Having Means To Transfer Heat Energy Between Engine Exhaust And Motive Fluid For Fluid Motor Patents (Class 60/616)
  • Patent number: 11480103
    Abstract: Gas turbine engines are described. The gas turbine engines include a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section, a nozzle section, wherein the compressor section, the combustor section, the turbine section, and the nozzle section define a core flow path that expels through the nozzle section, and a waste heat recovery system. The waste heat recovery system includes a heat recovery heat exchanger arranged at the nozzle section, wherein the heat recovery heat exchanger is arranged within the nozzle section such that the heat recovery heat exchanger occupies less than an entire area of an exhaust area of the nozzle section and a heat rejection heat exchanger arranged to reduce a temperature of a working fluid of the waste heat recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amanda J. L. Boucher, Joseph B. Staubach
  • Patent number: 11280256
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger for a motor vehicle includes a compressor, a first and a second axial turbine, an electrical generator and an electric motor. The axial turbines are configured to drive the generator. The generator is configured to provide a feed to the electric motor. The electric motor is configured to drive the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Inventors: Vincenzo Bevilacqua, Wolfgang Zücker, Giovanni Corvaglia
  • Patent number: 11274629
    Abstract: The invention refers to a system for energy recovery within an arrangement of industrial components. The system comprises a heat source for the arrangement; a thermodynamic circuit processing device, particularly an ORC device, having a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the heat source to a working medium of the thermodynamic circuit processing device and having an expansion device for expanding the working medium and for generating mechanical or electrical power; and at least one component of the arrangement to be driven, particularly at least one hydraulic or pneumatic machine, which can be driven with the power generated. The invention further refers to a corresponding method for energy recovery within an arrangement of industrial components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Orean Energy AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schuster, Andreas Sichert
  • Patent number: 10801383
    Abstract: A system includes an engine having multiple cylinders and an exhaust manifold. A fuel delivery device and an igniter are disposed in the exhaust manifold. The fuel delivery device injects a fuel into the exhaust manifold. The system also includes an exhaust aftertreatment setup in fluid communication with the exhaust manifold, and a controller in communication with the multiple cylinders, the fuel delivery device and the igniter. The controller is configured to deactivate at least one cylinder to provide air to the exhaust manifold, and control the fuel delivery device to provide the fuel within the exhaust manifold such that the fuel and the air from the at least one deactivated cylinder forms a mixture within the exhaust manifold. The controller is configured to control the igniter to ignite the mixture to generate combustion products within the exhaust manifold for heating the exhaust aftertreatment setup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Rackmil, Matthew Muhleck, Tom Harris, Timothy Gardner, David L Anderson, Pankaj Vazirani, Adam Kotrba
  • Patent number: 10429140
    Abstract: A method and device for supplying an inert gas in a beverage filling plant are provided. The method includes feeding surplus process heat from the beverage filling plant to a heat exchanger, feeding an inert gas from an inert gas source to the heat exchanger, heating the inert gas in the heat exchanger, and supplying the heated inert gas for use in the beverage filling plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Buchhauser
  • Patent number: 9945289
    Abstract: A combined thermodynamic system for the production of mechanical power. The system comprises a gas turbine and a turbomachinery driven by the gas turbine. The system further comprises a thermodynamic organic Rankine cycle with a turboexpander. A heat transfer arrangement transfers heat from exhaust combustion gases of the gas turbine to the thermodynamic organic Rankine cycle, wherein heat is converted into mechanical power used for driving a driven a turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Srl
    Inventor: Andrea Burrato
  • Patent number: 9702289
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery (WHR) system operates in a reverse mode, permitting using the WHR system to transfer heat to the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. In another configuration, a WHR system may operate in two modes. The first mode removes heat from exhaust gas of an engine to perform useful work. The second mode transfers heat to the exhaust gas. The benefit of this flexible system is that a WHR system is adaptable to rapidly heat exhaust gas at startup and during other conditions where the temperature of the exhaust gas is less than a predetermined operating range. Because of the ability to rapidly warm engine exhaust gas, an exhaust gas receiving system, such as an EGR or an aftertreatment system, may function to reduce the emissions of the engine more quickly. Because this system is reversible, it retains the capability of a conventional WHR system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventor: Marten H. Dane
