Answering the industry’s dual calls for reduced costs and more environmentally-friendly solutions, Joy Global recently introduced its new KESS unit, or Kinetic Energy Storage System, that pairs with its proven Joy SR (Switched Reluctance) Hybrid Drive motors.
Officially debuted at MINExpo® 2016, the KESS unit is featured on Joy Global’s brand-new line of Joy hybrid diesel LHDs and the new P&H L-1250 wheel loader, set for commercial debut in 2017. KESS was initially developed as a deep energy storage solution for the new line of LHDs.
Typical Joy SR Hybrid Drive Systems capture and utilize regenerated braking energy, reducing overall fuel consumption by 30 percent. The new SR KESS unit provides for deep storage of that regenerated energy, supplementing engine power to improve machine acceleration, reduce the effects of engine turbo lag and dramatically improve cycle times.
In coming up with the concept, Joy Global investigated ultra capacitor energy storage along with kinetic energy storage. Relative to other motor technologies, Joy SR hybrid drive’s high-speed capability made SR kinetic energy storage feasible because an SR motor with a simple internal steel disk compared favorably against other available energy storage devices, such as ultra capacitor assemblies. When compared for the new LHDs, energy and power were superior with an SR flywheel versus an ultra capacitor assembly. In an underground application the SR flywheel can store more than twice the usable energy and provide more than six times the power per dollar, in a smaller package. In a surface application the SR flywheel can store more than twice the usable energy and provide more than 10 times the power per dollar, in a smaller package.
The technology functions seamlessly for the operator, keeping the operator more productive for longer. Going forward, KESS is targeted for all applications, as use of Joy SR Hybrid Drive + KESS spreads to more products in Joy Global’s lineup.