Development of a Kinetic Energy Recovery System Using an Active Electromagnetic Slip Coupling

Abstract

The active electromagnetic slip coupling kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), introduced in this paper, is potentially a cost effective, yet efficient method of energy transfer between a vehicle and a lightweight flywheel. The transferred torque, as well as the coupling status, is determined by controlling its windings currents. The proposed system can work at any slip safely, including negative and positive values, between the primary and the secondary shafts as the slip power is converted into electrical power, and thus can be recovered. The proposed KERS may be less costly and less complicated than flywheel batteries as it needs only one electric machine and one power electronic converter. Moreover, it is capable of capturing much more mechanical power than its electrical ratings. Furthermore, since a great part of the energy exchange takes place in mechanical form, only a fraction of the captured energy needs to be processed by the power electronic converter. In this paper, mathematical modeling and simulations are performed using the space vector modeling method. Also, for the proof of the concept prototype of the system has been built, tested, and the results are verified.