  • Patent number: 9638173
    Abstract: A solar thermal power system can include a solar receiver steam generator, a thermal energy storage arrangement utilizing a thermal energy storage fluid, and a multistage steam turbine for driving an electrical generator to produce electrical power. The solar thermal power system has a first operating mode in which steam is generated by the solar receiver steam generator and is supplied both to the thermal energy storage arrangement and to a high pressure turbine inlet of the multistage steam turbine. In a second operating mode, steam is generated by recovering stored thermal energy from the thermal energy storage fluid of the thermal energy storage arrangement for injection into the multistage steam turbine at a location or turbine stage downstream of the high pressure turbine inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Andreas Ehrsam, Maurus Herzog, Suman Ray
  • Patent number: 9476583
    Abstract: A recovery system of waste heat from flue gas. The system includes a first heat exchanger and a second exchanger. The first heat exchanger includes a heat absorption section, a heat release section, and a first pipeline. The second heat exchanger includes a second pipeline including an inlet header and an outlet header. The system further includes a third pipeline. The first heat exchanger is disposed at a relatively high temperature side of a flue, the second heat exchanger is disposed at a relatively low temperature side of the flue, and the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are connected by the third pipeline. The heat absorption section and the heat release section are connected by the first pipeline to form a circulation loop; the heat absorption section is disposed in the flue; the heat release section is disposed in the third pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SHANGHAI FUBO EP EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bing Liu
  • Patent number: 9476340
    Abstract: In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a Stirling engine is integrated into an exhaust system of a vehicle. The system comprises an engine coupled to a cooling system and an exhaust system. An emission control system is coupled to the exhaust system. A Stirling engine has one end coupled to the cooling system and another end selectively coupled to the exhaust system between the engine and the emission control system, and configured be driven from heat extracted from exhaust gas flow. The Stirling engine drives an electrical energy generator that provides electrical energy for storage in an energy storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mychajlo S. Kobylecky, Harry E. Eustice, Raymond C. Majcher
  • Patent number: 9399930
    Abstract: An ORC heat engine including a working fluid circuit having an evaporator for heating and evaporating a working fluid, a condenser for cooling and condensing the working fluid, and a positive displacement expander-generator having an inlet in fluid communication with the evaporator and an outlet in fluid communication with the condenser. The ORC heat engine further includes a control system coupled to the positive displacement expander-generator having a switch and driving means, the switch being switchable between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the switch is coupled to the driving means, and the positive displacement expander-generator is drivable by the driving means, and in the second state the switch is not coupled to the driving means or the driving means is switched off, and the positive displacement expander-generator is not drivable by the driving means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Energetix Genlec Limited
    Inventors: John Joseph Bannister, Timothy Nathan Bannister, Neil Stafford Bright, Iain James Henshaw
  • Patent number: 9310104
    Abstract: A modular architecture for helium compressors is described. In the modular architecture, oil is cooled independently from gas. In one aspect, the oil is cooled subsequent to the gas with a series of water-cooled heat exchangers. In another aspect, the oil is cooled using a water-cooled heat exchanger coupled to a radiator, and the gas is independently cooled using a refrigerant-cooled heat exchanger coupled to a condensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Quantum Design International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jost Diederichs, Michael Bancroft Simmonds
  • Patent number: 9175643
    Abstract: An engine system and various methods for controlling the outlet temperature of an EGR stream before entering an engine intake system are disclosed. In a system and the various methods, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve is positioned within an EGR passage fluidly connecting an engine exhaust stream and an engine intake stream, while a waste heat recovery (WHR) system is used to recover heat from the EGR stream. An engine control unit (ECU) is coupled to various sensors and valves to divert working fluid in the WHR system from cooling the EGR exhaust flow below a level which favors production of condensation in the engine intake system. The ECU operates to divert working fluid flow away from the EGR boiler when sensors indicate characteristics of either the exhaust flow or the intake stream which might lead to heavy condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC.
