Red Bull KERS strategy

[lemon5009]

4.2 Weight distribution :
For 2011 only, the weight applied on the front and rear wheels must not be less than 291kg and 342kg respectively at all times during the qualifying practice session.

Does this means the car can have any weight distribution it likes during the race?

If KERS-light is possible (dummy parts etc.) car+driver must maintain a minimum weight of 640kg.

Can the extra fuel inside the tank (and its location) by design be used as moveable ballast and still comply with practice and qualifying regulations ?

The car goes in to parc ferme between qualifying and the race and the teams can't change anything (unless they get the stewards permission and that's given for safety or reliability issues only) so they can't move parts around. The tank must also be a single volume within defined boundaries (defined in the rules) and the fuel must all be held in the tank except for the little bit in the pipes etc running to the engine. Remember the BAR Honda penalty from a few years ago where they had a clever tank system apparently to get around the weight rules.

I think it would be very difficult/impossible to do much useful ballasting with fuel.

Ok thanks for pointing that out.
My curiosity was triggered when Vettel remained seated after Qualifying (China). His explanation of that situation is somewhat naïve. Was he getting instructions or working on xfer of fuel to get his weight balance right before scrutiny, were my first thoughts ? I cannot recall the weight and balance is immediately taken when the car is parked at the podium spots in front.

[Just_a_fan]

I can confirm that it's there. Strangely enough, it happened AFTER the first message to not use KERS. I think it was about the time when he asked Rocky to repeat the KERS message

The TV broadcast radio messages are delayed, they're not live. So the radio message could have been as a result of the partial use showing an error in telemetry.

[Lurk]

I didn't see the RBR KERS usage on a whole lap but in french TV they said that RBR (Vettel in fact, Webber's KERS never worked properly) used his KERS in a very different way than the others.
Usually, drivers used their KERS mainly on the longuest straight line and press the button 3-4 times a lap at most.
Vettel would have used his KERS a little in every straight line, long or short: he would have pushed the button at least 10 times a lap.


Can someone confirmed that?
If it is true, could it be due to the different KERS approach claimed by Horner?

Maybe very small batteries which heat more quickly thus don't support a lot of charge/discharge cycles compared to bigger ones. It could explain why Vettel cannot use his KERS all the race.

The advantage compared to normal batteries should be tighter packaging and less cooling needs: even if it heat more quickly, they should cool down more quickly to since they are smaller.

[raymondu999]

I've just rewatched the race, and sure enough, I only saw it once or twice, but Vettel was using the KERS in sub-second bursts. That is very fascinating to say the least.
In any case, it seems to me that, right now, the RB7 is actually faster (over a lap) without KERS.

[hardingfv32]

FIA: "Energy released from the KERS may not exceed 400kJ in any one lap."

Not that much difference with energy density among the different types of lithium chemistry. The charge and discharge maximum rates does vary with chemistry. I am not sure there is anything available for this type of application that is better than lithium, certainly not in the OEM market.

You could have a smaller number of cells and use the system more often. You recharge during braking. This might lead to more consistent braking if your are charging with every brake application. The cell count and usage cycle seems like it would be easy to model and optimize.

On braking: Could the teams be using the KERS (charging) during all braking and just dissipating the excess energy into some kind of cooling system. The batteries will not tolerate an overcharge. This would provide more consistent braking balance.

Brian

[Just_a_fan]

On braking: Could the teams be using the KERS (charging) during all braking and just dissipating the excess energy into some kind of cooling system. The batteries will not tolerate an overcharge. This would provide more consistent braking balance.

Brian

I think that's very likely. McLaren have a cooling system just below the engine airbox inlet as well as inlets inside the main sidepod inlets (against the tub sides). I'd guess they have figured out how to do as you say which is why their car/KERS combination works so well.

[ESPImperium]

Looking at the McLaren when Hamiltons car had its engine cover off, i think that the problem with the Red Bull KERS is battery cooling. That air intake after the air box is used to cool a little radiator on the gear bos that has lines going forward, and was thinkig that simple battery cooling is the issue with the Renault/Red Bull KERS system.

Just a hunch as Newey is complaining about packaging on the car being compromised with KERS, whitch is the largest area that is compromising the RB7.