Compressed Air Automobile Power System with Heat Recovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compressed air vehicles face challenges in energy saving, cost-effective production of high-pressure compressed air, and efficient use of brake energy recovery, with issues related to weight, environmental impact, and energy loss during air compression and storage.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a boiler-type high-pressure compressed air production and storage device, air compressor, brake energy recovery and regeneration mechanism, inner gear ring assembly, and clutch transmission devices, which uses off-peak electricity to produce and store high-pressure compressed air, recovers kinetic energy during braking, and efficiently transmits power using cylinder-combined engines and a pneumatic transmission system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If electric air compressor is used to compress air into vehicle-mounted compressed air tank, then compressed air can be stored as power source, but 90% of electrical energy is converted into heat energy causing significant energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat generated during air compression into a beneficial resource by using it to preheat the compressed air before it enters the engine cylinder. The heat exchanger recovers heat from the compressed air after expansion and uses it to preheat the incoming compressed air, thereby reducing the energy loss and improving overall system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the compressed air by introducing a preheating process. The compressed air is heated before entering the cylinder to improve its expansion efficiency. This parameter change addresses the energy loss issue by ensuring the compressed air is at an optimal temperature for engine operation.
2Quantity of substance
If compressed air is rapidly compressed into the vehicle-mounted compressed air tank, then air storage capacity increases, but air temperature increases to 1000°C causing energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the high temperature generated during rapid compression from a harmful effect into a beneficial one. Instead of dissipating the heat through multiple inter-cooling stages, the system uses the heat to preheat the compressed air before it enters the engine, thereby converting waste heat into useful thermal energy that improves engine efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary heating action to the compressed air before it enters the engine cylinder. The preheating process prepares the compressed air at optimal temperature and pressure conditions, improving the efficiency of the subsequent expansion process and reducing energy losses.
3Productivity
If four-stage air compression with inter-cooling is used to compress air, then compression efficiency improves, but thermal energy is lost during three inter-cooling steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the thermal energy that would be lost during inter-cooling steps into a useful resource. The heat exchanger captures heat from the compressed air after expansion and uses it to preheat the incoming compressed air, thereby converting what would have been waste heat into beneficial thermal energy that improves overall system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the compression and heating processes into an integrated system. The heat exchanger is positioned to recover heat from the expansion process and directly apply it to the incoming compressed air, combining what were previously separate thermal management functions into a unified energy recovery system.
4Quantity of substance
If vehicle-mounted compressed air tank is used without full cooling, then energy storage decreases as temperature drops, but rapid and effective cooling facility is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service cooling system where the compressed air itself provides the cooling function. The compressed air from the tank is used to cool the brake system and other vehicle components, and the heat recovered from these cooling processes is fed back to preheat the compressed air, creating a self-sustaining thermal management system without requiring complex external cooling facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the cooling and heating functions into a unified thermal management system. The heat exchanger integrates the cooling of vehicle components with the preheating of compressed air, combining what were previously separate thermal management functions into a single efficient system.
5Duration of action of moving object
If hybrid power system with electric motor or internal combustion engine is used, then mileage can be improved, but vehicle weight significantly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heavy battery and motor components from the hybrid power system, retaining only the compressed air storage tank and a lightweight air motor. This extraction eliminates the weight penalty associated with electric hybrid systems while maintaining the ability to recover and reuse brake energy through the compressed air storage mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by replacing the electric motor with an air motor that operates on compressed air. The brake energy recovery system stores energy in the form of compressed air in the tank, which then powers the vehicle through pneumatic expansion, eliminating the need for heavy batteries and electric motors while maintaining hybrid functionality.
6Duration of action of moving object
If internal combustion engine is used for auxiliary power, then mileage can be improved, but 70% of energy in gasoline is wasted as heat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the waste heat from the internal combustion engine into a useful resource by using it to preheat the compressed air before it enters the air motor. The heat exchanger recovers thermal energy from the engine exhaust and uses it to preheat the compressed air, thereby reducing the energy loss and improving overall system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the internal combustion engine and air motor into a unified hybrid power system. The engine and air motor work together, with the engine handling high-load conditions and the air motor providing auxiliary power, while the heat exchanger integrates the thermal management of both systems by using engine waste heat to preheat compressed air for the air motor.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves economical and environmental production of compressed air, reduces energy consumption, and enhances the efficiency of brake energy recovery, leading to a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly automobile power source.
Implementation Method 1
an air compressor, the working pressure of which is close to, equal to or exceeds 100Mpa
Implementation Method 2
one or more cylinder-combined engines which use the compressed air to convert the compressed air energy into kinetic energy for driving the automobile
Implementation Method 3
a brake energy recovery and regeneration device... to recover the kinetic energy lost during the deceleration and braking of the automobile
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~5b
AI summary
The present invention provides a system and method for economically using compressed air as automobile power source, comprising: a compressed air power device, which includes automobile air storage tubes (1) to store a sufficient amount of high-pressure compressed air and a cylinder-combined engine consisting of the first and second cylinders (9)(10), and which can make full use of the compressed air to produce driving power; a mechanism to produce, store and provide high-pressure compressed air, which includes a boiler-type high-pressure compressed air producing and storing device, abbreviated as boiler-type HCAPS device (4), to be able to use electricity during periods of low energy demand (off-peak) such as at night simultaneously recovering the by-produced heat for central heating, and pressurizing and inflating into the automobile air storage tubes (1) during daytimes; brake energy recovery and regeneration devices, which include a spring reserving-releasing device and/or a compressed air reserving-releasing device to save the compressed air in the automobile air storage tubes (1) for saving the driving power; an inner gear ring assembly, which includes an inner gear ring (2) gearing meshing with inner acting gears (45), with the first and second accelerating gears (72)(92), with a flywheel front inner meshing gear (48) and reset gears (46), for transmitting torque and mixing/outputting power; some clutch transmission devices and a controller, which controls orderly coordinated operation of devices and mechanisms.