    Inventor: Deokkyu Park
  • Patent number: 9109532
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine having a system for utilizing the waste heat from the internal combustion engine via the Clausius-Rankine cycle, a system includes a circuit having lines with a working medium, a working medium pump, a vaporizer-exhaust gas heat exchanger, and a vaporizer-EGR heat exchanger, an expander, and a condenser for liquefying the vaporous working medium. The line for the working medium is run from the condenser to the vaporizer-EGR heat exchanger so that the working medium, after flowing through the condenser, first flows through the vaporizer-EGR heat exchanger, and the line for the working medium is run from the vaporizer-EGR heat exchanger to the vaporizer-exhaust gas heat exchanger so that the working medium, after flowing through the vaporizer-EGR heat exchanger, first flows through the vaporizer-exhaust gas heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: MAHLE Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Geskes, Eberhard Pantow
  • Publication number: 20150128590
    Abstract: According to the disclosed embodiments, a thermoelectric generator (TEG) insert is used for recovery of engine waste heat. The embodiments include an engine having an exhaust manifold outlet, and an exhaust pipe having an inlet and an outlet. The TEG insert, which is configured to convert heat from exhaust gas leaving the engine into electrical power, may be disposed between the exhaust manifold outlet of the engine and the inlet of the exhaust pipe. The location of the TEG insert may maximize the thermal conversion of heat to electricity. Further, the size of the TEG insert may be minimized through the use of a high-efficiency nano-material. As a result, overall fuel economy may be maximized, the size of ancillary components, e.g., alternator, coolant pump, oil pump, etc., may be reduced, and minimal engine design change may be required to accommodate the TEG insert described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicants: Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc., Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Nayan Engineer, Lang Sui
  • Publication number: 20150128591
    Abstract: An exhaust energy recovery system can include a hydraulic accumulator having an outer shell defining an internal volume containing an energy storage medium. The heat exchanger can be coupled to the outer shell and can selectively receive a flow of exhaust gas. The heat exchanger can have an inlet and outlet that can each be coupled to an exhaust pipe. A valve can be associated with the exhaust pipe upstream of the heat exchanger and a bypass passage can be in selective fluid communication with the valve to provide an exhaust gas flow path that bypasses the heat exchanger. The valve can be configured to: i) divert at least a portion of the exhaust gas through the heat exchanger thereby providing thermal energy to at least the energy storage medium of the accumulator, and/or ii) divert at least a portion of the exhaust gas through the bypass passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Russell Wakeman
  • Patent number: 9021808
    Abstract: A Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system associated with an internal combustion engine is in a configuration that enables handling of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) gas by using the energy recovered from a Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system. The system includes a control module for regulating various function of the internal combustion engine and its associated systems along with the Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Nelson, Timothy C. Ernst
  • Patent number: 9003789
    Abstract: An energy harvesting system for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a heat engine that operates using a shape memory alloy active material. The shape memory alloy member may be in thermal communication with a hot region at a first temperature and a cold region at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The shape memory alloy material may be configured to selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite to austenite and thereby one of contract and expand in response to the first and second temperatures. A thermal conduction element may be in direct contact with the SMA material, where the thermal conduction element is configured to receive thermal energy from the hot region and to transfer a portion of the received thermal energy to the SMA material through conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Dynalloy, Inc., The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Paul W. Alexander, John Andrew Shaw, Christopher Burton Churchill, Andrew C. Keefe, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Guillermo A. Herrera, Nilesh D. Mankame, Richard J. Skurkis, Wayne Brown
  • Publication number: 20150059339
