LkAB's Regenerative Braking
Power Generation System EXPLAINED
Kinetic Energy Regenerative Braking is not new. It is used in F1 cars, electric cars, trains and trams as a slowing / stopping mechanism. Kinetic energy is scalar but direct it and give it magnitude, you can then use the work energy principle and you have a different dynamic. There is a train in Sweden that uses this process to generate electricity - see below. Gravio was inspired by this concept and uses this same velocity methodology, in a unique patented way. It has never been done this way before. The whole process is patented.
Regenerative braking was invented at the end of the 19th century. In 1886 by the Sprague Electric Railway & Motor Company, founded by Frank J. Sprague, introduced two important inventions: a constant-speed, non-sparking motor with fixed brushes, and regenerative braking. Regenerative braking purpose is to convert kinetic energy into a form that can be either used immediately or stored until needed and of course to either hold the velocity at a fixed rate or slow the body down. Electric motors, when used in reverse function as generators, convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Trains, trams and vehicles propelled by electric motors use them as generators when using regenerative braking, braking by transferring mechanical energy from the wheels to an electrical load.
In some instances the braking mechanism is used to generate power on a constant basis, the most famous is probably the LKAB railway and iron ore mine that uses regenerative braking as a power generation system to supply the mine, the railway system and its supporting town with constant electricity.
The LKAB system establishes precedent as a gravity power generation system
LKAB in Sweden, who has an iron ore mine in Kiruna, has perfected this process in their IORE Locomotive and hence trains. LKAB's iron ore are transported on the 536km long Ore Railway and Ofoten Railway from Kiruna mine to the Ports of Narvik in the north-west to Port of Luleå in the south-east. The Ore Railway section links the mine operations to Ofoten Railway on its way to the ports. The Ore railway start at the mine some 513m in elevation. There is a gentle almost constant slope (0.73degrees) down to the ports of approximately 42km from the mine to the Ofoten rail lines. LKAB has 17 IORE locomotives in operation, using the Ore Railway all year round. The trains hauled by IORE have 68 cars, are 750 meters (2,460 ft) long and weigh 8,600 tonnes (8,500 long tons; 9,500 short tons). The full ore trains descent down the slope is controlled at a regulated speed of 60 kilometers per hour (37 mph) by using regenerative braking, while the empty return trains operate at 70 kilometers per hour (43 mph).
The IORE locomotive is the world's strongest locomotive, with a traction of 6,200 kilo-newtons and with thanks to the locomotive's asynchronous generators, the momentum force (kinetic energy) is converted into electricity when the trains perform generator regenerative braking. This braking allows the train to travel down the slope at a regulated safe 60km/h speed (notice the slope, the constant speed and frequency of trains in the video) whilst generating electricity all the way down. When they want to slow or stop the train the regenerative braking system is used in its braking capacity. So, this system has two applications, control the descent velocity and/or slowing / braking. The regenerative braking system is constantly fighting the forces of gravity on the train, and therefore it can be viewed as a "gravity" power generation system. Due to the continuous flow of train loading at the mine, there is therefore a continuous flow of trains traveling down the gentle slope and as a result electrical energy is being constantly generated into the network. Quote; “The rail cars are full of thousands of tons of iron ore on the way down to Narvik, and these trains generate large amounts of electricity by regenerative braking, with a maximum recuperative braking force in kN. From Riksgränsen on the national border to the Port of Narvik, the trains use only a fifth of the power they regenerate. The regenerated energy is enough to power the empty trains back up to the national border. Any excess energy from the railway is pumped into the power grid to supply homes and businesses in the region, and the railway is a net generator of electricity”.
The Mathematics and Physics of the LKAB system
The train has the following parameters.
Weight 8600 tons
Incline of track 0.73 degrees or slope of 0.012742m/m
Length of track 42Km – the length of usable downhill is 40km – see calculation
Radius of wheel 0.6m
Velocity on track 60kmh or 16.67m/s
The velocity head from m/s 14.16m (or the equivalent vertical fall head as some call it)
Altitude of mine 513m
Notes:
The gravity weight force of the train becomes 110t. The gradient ensures the fall is covered over 42km but exceeds by roughly 22m. The gradient fall is 12.7m/km, so the train generates power for roughly 40km.
