REGENERATIVE BRAKES IN A BICYCLE USING KINETIC ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM

Abstract

KERS commonly known as the kinetic energy recovery system that is basically a practical illustration of recovering the energy or in some cases momentum of a system of a moving vehicle that is lost during the braking. KERS basically stores that energy in the form of potential energy and it can be converted back into the kinetic energy when required. During the braking phenomena (when the brakes are applied) the kinetic energy is converted into heat energy (contact surfaces generate heat energy due to friction) and lost into the environment. But with the vehicle designed with the KERS system some part of that kinetic energy is stored in a flywheel as a result vehicle slows down. The kinetic energy that is stored during this type of braking phenomena can be utilized by again converting it from potential energy into kinetic energy using the proper KERS mechanism. It will help in accelerating the vehicle. So using the concept of KERS system we will be developing the regenerative brakes in a bicycle. We will be using the variable moment inertia flywheel to develop this system.