    Abstract: An integrated exhaust manifold for use with an internal combustion engine and dual scroll turbocharger. The integrated exhaust manifold includes a first exhaust passageway fluidly connected between a first pair of piston cylinders and the dual scroll turbocharger for transporting exhaust gas from the first pair of piston cylinders to a first input of dual scroll turbocharger. The integrated exhaust manifold includes a second exhaust passageway fluidly connected between a second pair of piston cylinders and the dual scroll turbocharger for transporting exhaust gas from the second pair of piston cylinders to a second input of the dual scroll turbocharger. The second exhaust passageway is fluidly independent from the first exhaust passageway and the first and second exhaust passageways are positioned to define a septum area therebetween. A cooling system having a septum cooling jacket is use to cool the septum area between the first and second exhaust passageways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Akram R. Zahdeh, Colin Blacklock Bosman, Kenneth M. Eastman, Robert S. Mcalpine
  • Patent number: 8959914
    Abstract: A waste heat utilization device (2) for an internal combustion engine has a Rankine cycle (8) that recovers waste heat from an internal combustion engine (4), a generator (30) that is rotationally driven by an expander (14) and converts a rotational drive force into electric power, a converter (32) that controls the rotational speed of the expander (14) through the generator (30), refrigerant-condition detecting means (22, 24, 26, 28) that detects the pressure and temperature of a refrigerant passing through the expander (14), and a controller (34) that calculates pressure ratio Rp of the refrigerant in the immediate upstream and downstream of the expander (14) and specific heat ratio K of the refrigerant passing through the expander (14) on the basis of the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant, which have been detected by the refrigerant-condition detecting means (22, 24, 26, 28), calculates a preset pressure ratio Rps of the pressure ratio Rp by multiplying predetermined volume ratio Rv of the expand
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Junichiro Kasuya, Yasuaki Kanou
  • Patent number: 8950184
    Abstract: A device for utilizing waste heat of an internal combustion engine. A heat exchanger of a circuit of a working medium is provided in its exhaust system. A pump is connected upstream from the heat exchanger, the circuit containing an expansion machine. A coupling heat exchanger is located in the circuit of the working medium, the working medium of the circuit and the cooling medium of the internal combustion engine flowing through the coupling heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Stegmaier, Martin Cichon, Manfred Schmitt, Achim Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8938963
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic engine includes a first stack and a second stack disposed in a gas-filled looped tube. The first stack has a first end to which heat is inputted and a second end to which cooling water is inputted, and the second stack has a first end to which the cooling water is inputted after passing through the second end of the first stack, and a second end provided with a cooling device. The thermoacoustic engine further includes a flow controller for controlling the flow rate of the cooling water to be inputted to the second end of the first stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yosuke Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20150013334
    Abstract: A heat recovery system for an internal combustion engine may include a heat exchanger, through which a fluid heat-transfer medium flows, for transferring heat from an exhaust gas system to the heat-transfer medium. A heat engine, through which the heat-transfer medium flows, may be included for converting the heat transferred to the heat-transfer medium into mechanical output work. A cyclically closed line system may be included for connecting the heat exchanger to the heat engine. The system may include a positive displacement pump for conveying the heat-transfer medium through the line system in a predefined flow direction via mechanical drive work. The system may include a drive, which is hermetically sealed off from the heat-transfer medium, for feeding the drive work to the positive displacement pump, and an output, which is hermetically sealed off from the heat-transfer medium, for discharging the output work from the heat engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Alfred Elsaesser, Christian Maisch, Rolf Mueller, Peter Wieske
  • Patent number: 8931545
    Abstract: A heat exchanger arrangement is provided for an internal-combustion engine having a heat engine, which converts hot steam of a working medium by way of an expansion device to kinetic energy. The working medium, that can be delivered by a pump, can be heated in a first heat exchanger by a coolant and in a second heat exchanger by an exhaust gas of the internal-combustion engine. In the delivery direction, the working medium first flows through the first heat exchanger and, subsequently, through the second heat exchanger. The exhaust gas can flow through the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Raymond Freymann, Wolfgang Strobl, Walter Huebner, Andreas Obieglo, Peter Doemeland, Norbert Kraus, Juergen Becker, Michael Hoetger, Christian Goebel, Goeran Gensicke
  • Publication number: 20150000274
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a Rankine cycle waste heat recovery (WHR) system that provides cooling to an air conditioning condenser and may use waste heat from the air conditioning condenser to raise the temperature of a working fluid of the WHR system. The Rankine cycle WHR system also converts waste heat from an internal combustion engine in which the WHR system is positioned. Thus, the Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system serves to provide cooling to an air conditioning system of an internal combustion system while serving to convert waste heat into useful energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Timothy C. ERNST, Christopher R. NELSON, James A. ZIGAN, Tony ROUSSEAUO
