Flywheel Energy Storage for Engine Boost
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines are often over-specified for most tasks, leading to unnecessary complexity, cost, and space requirements due to the need for sophisticated exhaust aftertreatment systems, especially when only occasional high power is required, which can be addressed by using a supplementary electric motor.
Innovation Solution
An engine assembly incorporating a high-speed flywheel for kinetic energy storage, connected via variable belt drives to both the drive shaft and a supercharger system, allowing energy transfer for boosting engine output during rare high-demand tasks without the need for additional electric motors or complex power electronics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a higher capacity engine is specified to meet rare peak demand requirements, then power capability is improved, but device complexity, cost, and space requirements increase due to over-specification
Solution Approach 1:
Energy is stored in advance during periods of low demand in the energy storage device (flywheel), which then releases this stored energy during peak demand periods. This preliminary action allows the smaller engine to deliver peak power when needed without being permanently oversized, thereby avoiding the complexity of exhaust aftertreatment systems required for continuously higher capacity engines.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the engine by using variable belt drives to adjust the speed ratio between the engine crankshaft and the energy storage device. This allows the engine to operate at optimal efficiency points for most tasks while the energy storage device provides the additional power parameter during peak demands, avoiding over-specification.
2Device complexity
If a smaller, lower capacity engine is used to reduce complexity and cost, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but power capability becomes insufficient for rare peak demand tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the smaller engine with an energy storage device (flywheel) and variable belt drive mechanism to create a hybrid power system. The energy storage device is coupled to the engine crankshaft through variable belt drives, allowing it to supplement the engine's power output during peak demands while keeping the base engine smaller and simpler.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy storage device serves multiple functions: it stores energy during low-demand periods, releases energy during peak-demand periods to supplement engine power, and can be adjusted via variable belt drives to match different power requirements. This multi-functionality allows a single addition to resolve the power capability shortfall without requiring a completely larger engine system.
3Power
If an electric motor is used to provide supplementary power for peak demands, then power capability is improved, but cost and complexity increase due to power electronics and electrical storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical hybrid system (electric motor, power electronics, battery) with a mechanical hybrid system using a flywheel energy storage device coupled through variable belt drives. This mechanical substitution eliminates the need for complex power electronics and electrical storage systems while providing the same supplementary power capability during peak demands.
Solution Approach 2:
The variable belt drive acts as an intermediary mechanism between the engine crankshaft and the energy storage device, allowing flexible power transfer and speed ratio adjustment. This mechanical intermediary enables smooth integration of the energy storage device without requiring complex control electronics, simplifying the overall system compared to electric motor approaches.
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 configuration enables a smaller, lower-specification engine to meet most demands with supplementary energy storage for peak performance, reducing costs, package size, fuel consumption, and emissions by leveraging stored energy for air compression and engine boost.
Implementation Method 1
a flywheel configured for kinetic energy storage
Implementation Method 2
a first linkage between the drive shaft and the flywheel, wherein the linkage comprises a variable belt drive
Implementation Method 3
a supercharger compressor configured to receive kinetic energy from the drive shaft and to compress air for use in combustion in the combustion chamber
Implementation Method 4
a turbine configured to recover energy from exhaust gas provided via the exhaust gas outlet
Data Source
AI summary
An engine assembly comprises: an internal combustion engine having: a combustion chamber; an air inlet for supplying air to the combustion chamber; a fuel injector for supplying fuel to the combustion chamber; an exhaust outlet for releasing exhaust gas from the combustion chamber and a rotatable drive shaft, wherein combustion of fuel in air within the combustion chamber results in rotation of the drive shaft. The engine assembly further comprises: a turbocharger system comprising: a turbine configured to recover energy from exhaust gas provided via the exhaust gas outlet; and a turbocharger compressor configured to receive energy from the turbine and thereby to compress air for use in combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber. The engine assembly further comprises: a supercharger system comprising a supercharger compressor configured to receive kinetic energy from the drive shaft and to compress air for use in combustion in the combustion chamber. The engine assembly further comprises: a flywheel configured for kinetic energy storage; a first linkage between the drive shaft and the flywheel, wherein the linkage comprises a variable belt drive; and a second linkage between the first linkage and the supercharger compressor.