The KERS files!

[Alexpcenteno]

I now F1 does not compare to any other racing category. But i don't mind putting this subject for discussion.

Here in Brazil we have a Stockcar Category cars produce around 450 - 500bhp and are similar to the DTM cars althought they use not audi or Mbz bodys.
Well the thing is... since last year the cars started using Nitrous bursts during the race... it gives about 60 - 80 bhp per burst...
The thing is that the amount of horse porwer it gives is never noticed by the audience and all the drivers say it's not enough for the race to get more likable to the audience.

My question is... is KERS in F1 do any good? Will it make any diference at 200mph?? I personally don't think so...

Please I would like to here your opinion and maybe understand better the KERS.

[Carlos]

Alexpcenteno - Kers has been one of the most surprising innovations proposed in the 2009>2011 rules, something a lot of us have been considering. I've found several threads that may be interesting.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3619&start=70&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
viewtopic.php?t=3973&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4361
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5499

[scarbs]

I think the FIA implementation of KERS is noble but flawed. There’s no doubt the addition of about 70bhp will make a difference. But the issue is that twofold, the rules specify a maximum power output and duration, thus all teams will be tied with the same boost level per lap. Thus any advantage is negated as everyone has the same potential.

Additionally the teams gain no weight break for running KERS, thus the heavy batteries, motors, flywheels will be placed in a bad position for good weight distribution, the extra 25-30kgs will come straight out of ballast. Not to mention any packaging issues, there’s not a lot of free space in an F1 car to place batteries in the sidepods, or the mech flywheel in the gearbox of fuel tank area. KERS equipped teams may be disadvantaged compared to a team opting not to run the system (its perfectly legal to do so)

KERS will be used for acceleration, but it needs to be a in a part of the lap where the car isn’t traction limited and equally where the car isn’t already at top speed (where the relatively small power will not overcome the drag of the car). So out of medium speed turns is the main place or aggregated over the start\finish line, for example most teams aim to use it out of the last turn at Monza, the run to the line will take around 7 seconds and there’s plenty more straight until the first turn to use the next laps 7s (of course this cant be done on consecutive laps).

[Shaddock]

I wonder if teams would take out KERs for tracks like Monaco. This track historically has always allowed teams with lesser engine packages but good chassis balance to compete at the front of the grid.

[WhiteBlue]

I agree with scarbs. I would also offer the explanation that politics were at work. An automatic system would have been seen as driver aids. and a bigger unlimited application of KERS would have been opposed by many teams.

[Ian P.]

All the KERS discussions I have seen are on acceleration and energy recovery. Is this not only half the issue...???
With the loss of traction control and the use of the engine as a de-facto rear anti-lock braking system, the teams have had to work harder at brake balancing and driver control. I wonder if the addition of KERS opens a window to use the system to achieve the same objective.
For a completely electrical KERS system, the electric motor/generator unit (assumed to be a single piece of kit) could be controlled to absorbe energy during braking at rates far in excess of the storage limitation. A couple of heaters (ceramic resistors) in the difuser should disipate the "extra" energy. The control of the energy recovery unit could effectively provide the cushion between mechanical brakes, engine torque and traction limits. Presto....ABS on the rear wheels.
The batteries for energy storage will become moveable balast so they shouldn't be too great an issue to deal with.
Another aspect of a KERS system that hasn't been menitoned ...yet....self starters. It used to be that all F1 cars had to be self starting, but this was dropped many years ago. If the electrical KERS unit is integrated into the engine flywheel and clutch assembly, which I expect, the batteries could be charged on the parade lap and after that the driver has the capability to start the engine without external assist. Ask Mika H. if he would have liked that feature...?

[WhiteBlue]

I suspect that the brake assist system that you descibe is going to be illegal. The Energy release from KERS is only allowed by control of the driver. which would befeat the objective in one way. to recover more energy than you are allowed to and dissipate it through the diffusor makes no sense at all. You are not allowed to use computer controlled braking. it must be completely done by the driver input. that means that baking with the KERS system can only be modulated by the brake pedal and the brake bias and nothing else. at least that is how I understand it. if you still want to dissipate heat by your KERS rather than by the brakes I think it would be detrimental to the weight of the KERS. Ihe weight of the generator would be rising with the power that you put through it. so you would accumulate unnesessary weight. perhaps I have overlooked something but thats what I think would happen.

[AeroGT3]

KERS is a bullshit political stunt.

[WhiteBlue]

KERS is a bullshit political stunt.

I take that as a personal opinion and not a balanced appreciation of development options for F1.

agree to the political
disagree with the bullshit
disagree with the stunt

according to last voting (Barcelona) a majority of teams want to introduce KERS and do not even want to wait one more year. do they all believe in bullshit?

[Scotracer]

KERS is a bullshit political stunt.

I take that as a personal opinion and not a balanced appreciation of development options for F1.

agree to the political
disagree with the bullshit
disagree with the stunt

according to last voting (Barcelona) a majority of teams want to introduce KERS and do not even want to wait one more year. do they all believe in bullshit?

Well to be fair, it was either KERS or no further drivetrain development. Lesser of two evils.

Bring back engine development, dammit!

[Conceptual]

KERS is a bullshit political stunt.

I take that as a personal opinion and not a balanced appreciation of development options for F1.

agree to the political
disagree with the bullshit
disagree with the stunt

according to last voting (Barcelona) a majority of teams want to introduce KERS and do not even want to wait one more year. do they all believe in bullshit?

Well to be fair, it was either KERS or no further drivetrain development. Lesser of two evils.

Bring back engine development, dammit!

I think the teams voted for it knowing that it was the first step towards unlimited AWD Hybrids, and the reduction of internal combustion CC's.

I look forward to the day that F1 cars reach 300KPH running on AWD KERS and a 325CC turbocharged diesel rotary engine burning vegetable oil.

But I think IndyCar will get there first...