  • Patent number: 8919123
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine includes a working fluid circuit having a first heating line and a second heating line parallel to the first heating line, a first heat exchanger in the first heating line operatively connected to transfer heat energy to the working fluid from a waste exhaust flow of an internal combustion engine, a second heat exchanger in the second heating line operatively connected to transfer heat energy to the working fluid from recirculating exhaust gas the internal combustion engine, and a recuperative heat exchanger operatively connected to transfer heat energy to the working fluid in the first heating line from the working fluid at a junction of an expander outlet and condenser inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: John Gibble, Arne Andersson
  • Publication number: 20140360187
    Abstract: An electricity generation unit 1A includes a combustor 11, a heater 13, and a Rankine cycle circuit 20. The combustor 11 combusts a solid fuel. A combustion gas generated in the combustor 11 passes through a flue 12. The heater 13 contains a heat storage material, and heats the heat storage material by allowing heat exchange to take place between the combustion gas in the flue 12 and the heat storage material. The Rankine cycle circuit 20 has an evaporator 21 that evaporates a working fluid in the Rankine cycle by allowing heat exchange to take place between the heat storage material heated in the heater 13 and the working fluid. With this configuration, stable operation of an electricity generation unit using a combustion gas of a solid fuel is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Atsuo Okaichi, Osao Kido, Takumi Hikichi, Masaya Honma, Masanobu Wada, Osamu Kosuda
  • Publication number: 20140352301
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. Waste heat generated by an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is recovered by a waste heat recovery system. The waste heat recovery system includes a feed heat exchanger thermally coupled to the internal combustion engine for warming up a working fluid, and a driven machine which is driven by the heated working fluid. A clutch arrangement optional couples the driven machine to a drive train or the auxiliary unit of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Torsten Mueller
  • Patent number: 8893495
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery (WHR) system operates in a reverse mode, permitting using the WHR system to transfer heat to the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. In another configuration, a WHR system may operate in two modes. The first mode removes heat from exhaust gas of an engine to perform useful work. The second mode transfers heat to the exhaust gas. The benefit of this flexible system is that a WHR system is adaptable to rapidly heat exhaust gas at startup and during other conditions where the temperature of the exhaust gas is less than a predetermined operating range. Because of the ability to rapidly warm engine exhaust gas, an exhaust gas receiving system, such as an EGR or an aftertreatment system, may function to reduce the emissions of the engine more quickly. Because this system is reversible, it retains the capability of a conventional WHR system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventor: Marten H. Dane
  • Patent number: 8857181
    Abstract: A drive train, especially a vehicle drive train, includes: an engine for supplying drive power into the drive train; a cooling circuit in which a cooling medium is revolved in order to cool the engine or an electric generator or another unit; an expansion machine which is driven with fluid or steam as a working medium and by way of which additional drive power can be supplied to the drive train or which drives an electric generator or another unit, the cooling medium of the cooling circuit being simultaneously the working medium of the expansion machine; and a bypass to the expansion machine which is provided through which the working medium of the expansion machine is forced through a switching valve or can be guided past the expansion machine automatically by the prevailing pressure conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: SteamDrive GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Bartosch, Jürgen Berger
  • Patent number: 8851025
    Abstract: Downstream expansion cylinders are associated with a combustion cylinder such that an overall surface area and displacement volume of the expansion cylinder is sufficient to lower the temperature of fluids associated with the combined engine to such an extent that a radiator can be eliminated in an associated vehicle, or other system. In a separate feature, a catalytic material is placed on surfaces which will “see” the hot exhaust gases such that catalytic conversion of impurities in the gases can be achieved within the engine itself. In yet another feature, water is recovered from a system having both a water injection expansion cylinder, and a combustion cylinder, and the recovered water is re-used for the expansion. In yet another feature, gearing is provided between the expansion cylinder and a combustion cylinder such that the output of the combined engine is optimized, and the two cylinders do not drive the crankshafts in a one-to-one fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventor: Ronald D. Voisin
