The KERS stands for Kinetic energy recovery system. The device recovers the energy that is present in the waste heat created by the car’s braking process.

1. WELCOME EVERYBODY
TO THE UNSEEN WORLD
OF
“KERS”

2. KERS
PREPARED BY : AJ NARAYANKUTTY
GUIDED BY : B.K.P SIR

3. WHAT IS KERS
 The KERS stands for Kinetic energy recovery system.
 The device recovers the energy that is present in the waste heat
created by the car’s braking process.
 It stores that energy and converts it into power that can be called
upon to boost acceleration
 Electric and hybrid vehicles have a similar system called
Regenerative Brake which restores the energy in the batteries.
 KERS generally finds its place in F1 Races.

4. KERS PRINCIPLE
 The Kinetic energy recovery system(KERS) stood out as one
of the biggest changes in F1 history.
 Due to high forces involved in formula 1,the cars contain a
very large amount of waste energy ,especially under
braking.
 A KERS , however recovers a large proportion of this wasted
kinetic energy from the brakes and stores in the batteries.
 The energy in the batteries is then used to boost existing
engine power to give the driver extra horse power.

5. kers layout

6. WHY WAS KERS INTRODUCED
 Kers made its F1 debut back in 2009 as a driver aid designed to
help both overtaking and defending position.
 At the push of a button they can access a burst of 80 horsepower
for 6.7 secs a lap,releasing it in a one go or at different points
around the circuit.
 Benefits to F1’s racers is a 10% increase in power which is worth
0.4 secs extra lap time ,which ultimately helps them in winning
races.
 Kers had another arguably more important role to play in F1
showcasing ‘green’ technology in a sport keen to improve its
environmental credentials.

8. HOW KERS WORKS
 There are principally two types of system : Battery(electrical) and
Flywheel(mechanical).
 Although F1 teams have so far all opted for the battery system.
 Electrical systems use a motor generator incorporated in the
car’s transmission which converts mechanical energy(kinetic
energy) into electrical energy and vice versa.
 Once the energy has been harnessed ,it is stored in battery and
released when required.

9.  Mechanical systems capture braking energy and use it to
turn a small flywheel which can spin at upto 80,000 rpm.
 When extra power is required ,the flywheel is connected to
the car’s rear wheels.
 In contrast to an electrical KERS the mechanical energy
doesn’t change state and is therefore more efficient.
 There is another option available i.e. hydraulic KERS,
where braking energy is used to accumulate hydraulic
pressure which is then sent to the wheels when required.

10.  A standard KERS operates by a ‘charge cycle’ and a ‘boost
cycle’ , as it slows for a corner an electric motor captures
the waste energy from the rear brakes.
 This collected kinetic energy is then passed to a Central
Processing unit (CPU) and onto the batteries.
 The batteries are located right underneath the drivers seat
and are positioned centrally to minimize the impact on the
balance of the car.
 When the driver presses the ‘boost button’ on the steering
wheel, the batteries transfer the stored energy back to the
engine for a maximum of 6.67 secs per lap. This energy
contributes around 80hp.

14. BMW STEERING WHEEL

15. ADVANTAGES
 F1 racing cars can reach speeds of up to 220mph and
produce tremendous amount of heat when they
brake.
 A Kers device recovers this energy and stores it.
 This energy can be called upon to boost acceleration
giving drivers a potential advantage.
 The boost can be released in one go or at different
points around a circuit.

16. DISADVANTAGES
 The main disadvantage was that the system adds up extra
weight to the cars.
 Before its arrival in previous years teams had built their
cars to be considerably lighter than the required limit &
then used up to 70kg of ballast(heavy material provided for
stability) to bring them upto the weight.
 But after its arrival , the teams with kers had less ballast to
move around their car and hence less freedom to vary the
weight distribution.

17. Thanks RE!!!