Fuel-Based Cooling Power System Using Waste Heat Vaporization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional engines are inefficient due to heat waste, requiring additional energy for cooling and heat management, which reduces mechanical power output and complicates temperature control in gaseous fuel-powered engines.
Innovation Solution
A power system that includes a cryogenic tank for liquid fuel, a gaseous fuel engine, a coolant circuit, and isolated heat exchangers to vaporize fuel using waste heat from the engine, with separate fuel lines and an accumulator to regulate fuel pressure and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If waste heat is used to vaporize fuel through a heat exchanger connected to the coolant circuit, then fuel vaporization is achieved, but temperature control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the thermal management system into separate independent loops: a coolant circuit for engine cooling and a fuel heating circuit for fuel vaporization. The heat exchanger transfers heat between these separate circuits without mixing the fluids, allowing independent control of each circuit's temperature and flow rate. This segmentation enables precise temperature control for both engine cooling and fuel vaporization processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger acts as an intermediary device that facilitates heat transfer from the coolant circuit to the fuel heating circuit without direct contact between the coolant and fuel. This intermediary mechanism allows thermal energy to be transferred while maintaining separate control systems for each circuit, resolving the temperature control difficulty.
2Ease of operation
If multiple heat exchangers are used to improve temperature control, then temperature regulation is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is designed to serve multiple functions: it cools the engine coolant and simultaneously heats the fuel for vaporization. This multi-functionality achieves improved temperature control without requiring multiple separate heat exchangers, thereby avoiding increased system complexity.
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
Improves engine efficiency by utilizing waste heat to vaporize fuel, reducing energy expenditure and enhancing temperature control, thereby increasing mechanical power output and lowering operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heat exchanger isolated from the coolant circuit and configured to receive a fluid passing through the engine
Implementation Method 2
configured to vaporize fuel using waste heat from the engine
Implementation Method 3
a coolant circuit configured to cool the engine
Implementation Method 4
an engine configured to combust gaseous fuel
Data Source
AI summary
A power system is disclosed. The power system may have a cryogenic tank configured to hold a supply of liquid fuel, and an engine configured to combust gaseous fuel. The power system may also have a coolant circuit configured to cool the engine, and at least one heat exchanger isolated from the coolant circuit and configured to receive a fluid passing through the engine. The power system may further have a first fuel line extending from the cryogenic tank to the at least one heat exchanger, and a second fuel line extending from the at least one heat exchanger to the engine.