Electrodynamic brake
Electrodynamic brakes are mainly used in rail vehicle technology, but also in road vehicles. They convert kinetic energy into electrical energy. As a result, the respective vehicle is braked as required.
Electrodynamic brakes act in or on the vehicle's drive train. In rail vehicles and electromotive road vehicles, it is mostly drive motors that are switched as generators (see electrical machine ). The electrical energy generated in this way can be used (forwarding to electrical consumers , intermediate storage or fed back into the power grid) or “consumed” in heating resistors (through conversion into thermal energy). These types of electrodynamic brakes are also referred to as regenerative brakes or electromotive brakes .
According to the physical definition of the term electrodynamics , the eddy current brake is also a form of the electrodynamic brake. In road vehicle technology, it is often referred to as an electrodynamic retarder . In the usual language of rail vehicle technology, however, a clear distinction is usually made between eddy current brakes and electrodynamic brakes. In this sense, electrodynamic brakes allow, at least theoretically, the use of the electrical energy generated during braking. Eddy current brakes do not allow this, as they immediately convert the electrical energy into heat without the heating current ( eddy current ) being taken away and then used for other purposes.
Advantages of electrodynamic brakes compared to friction brakes are, in addition to the partial potential for energy recovery, and the like. a. the immediate switchability of the braking force and the low wear and tear.
See also
- tram
- Brake (railway)
- Resistance brake
- Whisper brake (composite brake block)
- Magnetic rail brake