over into acoustic energy rather,
adding to upheaval tainting.
For the road vehicles, the hubb passed on differs essentially with tire change, street
surface, and the greatness of the deceleration.[2] Noise can be brought about by different
things. These are signs that there might be issues with brakes destroying after some time.
Inefficiency
A lot of energy is constantly lost while braking, even with regenerative braking which is not
faultlessly proficient. In this manner a not all that awful metric of proficient energy utilize
while driving is to observe the sum one is braking. In the event that the lion's share of
deceleration is from unavoidable granulating instead of braking, one is pressing out a broad
portion of the association from the vehicle. Restricting brake use is one of the mileage
boosting practices.
After a braking occasion, water driven weight drops in the structure, allowing the brake
caliper chambers to pull back. In any case, this withdrawal must oblige all consistence in the
structure (under weight) and in addition warm twisting of portions like the brake circle or the
brake system will drag until the contact with the plate, for instance, pounds the cushions and
barrels over from the rubbing surface. Amidst this time, there can be vital brake drag.
This brake drag can prompt huge parasitic influence mishap, thusly affect mileage and
vehicle execution.
Drive Train
The drive train of an engine vehicle is the social occasion of fragments that pass on vitality to
the driving wheels. This rejects the engine or motor that delivers the power. Interestingly, the
power train is considered to join both the motor or engine and the drive train.
Flywheel
A Flywheel is a turning mechanical contraption that is utilized to store rotational vitality.
Flywheels have an inactivity called the snapshot of idleness and in this way contradict
changes in rotational speed. The measure of vitality set away in a flywheel is comparing to the
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square of its rotational speed. Energy is exchanged to a flywheel by the utilization of a torque
to it, thusly expanding its rotational speed, and consequently its set away energy.
Then again, a flywheel discharges set away energy by applying torque to a mechanical
load, thus diminishing the flywheel's rotational speed.
Flywheels are commonly made of steel and pivot on customary orientation; these are for
the most part confined to an agitation rate of a few thousand RPM. Some present day
flywheels are made of carbon fiber materials and utilize attractive direction, empowering
them to turn at rates up to 60,000 RPM. Carbon-composite flywheel batteries have starting
late been made and are wound up being feasible in certifiable tests on standard autos.
Furthermore, their transfer is more eco-pleasing.
Flywheel Bicycle: KERS for pedal-pushers
With a particular ultimate objective to help bolster their range, numerous electric and cross
breed autos use regenerative development where braking energy is secured in the battery
rather than fundamentally being squandered. This thought can likewise be connected to
electric-help bikes, yet shouldn't something be said about bicycles of the plain old humanfilled assortment? Is it exact to state that it isn't a disgrace that in the wake of having built up
some extraordinary energy, you basically need to markdown it all once you stop? Maxwell
von Stein, an understudy at New York City's Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science
and Art, thought so. As his senior wander, he starting late repaired a flywheel to a present
bicycle, with a particular true objective to saddle the energy that is lost in the midst of
braking. That energy can then be used to bolster the bike when required.
The Flywheel Bicycle has a consistently variable transmission in the rear center point.
This is connected to a 6.8 kilogram (15 lb) flywheel from a car motor mounted amidst the
frame. At the point when the cyclist wishes to back off, for example, when they're going
down a hill or grinding to a halt, they move the transmission to maximize the flywheel-speedto-bicycle speed ratio. This "charges" the flywheel with kinetic energy - viably a mechanical
adaptation of what happens in an EV where a battery stores the scavenged energy.
When they need to quicken or climb a slope, they do the inverse - they move the
transmission to restrain the proportion. This gives the energy a chance to secure in the
flywheel drive the transmission, giving the bike and its rider a lift. In a ride where speeds vary
in the region of 20 and 24 kph (12.4 to 14.9 mph), the framework is claimed to increase
