Abstract: In view of the huge consumption of electric energy of batteries on vehicle during the braking process of eddy current retarder, the models for the braking characteristics and thermodynamic characteristics are established and the energy consumption characteristics of eddy current retarder with both hierarchical and stepless controls of braking torque are analyzed. The results of theoretical analysis and experimental study show that the electric energy consumption with hierarchical control is greater than that with stepless control. The main reason is the uneven allocation of braking task with hierarchical control, in which too more braking tasks are allocated to the less exciting windings, leading to rapid temperature rise and causing additional electricity consumption. With stepless control, the braking tasks are evenly allocated to all the field windings, ensuring a proper temperature of single winding and a reasonable energy consumption.

Key words: eddy current retarder, nonlinear mathematical model, energy consumption characteristics, braking torque control