  • Patent number: 8800285
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a waste heat recovery (WHR) system and to a system and method for regulation of a fluid inventory in a condenser and a receiver of a Rankine cycle WHR system. Such regulation includes the ability to regulate the pressure in a WHR system to control cavitation and energy conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, Christopher R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8800283
    Abstract: A shape memory alloy (SMA) heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley, a second rotatable pulley, and an SMA material disposed about the first and second rotatable pulleys and between a hot region and a cold region. A method of starting and operating the SMA heat engine includes detecting a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region using a controller, decoupling an electrical generator from one of the first and second rotatable pulleys, monitoring a speed of the SMA material about the first and second rotatable pulleys, and re-engaging the driven component if the monitored speed of the SMA material exceeds a threshold. The SMA material may selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and between the hot region and the cold region to convert the thermal gradient into mechanical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Dynalloy Inc., The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Paul W. Alexander, John Andrew Shaw, Christopher Burton Churchill, Andrew C. Keefe, Guillermo A. Herrera, Jeffrey W Brown, Richard J. Skurkis
  • Patent number: 8793993
    Abstract: An energy harvesting system includes a heat engine and a component configured to be driven by operation of the heat engine. The heat engine includes a first member, a second member, a shape memory alloy material, and a tensioner. The second member is spaced from the first member. The shape memory alloy material operatively interconnects the first member and the second member. The shape memory alloy material is configured to selectively change crystallographic phase from martensite to austenite and thereby contract in response to exposure to a first temperature. The shape memory alloy material is also configured to selectively change crystallographic phase from austenite to martensite and thereby expand in response to exposure to a second temperature. The tensioner is configured to apply tension to the shape memory alloy material as the shape memory alloy material selectively expands and contracts such that the shape memory alloy material is taut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Xiujie Gao, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Andrew C. Keefe, Christopher P. Henry
  • Patent number: 8789370
    Abstract: A device for utilizing the waste heat of an internal combustion includes a single-stage or multi-stage supercharging device, which is designed as an exhaust-gas turbocharger in particular. The single-stage or multi-stage supercharging device is assigned an additional supercharging device including an expansion machine acted upon by an auxiliary circuit, in particular a steam circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Stegmaier, Martin Cichon, Manfred Schmitt, Bernd Banzhaf, Achim Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8783032
    Abstract: In a method for recovering energy from the heat dissipated by an internal combustion engine and to an internal combustion engine wherein the pressure and temperature of a liquid working medium are increased from a lower process pressure and a first temperature to an upper process pressure at which the working fluid is heated to a second temperature whereby it is converted to a gaseous phase; the working medium is then expanded back to the lower process pressure whereby mechanical power is generated and the working medium is converted back to a liquid phase, the upper process pressure being adjusted in such a way that the working medium is expanded into the wet steam area close to the saturated steam limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Jan Gärtner, Thomas Koch, Andreas Zygan, Jozsef Mercz, Piroska Merczne
  • Patent number: 8776517
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a system including a Rankine power cycle cooling subsystem providing emissions-critical charge cooling of an input charge flow. The system includes a boiler fluidly coupled to the input charge flow, an energy conversion device fluidly coupled to the boiler, a condenser fluidly coupled to the energy conversion device, a pump fluidly coupled to the condenser and the boiler, an adjuster that adjusts at least one parameter of the Rankine power cycle subsystem to change a temperature of the input charge exiting the boiler, and a sensor adapted to sense a temperature characteristic of the vaporized input charge. The system includes a controller that can determine a target temperature of the input charge sufficient to meet or exceed predetermined target emissions and cause the adjuster to adjust at least one parameter of the Rankine power cycle to achieve the predetermined target emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, Christopher R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8769947