acceleration, as well as create 10 percent in energy savings.
Although the added weight of the flywheel would certainly should be taken into account,
the idea driving the Flywheel Bicycle is still unquestionably interesting ... enough with the
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Kinetic Energy Recovery System in Bicycle
goal that it won von Stein the Nicholas Stefano Prize, which Cooper Unionawards to
outstanding mechanical building senior tasks.
Cruising Speed
The speed for a particular vehile, ship or aircraft, usually is under the maximum, that is
economically viable and its comfortable.
3. KERS BICYCLE
When they need to quicken or climb a slope, they do the inverse - they move the transmission
to restrain the proportion energy by and by into the drive train of the vehicle, giving a power
lift to that vehicle. For the driver, no doubt having two power sources accessible to him, one
of the power sources is the engine while the other is the secured kinetic energy. Amid
braking, energy is wasted because kinetic energy is generally changed over into heat energy
or from time to time strong energy that is dissipated into the earth.
Vehicles with KERS can bridle some of this motor vitality and in doing in that capacity
will help with braking. By a legitimate mechanism, this set away energy is changed over back
into kinetic energy giving the vehicle extra increase in power.
There are two basic sorts of KERS frameworks i.e. Electrical and Mechanical. The main
contrast between them is standing out they change over the energy and how that energy is put
away inside the vehicle. Battery-based electric KERS frameworks require various energy
changes each with comparing productivity misfortunes. On reapplication of the energy to the
driveline, the global energy transformation proficiency is 31–34%. The mechanical KERS
framework putting away energy mechanically in a rotating flywheel eliminates the various
energy changes and gives a global energy transformation proficiency surpassing 70%, more
than double the effectiveness of an electric framework
A flywheel can incidentally store the active vitality from the bicycle when the rider needs
to back off. The energy put away in the flywheel can be accustomed to convey the cyclist
back up to cruising speed. Along these lines the cyclist recuperates the energy normally lost
amid braking. In addition to increased energy proficiency, the flywheel-prepared bike is more
enjoyable to ride since the rider has the ability to lift speed. The flywheel bike model is
appeared in figure 1.
4. KERS BICYCLE WORKING
A crank wheel related with the back wheels dependably turns the grip plate, related in the
flywheel pivot. This is being accomplished by using chain transmission at a predefined equip
proportion, wrench to handle sprocket helps us to expand the general speed of flywheel.
Presently during an era when a speed lessening is required, grip is applied which makes the
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contact between the grasp and flywheel. At that point the flywheel starts rotating, also the
speed of bike is decreased. Therefore a regenerative braking structure is accomplished.
On course energy is put away in flywheel. In case the brake has to be applied completely
then after flywheel rotations grip is disengaged and the brake is applied. Presently when we
again rides the bike amid which we would apply grasps at this time as rear wheel rotation is
lesser compared to flywheel the energy gets transmitted from the flywheel to the wheels. We
can diminish overall pedaling power by 10 for each penny. For cutting down the overall
pedalling power system we can use the smart breaking system, which will help us to
deacceleage and allow us to lift the acceleration after typical riding and separation.
This is the best situation where we can store most extreme measure of vitality in our
flywheel. This is the principle advantage zone of KERS bicycle. Amid lengthy drive the
engage can be made full time. This will help in lessening the overall pedaling exertion. It has
been found that the pedaling force can be diminished by 10 for every penny amid lengthy
drives. Also this would help in avoiding pedaling exertion at a few purposes of ride.
The complete KERS bicycle is shown in figure 2 below
OF KERS
Advanced transmissions that incorporate hello there tech flywheels are presently being
utilized as regenerative frameworks in such things as formula-1 cars, where they're typically
alluded to as kinetic energy recuperation frameworks (KERS).
The sorts of KERS that have been created are:

