PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Wheeltug - the novel answer to marginal airline profitability
Old 9th November 2007 | 09:29
  #53 (permalink)  
rahosi
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 30
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From: London
Regenerative Braking
Consider how many electrical Joules would be required to heat the multiple brakes red hot in say 30 seconds. (This is what happens with traditional friction braking on landing). Then there is the increased size/weight of the (motor /) generator required to utilise said energy, mounted on the relatively flimsy front strut.... This energy has to be either very rapidly stored (weighty & bulky) or dumped as heat (might as well dump it without going through the transformation to electricity!). Back up brake systems would still be needed too!

Another issue. The concentration and redistribution of all those braking forces, instead of from the main bogeys, from the front strut, up into the airframe. Would 1st class & flight deck crew object to being used as friction material?

(You might have guessed from my terminology, although I have rudimentary understanding of the issues, it doesn't go much further.)

Last edited by rahosi; 9th November 2007 at 09:35. Reason: Clarity
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