Cylinder Tube Array for Thermal Energy Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for recovering thermal energy from internal combustion engine exhaust gases face inefficiencies due to varying cylinder temperatures, leading to negative effects on combustion efficacy and fuel economy, as they often use a uniform amount of working fluid across cylinders regardless of temperature differences.
Innovation Solution
A method involving individually injecting a working fluid into a tube array for each engine cylinder based on its temperature, using a controller to adjust the amount and timing of fluid injection to maintain optimal temperature ranges, thereby recovering heat energy tailored to each cylinder and enhancing fuel economy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a uniform amount of working fluid is injected into each cylinder liner, then the system structure is simple and easy to control, but the combustion efficacy and fuel economy deteriorate due to ignoring cylinder temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of working fluid injection amount from uniform to variable based on individual cylinder temperatures. The controller adjusts the injection amount for each cylinder according to its temperature, transforming the system from a fixed-parameter approach to a variable-parameter approach that adapts to real-time thermal conditions, thereby improving fuel economy without significantly increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating each cylinder individually rather than uniformly. Each cylinder receives a customized working fluid injection amount tailored to its specific temperature characteristics, allowing the system to address local thermal variations and optimize combustion efficiency for each cylinder independently
2Productivity
If more working fluid is injected into hotter cylinders, then combustion efficiency improves, but the system complexity increases due to individualized control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring individual cylinder temperatures and using this information to adjust working fluid injection amounts. The controller receives temperature data from sensors and dynamically modifies injection parameters, creating a closed-loop control system that automatically optimizes combustion efficiency based on real-time thermal conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a static, uniform injection system to a dynamic, adaptive system. The working fluid injection amount becomes a dynamic variable that changes in response to temperature fluctuations, allowing the system to adapt to varying operating conditions and maintain optimal combustion efficiency across different thermal states
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
This approach allows for increased combustion efficiency and fuel economy by ensuring each cylinder operates within an optimal temperature range, effectively utilizing waste heat to generate additional work without compromising engine performance.
Implementation Method 1
the waste heat of the exhaust gasses may be transferred to a working fluid to generate a steam that may be used to generate work within the motor vehicle
Implementation Method 2
the injected fluid may then be vaporized by ambient heat of the immediate surroundings
Implementation Method 3
the injected fluid may then be vaporized by ambient heat of the immediate surroundings
Implementation Method 4
The working fluid steam is then condensed into liquid form to reenter and begin the thermodynamic Rankine cycle anew
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for an in-cylinder thermal energy recovery device that utilizes the Rankine Cycle to recover energy from exhaust gasses that may be used to produce additional work in the vehicle. In one example, a method may include outfitting the head area of each cylinder of an engine with a tube array comprising one or more tubes passing through the combustion chamber of the corresponding cylinder. Each tube array may receive an injection of working fluid that is based, in part, on the temperature of the tube array's corresponding cylinder, which may then be utilized to recover heat energy.