This is an installment in a series of blogs that will describe some of the ways that ZAPI can help to solve issues in both on-road and off-road high power diesel applications, saving the environment and money at the same time.
Dynamic Braking Assist
As emissions standards become stricter, many diesel engines will lose their ability to dynamically brake or hold back loads. Engine control algorithms will increase speed to avoid high-compression conditions that generate excessive NOx. Applications that use reverse engine torque to limit speed while descending grades will now need another approach.
Mechanical brakes can be a substitute, but add more expensive wear items to the vehicle. Braking energy is lost as heat, not recovered in any useful way.
Hydraulic accumulators or flywheels can store energy from dynamic braking. However, both are bulky and have limited storage capability. Once the storage limit is reached, another backup method is required.
The most obvious solution is to re-capture the energy in a battery or ultra-capacitor using electric hybrid technology. With a properly sized energy reservoir, the hybrid drive train can contribute energy during ascent, and reclaim a large portion (40%) of it during descent.
ZAPI can provide electric systems to dynamically brake diesel machines and at a fraction of the cost of existing hybrid systems sold on the market today. If your company is seeking alternative ideas to the full-scale hybrid that will allow your customers to benefit from lower fuel consumption and particulate matter production without paying a premium price, please contact our office at (919) 789-4588 and speak to a sales engineer today.