Regenerative vs. Friction Braking Systems

17 Jun.,2024

 

Regenerative vs. Friction Braking Systems

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As more and more drivers opt for hybrid or electric vehicles, regenerative braking systems have become increasingly common to use. While traditional fiction brakes are known primarily for stopping the car, regenerative braking takes the energy that is typically lost in conventional braking systems and harvests it in ways that benefit both the car and the environment. Whenever drivers speed up and slow down repeatedly, fuel is bound to be lost. In the case of regenerative braking, technology is used that can recapture and reuse this energy to create electricity for the vehicle to run on.

One form of braking is designed for a singular purpose, while another is made with efficiency in mind. 

But what else separates them? Here&#;s what you need to know about the difference between regenerative and friction braking systems.

Friction Braking: The Traditional Way of Hitting the Brakes

With any hydraulic braking system, a primary master cylinder with fluid is connected to a secondary cylinder. After the brake pedal connects with the master cylinder, the piston presses downward when the driver activates the brakes. This then causes the fluid to travel along pipes, eventually reaching the secondary&#;also known as &#;slave&#;&#;cylinders before triggering the brakes to be applied. 

Students in auto mechanic training may already know that with traditional braking systems, kinetic energy is converted into heat before being released back into the atmosphere. The friction from brake pads is applied to the brake discs, allowing for the car to steadily begin stopping. This isn&#;t a particularly complex or advanced type of braking system, but it&#;s also one that causes fuel to easily be wasted. 

Drivers can try to reduce this with the use of dynamic braking, but this is only a good idea if energy is only sporadically being used, particularly as this type of braking still converts it to heat. Although electric and hybrid vehicles typically use regenerative braking, they also contain friction brakes as a safety net when there&#;s insufficient electric power being generated.

Regenerative Braking: What Those With an Auto Career Should Know

Instead of relying on friction to bring cars to a halt, regenerative braking systems work in ways that allow the vehicle&#;s electric batteries to recharge. Although those with an auto career might think this is a fairly novel technology, regenerative braking was actually first introduced in a concept car back in &#;the AMC Amitron. 

Regenerative braking works by the motor being driven in reverse upon hitting the brakes. Therefore, it runs backwards while the driver is braking, allowing it to generate energy for the vehicle&#;s battery. This energy goes into the battery once the driver&#;s foot is off the brakes. 

Friction braking can lose about 80% of its energy from heat, while regenerative braking recaptures this energy to minimize the loss of fuel by as low as 10%. The recapturing of its energy can be maximized during situations where the driver is stopping and starting, as it can charge itself while the vehicle isn&#;t accelerating. In other words, this type of braking system is one built with the future&#;and sustainability&#;in mind.  

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Braking

[1]

The thermal energy generated during friction braking can be seen in this friction brake/rotor set-up during stress testing.

Braking is the process of controlling the velocity of an object by inhibiting its motion. An object in motion possesses kinetic energy and to bring the object to a stop this kinetic energy must be removed. Removing the kinetic energy can be accomplished by dissipating the energy to the atmosphere through friction or by converting it into another form of energy. The most common type of braking is a mechanical brake which inhibits motion through friction brake pads. A mechanical brake applies a friction force to convert the kinetic energy of the vehicle into thermal energy which then dissipates into the atmosphere.[2] Braking systems which don't use friction are referred to as regenerative braking systems (RBSs). In RBSs, the kinetic energy is converted into other forms of useful energy, which can be stored for later use, increasing fuel efficiency.

Background

As with any system, the process of braking must follow the principal of conservation of energy. Energy cannot be created or destroyed but only converted from one form to another,

[math]\Sigma E_{in}=\Sigma E_{out}[/math]


The energy present in an object in motion is given by the following equation:

[math]E_{kinetic}=\frac{(mv^2)}{2}[/math] where,

&#; [math]m[/math] is the mass of the object in kilograms (kg).

&#; [math]v[/math] is the velocity of the object in meters per second (m/s).

&#; [math]E_{kinetic}[/math] is the kinetic energy in joules (J)


From this equation, and assuming the mass of the object is constant, it is clear the in order to remove the kinetic energy from the system, the velocity must be brought to zero.

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Friction braking

Friction braking is the most commonly used braking method in modern vehicles. It involves the conversion of kinetic energy to thermal energy by applying friction to the moving parts of a system. The friction force resists motion and in turn generates heat, eventually bringing the velocity to zero. The energy taken from the system is given by the following equation:

[math]E_{thermal}=F_f \times d[/math] where,

&#; [math]F_f[/math] is the force of friction in newtons (N).

&#; [math]d[/math] is the stopping distance in meters (m).

&#; [math]E_{thermal}[/math] is the thermal energy produced by the brakes in Joules.


Applying conservation of energy to the above two equations, the thermal energy produced must equal the kinetic energy dissipated:


[math]E_{kinetic}=E_{thermal}[/math];


[math]\frac{(mv^2)}{2}=F_f \times d[/math];


[math]F_f=\frac{(mv^2)}{2d}[/math]


From this equation it can be seen that increasing the velocity or mass of an object means the applied friction force must be increased to bring the object to a stop in the same distance.

Braking in motor vehicles

Mechanical braking

The most common method of braking in motor vehicles is mechanical or friction braking. In this method, some or all of the vehicles wheels are fitted with brake pads which apply a friction force that inhibits the motion of the wheels. Frictional braking results in a conversion of the kinetic energy gained from fuel consumption to thermal energy. This thermal energy then dissipates to the atmosphere in the form of waste heat.

Large friction forces can be needed to inhibit a vehicle's motion, particularly in large machines and trucks which have a high mass and therefore high kinetic energy. The brake pads, which are responsible for applying the friction force, experience wear over the course of their life due to this friction force. The brake pad wear causes the brakes to become less effective over the course of their life and need regular replacement.

Regenerative braking

Regenerative braking system involves the removal of the kinetic energy of a moving object by converting it into another form of useful energy, such as electric, pneumatic, or stored kinetic energy. The use of regenerative braking can increase the overall efficiency of a motor vehicle by conserving some of its kinetic energy which can then be used to bring the vehicle back up to speed.

For Further Reading

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References

  1. &#;

    This image is from http://www.ematg.org.uk/new-pics-01/hot-brake-disc-disc2 accessed August 15th, .

  2. &#;

    How the braking system works | How a Car Works. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.howacarworks.com/basics/how-the-braking-system-works

    For more information, please visit friction brake system.