Engine Heat Recovery Circuit Shared Pump Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional engine arrangements with heat recovery circuits are bulky, heavy, and costly due to the need for additional components and dedicated pumps, which hampers their efficiency and fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
An engine arrangement where the combustion fluid is used as the heat recovery fluid, and a common combustion fluid pump pressurizes the fluid for both combustion and heat recovery processes, eliminating the need for a dedicated pump in the heat recovery circuit, thereby reducing complexity and cost while enhancing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated pump is provided for the heat recovery circuit, then the heat recovery function is reliable, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion fluid pump is designed to serve dual functions: pressurizing combustion fluid for the combustion chamber and pressurizing heat recovery fluid for the heat recovery circuit. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a dedicated pump in the heat recovery circuit, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable heat recovery operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the combustion fluid pump and heat recovery fluid pump into a single common pump. The pump is positioned to receive fluid from a common source and distribute it to both the combustion chamber and heat recovery circuit, thereby consolidating two separate systems into one integrated system
2Loss of energy
If additional components and lines are added for heat recovery, then energy recovery is enabled, but the weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion fluid is used for both combustion and heat recovery purposes. The same fluid circulating through the system serves dual roles, eliminating the need for separate heat recovery fluid and its associated components, thereby reducing system weight while maintaining effective thermal energy recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the combustion fluid circuit and heat recovery fluid circuit into a single integrated system. By merging these circuits and using a common pump and fluid, the number of separate components, lines, and overall system weight are reduced while still achieving the heat recovery objective
3Reliability
If a dedicated pump is provided for the heat recovery circuit, then the heat recovery circuit is reliable, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion fluid pump is designed with multi-functionality to handle both combustion fluid delivery and heat recovery fluid pressurization. This reduces the total number of pumps required from two to one, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while ensuring reliable operation of both the combustion system and heat recovery circuit
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the combustion fluid pump and heat recovery fluid pump into a single common pump unit. This consolidation reduces the number of components that need to be manufactured, assembled, and maintained, thereby reducing overall manufacturing cost while maintaining the reliability of the heat recovery circuit through the shared pump
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 results in a more compact, cost-effective engine arrangement with improved overall efficiency by sharing a pump for both functions, reducing the engine's workload and allowing for energy recovery through mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical means.
Implementation Method 1
the working fluid, which is a liquid at this stage, is pumped from low to high pressure
Implementation Method 2
the high pressure liquid is evaporated into a gas by a hot fluid flowing in another circuit of the engine arrangement
Implementation Method 3
At least part of the thermal energy of the hot fluid used to evaporate the heat recovery fluid is recovered in the expander, for example under the form of mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical energy
Implementation Method 4
the gas is condensed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The engine arrangement (1) comprises: - an internal combustion engine (2) supplied with fuel by means of at least one fuel pump (6); - a heat recovery circuit (13) carrying a fluid in a loop, successively through said fuel pump (6), an evaporator (14), an expander (17) capable of generating power from the fluid expansion.