Mechanical KERS

Electro-mechanical KERS

Hydraulic KERS

Electronic KERS
5. KERS & REGENERATIVE BRAKING
Since kinetic energy is the energy of movement, you could probably figure that cars create
heaps of it. Capturing some of that kinetic energy for fuel productivity in a hybrid car is
somewhat dubious, yet regenerative braking is one normal technique utilized by many
automakers.
The car utilizes the energy put away in the battery to control the electric engine which
drives the car at low speeds. Contingent upon the kind of hybrid, the electric engine can either
work alone to move the car or it can work working together with the car's gasoline-fueled
motor. The energy recuperating braking system which when combined with ecohttp://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/index.asp
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accommodating driving strategies like moderate starts and slower vehicle rates is very
important include on the most fuel proficient vehicles out and about today.
Regenerative brakes may appear to be exceptionally howdy tech, however the idea of
having "energy-saving repositories" in machines is just the same old thing new. Engines have
been using energy-securing gadgets called flywheels virtually since they were outlined.
6. FABRICATION PROCESS
Frame Modification
The frame modification is the first part of the fabrication that has to be finished. The frame
has to be changed by adding steel tube. One end must be welded at the handle end and the
other at the back wheel center. The frame ought to have enough quality to carry the flywheel
and the additional forces that comes to play. The modification ought not ruin normal riding.
Also the changed frame ought to have enough space keeping in mind the end goal to
accommodate flywheel and grasp assemblies. This is appeared in figure 3 underneath.
Flywheel
The flywheel has to be exhausted centrally keeping in mind the end goal to place a ball
bearing with the goal that flywheel can rotate over the axle. Additionally flywheel must be
picked so that the weight does not influence the bicycle material science and riding execution
of the rider. The execution of KERS system basically depends on the flywheel decision. For
grip accessories there ought to be arrangements in the flywheel which is utilized to convey
and release energy from flywheel. The works done on flywheel is appeared in figure 4
beneath.
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7. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Advantages

No chance of detonating batteries or electric stuns

High Power capability

Low weight and small size

Long framework life of upto 250,000 kms

High productivity storage and recuperation

Low implanted carbon content

Low cost and efficient plan
Disadvantages
Developing this sort of KERS, have detailed that it is greatly hard to create, and won't be very
beneficial unless it is placed in the ideal position.
Applications
We can implement the system for bicycle models, exercising equipments, pedaling unit etc.
8. RESULTS
The flywheel bike increases effectiveness on rides where the rider moderates regularly. The
additional weight is exceeded by the ability to recoup energy normally lost amid braking.
Consequently the addition of extra weight does not make it troublesome for the rider. Also
grasp gave helps in choosing the day and age of activity. The overall outcome is that KERS
bicycle has obtained 10% of the energy lost by conducting the performance test to the
Bicycle. Moment of Inertia of both the flywheel and the rear wheel has been found by the
bench test.
9. CONCLUSION
KERS framework utilized as a part of the vehicles which satisfies the motivation behind
saving a part of the energy lost amid braking. Climate condition is not relevant for storing the
energy, whether the temperature range is high, this system is very much efficient compared to
the conventional braking system. The outcomes from a portion of the test directed
demonstrate that around 10% of the energy conveyed can be recuperated by the framework.
KERS framework has a wide extension for further advancement and the energy savings.
The utilization of more efficient frameworks could lead to immense savings in the economy
of any nation. Here we are presuming that the subject KERS got a wide extension in building
field to limit the energy misfortune. As now a day, energy conservation is exceptionally
necessary thing. Here we actualized KERS framework in a bike with an engaging and
disengaging grasp mechanism for gaining considerably more proficiency. As many mating
parts are available, large amount of grinding misfortune is found in this framework which can
be moved forward.
Lift is diminished because of erosion. Ceaselessly variable transmission can be executed
to this framework which would demonstrate in drastic change in energy transmissions.
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10. FUTURE SCOPE
We can add more features like pedaling with flywheel for generating power with dynamo
interfacing.
We can amplify the venture by outlining even with Electric bike display also we can
increase the efficiency by using additional sensors.
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