Randal Umpierre
8-5-13
Literature Review 4
Comparison of fuel economies of high efficiency diesel and hydrogen engines powering a compact car with a flywheel based kinetic energy recovery systems by Alberto Boretti
This article is about the fuel efficiencies of two types of engines in a car that utilizes a flywheel energy recovery system. According to this article, fuel efficiency is affected by the recovery of kinetic energy from the motion of the car. Recovery of kinetic energy seems to be the most effective option available to improve fuel economy and reduce the rate of emission of green house gases. A kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) is being installed on some hybrid electric vehicles. These vehicles contain flywheels for energy storage and continuously variable transmissions (CVT) which transfer energy to and from the driveline. The CVT is used because the ratios of vehicle and flywheel speed are different during deceleration and acceleration. A clutch allows for disengagement of the flywheel when it is not being used. The engine start/stop can also be integrated with the KERS. KERS gives the hybrid vehicles a greater boost, and with the integration of the KERS, the cars can use smaller engines. This would improve the fuel economy of hybrids.