The train has the following parameters.
Weight 8600 tons
Incline of track 0.73 degrees or slope of 0.012742m/m
Length of track 42Km – the length of usable downhill is 40km – see calculation
Radius of wheel 0.6m
Velocity on track 60kmh or 16.67m/s
The velocity head from m/s 14.16m (or the equivalent vertical fall head as some call it)
Altitude of mine 513m
Notes:
- On main lines, grades are generally 1 percent or less, and grades steeper than about 2.2 percent are rare. The gradient on this line is 0.73degrees or a slope of 0.012742m/m or 12.74m/km.
- Page 6 for specs and 7 for this detail from ABB Pdf report who designed and built the IORE locomotives. Quote; “After all the IOREs have entered service the remaining Dm3s will be withdrawn, and it will be possible to lengthen all freight trains from 52 to 68 wagons, each with a 100t payload raising the total load from 5,200 to 8,160 t (payload is increased from 4,160 to 6,800 t) and increasing train length from 470 to 740 m. The maximum permitted speed of loaded trains has also been lifted from 50 to 60 km/h. As a result, line capacity has been increased from 28 to 33 million tonnes per annum, whilst the number of services per day has dropped, thus freeing up line capacity for both LKAB and other operators, both freight and passenger. The annual number of ore trains from the mines to the ports is being reduced from around 7,000 to 4,000, and this will result for LKAB in a cost reduction per tonne km of nearly 50 %”.
- Calculation of Gravity weight force of train and fall of slope from mine to port;
The gravity weight force of the train becomes 110t. The gradient ensures the fall is covered over 42km but exceeds by roughly 22m. The gradient fall is 12.7m/km, so the train generates power for roughly 40km.
- Calc of time = velocity/distance = 16.67m/s/16.67m = 1 sec – this is for constant steady flow of train - no braking and zero velocity at end.
- Net-work energy
The design maximum power from ABB per axle is 5400kW.
Using regenerative braking to slow the train down by 1km/s, down the same slope, the power output varies as it slows:
Notice the spike in total output in column "Total Power for 1 Sec" and then how it subsides back into the normal parameters. This column indicates what happens when you slow by 1km/hour /sec. Now look what happens when you change the slowing down by 1km/hour/0.01seconds. You will see what happens when you slow things very rapidly. We make use of this principle.
Using regenerative braking to slow the train down by 1km/s, down the same slope, the power output varies as it slows:
Notice the spike in total output in column "Total Power for 1 Sec" and then how it subsides back into the normal parameters. This column indicates what happens when you slow by 1km/hour /sec. Now look what happens when you change the slowing down by 1km/hour/0.01seconds. You will see what happens when you slow things very rapidly. We make use of this principle.
The table below has a different angle on the same theme but in this scenario the train is slowed from the 60km/h to another speed within one second. This is followed by another calculation where the slowing is done in 0.1 seconds. Although this is physically not possible for the train, the mathematics indicates what happens. We do this in a completely different way where it is possible.
Assumptions:
Notice how the power decreases as the generators start to slow the train in the 1 second column and then in the 0.5sec column. This same phenomenon is found in electric cars/trucks/F1 when applying regenerative braking.
- Slowing at a per second interval starting at 1 then again at 0.1secs
- Still traveling down, the same slope
- Original means a new velocity after each second it has slowed
- Regen means the power needed to slow the train by 1km/h/ 1second and a 0.1 second in columns 3 and 4.
Notice how the power decreases as the generators start to slow the train in the 1 second column and then in the 0.5sec column. This same phenomenon is found in electric cars/trucks/F1 when applying regenerative braking.
In the above the assumption is made that the slowing occurs within 1 sec in the 3rd column and by 0.1sec in the second column. These outputs are vastly greater than those above because the initial velocity is fixed and therefore the net work done is much greater.