    Abstract: An exhaust system configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between an exhaust gas having a first temperature and a heat sink having a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The exhaust system also includes a conduit configured for conveying the exhaust gas, a heat engine disposed in thermal relationship with the conduit and configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy, and a member disposed in contact with the conduit and configured for conducting thermal energy from the conduit to the heat engine. The heat engine includes a first element formed from a first shape memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite at a first transformation temperature in response to the temperature difference between the exhaust gas and the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Patrick B. Usoro, Nilesh D. Mankame, Xiujie Gao, Geoffrey P. Mc Knight, Marten Wittorf, John A. Cafeo, Christopher P. Henry
  • Patent number: 8769946
    Abstract: A cooling system configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between a heat source having a first temperature and a coolant having a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The cooling system includes a cooling circuit configured for conveying the coolant to and from the heat source. The cooling circuit includes a conduit and a pump in fluid communication with the conduit and configured for delivering the coolant to the heat source. The cooling system also includes a heat engine disposed in thermal relationship with the conduit and configured for converting thermal to mechanical energy. The heat engine includes a first element formed from a first shape memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite at a first transformation temperature in response to the temperature difference between the heat source and coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Patrick B. Usoro, Nilesh D. Mankame, Xiujie Gao, Geoffrey P. McKnight, John A. Cafeo, Christopher P. Henry
  • Patent number: 8739531
    Abstract: A hybrid power plant includes a waste heat recovery (WHR) system having an expander driven by waste heat from an internal combustion engine. The expander, which is rotary in one example, rotationally drives a first pump and alternator with which the expander may be packaged as a single unit. The first pump circulates a working fluid when the WHR system is in use to charge an electrical storage device. A second pump is employed to circulate the working fluid when the first pump is not in use, for example. The expander can be bypassed to divert the working fluid to a heater core used to heat engine coolant during cold start conditions, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Ho Teng, Gerhard Regner
  • Patent number: 8739532
    Abstract: An exhaust heat regeneration system includes: an evaporator for cooling engine cooling water; an expansion device for expanding the refrigerant heated through the evaporator so as to generate a driving force; a condenser for cooling the refrigerant passing through the expansion device to condense the refrigerant; and a pump for pressure-feeding the refrigerant cooled through the condenser to the evaporator, in which: the expansion device is coupled to the pump by a shaft, and the expansion device and the pump are housed within the same casing to constitute a pump-integrated type expansion device; and the pump includes a high-pressure chamber through which the refrigerant to be discharged to the evaporator flows, the high-pressure chamber being provided on the expansion device side, or a low-pressure chamber through which the refrigerant flowing from the condenser flows, the low-pressure chamber being provided on the expansion device side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kawajiri, Minoru Sato, Kazunori Tsuchino
  • Patent number: 8720202
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas recirculation device for recirculating exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine to a fresh-air side of the internal combustion engine. For this purpose, it is provided that the exhaust gas recirculation device has at least one compressor for compressing the exhaust gas supplied to the fresh-air side of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Stegmaier, Martin Cichon, Manfred Schmitt, Bernd Banzhaf, Achim Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8713939
    Abstract: In a case of a refrigerant amount being short when a Rankine cycle starts operating, because the pressure difference does not occur across a refrigerant pump, refrigerant cannot be injected from a bypass circuit to the Rankine cycle, and therefore super-cooling degree cannot be controlled. An exhaust heat recovery system is provided that can adjust the super-cooling degree even in the case of the pressure difference not occurring across the refrigerant pump. The system includes a refrigerant tank, for storing refrigerant, which is connected by pipes to the low-pressure circuit side and the high-pressure circuit side of the Rankine cycle through a low-pressure-side valve and a high-pressure-side valve, respectively, and a temperature adjuster for adjusting internal temperature of the refrigerant tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Tsuchino, Kazuhiko Kawajiri, Minoru Sato
  • Patent number: 8707693