The use of gravity as a power generation system is an already proven fact as demonstrated above. Gravigem uses the same principles as above but also adds some unique features to make it more effective as a power generation system than the above but on a smaller scale. These unique features are our IP and is done is such a way that has never been done before. These features enable a stand-alone power generation system to come into reality and work. I am unable to put further details up on the site as the IP is in the registration pipe line. On signing an NDA with credible person / company, further details can be divulged.
Attributes of the system:
Our business plan is to sell plants to entrepreneurs, businesses, malls, schools, communities, office and manufacture plants, farmers, rural communities, clinics, water and sewerage works etc. We believe that the end user should manage their own power and be independent of anyone especially government. If we can attain millions of end users to supply general power to the grid, we will never be held ransom by a utility and government again. Millions of producers will eventually bring down the price of power to everybody as opposed to ever increasing price as per the government utilities. Millions of producers will bring about wealth distribution on a scale never seen before ... our goal!!
The use of gravity as a power generation system is an already proven fact as demonstrated above. Gravigem uses the same principles as above but also adds some unique features to make it more effective as a power generation system than the above but on a smaller scale. These unique features are our IP and is done is such a way that has never been done before. These features enable a stand-alone power generation system to come into reality and work. I am unable to put further details up on the site as the IP is in the registration pipe line. On signing an NDA with credible person / company, further details can be divulged.
Attributes of the system:
- Gravigem is a base load system meaning that if you had a 100kw system it produces 100kw all day every day irrespective of load. It is a 24hour system full load delivery system. It does not need fuel or batteries - ever!
- Plant sizes range from 10kW to 5000kW
- Can be deployed anywhere and everywhere.
- It is a simple system with simple parts and very easy to repair or replace.
- It works off gravity and therefore does not need any external event to work such as wind or sun. It just works.
- Noise factor is very low and can be further contained to almost nothing in housing.
- Occupies very little square meterage, usually less than 30m^2
- Plant is priced at roughly 3years Eskom all-in-tariff and will last >50years. So free energy for >50 years, if you pay your plant some attention. Look after it well and it can last 100years - it will outlast you.
- When you buy, your price of electricity will be fixed for three years (roughly) and be virtually nothing thereafter. Compare that to Eskom in South Africa or utilities in other countries, and their ever increasing price plans.
- Low in maintenance and mostly can be self-serviced, the power management unit will need some knowledge.
- Can be managed by anyone and everyone very easily
- Able to be an independent off grid system or and on grid system - your choice!
- Can work in tandem - meaning that if you bought a system of say 100kw and demand has grown to 150kw, you can always buy another plant and just link it in, and it will work. In other words, upgrade able at any time.
- Can buy and deploy any size up to 1Mw without license in South Africa and in most African and other countries.
- The Western Cape Government in South Africa, has confirmed that they will purchase power from a producer. They are free to buy power from plants at less than 1Mw per producer. To buy larger than 1Mw they need permission from Nersa. This creates a huge opportunity for businesses and entrepreneurs. You can produce and they will buy. A business can therefore buy the plant and use what is uses and then sell surplus power to the grid, say over night and/or in low demand times during the day. This can be done automatically. The grid will then help you to pay off the plant sooner, thereafter you will have a huge extra income once the plant is paid off. They (Western Cape) are keen to get out of the clutches of Eskom. Spells opportunity everywhere in the Western Cape for entrepreneurs.
Our business plan is to sell plants to entrepreneurs, businesses, malls, schools, communities, office and manufacture plants, farmers, rural communities, clinics, water and sewerage works etc. We believe that the end user should manage their own power and be independent of anyone especially government. If we can attain millions of end users to supply general power to the grid, we will never be held ransom by a utility and government again. Millions of producers will eventually bring down the price of power to everybody as opposed to ever increasing price as per the government utilities. Millions of producers will bring about wealth distribution on a scale never seen before ... our goal!!