    Abstract: An energy harvesting system comprises a first region and a second region having a temperature difference therebetween. A plurality of heat engines are located proximate to the conduit and configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy. The heat engines each include a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy driven to rotate by heat exchange contact with each of the first region and the second region. At least one pulley for each of the plurality of heat engines is driven by the rotation of the respective shape memory alloy, and each of the at least one pulleys is operatively connected to a component to thereby drive the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Andrew C. Keefe, Christopher P. Henry, Nicholas W Pinto, IV
  • Patent number: 8689554
    Abstract: An engine arrangement of the type including an internal combustion engine having an EGR line, wherein at least one turbine is located on an exhaust line, is provided. The arrangement includes a water vapor generating arrangement using exhaust gases energy to transform liquid water into water vapor. The water vapor is injected in the exhaust line upstream of the turbine. The EGR line is branched off the exhaust line upstream of the turbine and the water vapor generating arrangement includes at least one EGR/water heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the EGR line and the water to be vaporized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Renault Trucks
    Inventor: Nicolas Espinosa
  • Publication number: 20140090376
    Abstract: A combined thermodynamic system for the production of mechanical power. The system comprises a gas turbine and a turbomachinery driven by the gas turbine. The system further comprises a thermodynamic organic Rankine cycle with a turboexpander. A heat transfer arrangement transfers heat from exhaust combustion gases of the gas turbine to the thermodynamic organic Rankine cycle, wherein heat is converted into mechanical power used for driving a driven a turbomachine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Nuovo Pignone Srl
    Inventor: Andrea Burrato
  • Patent number: 8683801
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a waste heat recovery system and method in which pressure in a Rankine cycle (RC) system of the WHR system is regulated by diverting working fluid from entering an inlet of an energy conversion device of the RC system. In the system, an inlet of a controllable bypass valve is fluidly coupled to a working fluid path upstream of an energy conversion device of the RC system, and an outlet of the bypass valve is fluidly coupled to the working fluid path upstream of the condenser of the RC system such that working fluid passing through the bypass valve bypasses the energy conversion device and increases the pressure in a condenser. A controller determines the temperature and pressure of the working fluid and controls the bypass valve to regulate pressure in the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Ernst, Christopher R. Nelson, James A. Zigan
  • Patent number: 8671684
    Abstract: A method and device to optimize the cumulative beneficial effect of harvesting all available forms of lost energy, including energy that is lost while a vehicle is in motion (e.g., kinetic, inertia, friction, thermodynamic, and aerodynamic losses). The cumulative energy that is recovered is converted to electrical energy which powers the on-board electrolyzer to produce more hydrogen and oxygen while the system is in operation and stationary. Stationary, passive means of energy, solar, wind, hydro, etc. will also be available to power the electrolyzer. The system also contemplates utilizing passive means of energy to power a non-mobile system which incorporates an internal or external combustion engine in place of a fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventor: Donald Moriarty
  • Publication number: 20140060044
    Abstract: A system includes a heat exchanger and a fluid flow control module. The heat exchanger includes a substrate, a catalyst applied to the substrate, and fluid passages. Exhaust gas from an engine flows through the heat exchanger and a working fluid in the fluid passages absorbs heat from the exhaust gas. The fluid flow control module controls fluid flow from the heat exchanger based on a temperature of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Stuart R. Smith, Norman K. Bucknor
  • Patent number: 8661817
    Abstract: The coolant in the cooling jacket of a dual cycle internal combustion steam engine is intentionally maintained at an elevated temperature that may typically range from about 225° F.-300° F. or more. A non-aqueous liquid coolant is used to cool the combustion chamber together with a provision for controlling the flow rate and residence time of the coolant within the cooling jacket to maintain the temperature of the coolant at a selected elevated temperature that is substantially above the boiling point of water but below the boiling point of the coolant. The coolant is passed from the jacket through a heat exchanger in a first circuit to transfer heat to a vaporizable working fluid such as water and is then returned. An optional second circuit is an intrajacket perturbation circuit within the engine can be used to disrupt and disperse pockets of vapor that may tend to form before damaging hot spots can develop around the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Thermal Power Recovery LLC
    Inventors: James V. Harmon, Sr., Jerry A. Peoples