Reciprocating Engine Turbine Exhaust Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reciprocating internal combustion engines face limitations in efficiency and emissions due to entropy constraints and the short time available for fuel combustion, leading to unburned fuel in exhaust gases, with existing solutions like turbochargers and catalytic converters either increasing efficiency or reducing emissions but not both effectively.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a turbine engine with a reciprocating engine to recover chemical energy from exhaust gases through oxyhydrogen combustion, reducing ancillary loads and tailpipe emissions, and enhancing efficiency by pressurizing the intake and depressurizing the exhaust, thereby increasing overall system efficiency and reducing emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a reciprocating engine uses conventional combustion with short residence time, then power output is maintained, but combustion is incomplete leading to unburned fuel in exhaust and reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the combustion process into two stages: primary combustion in the reciprocating engine for power generation, and secondary combustion in a post-combustion chamber for energy recovery. This segmentation allows each stage to optimize for its specific function while addressing the contradiction between power output and energy recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust gases from the reciprocating engine are continuously fed to the post-combustion chamber where they undergo secondary combustion. This continuous process ensures that chemical energy that would otherwise be lost is fully utilized, converting exhaust energy into useful heat and power.
2Power
If a reciprocating engine operates to produce power, then mechanical work is generated, but emissions of unburned fuel and contaminants are produced
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful exhaust gases containing unburned fuel into beneficial products through secondary combustion. The post-combustion chamber completely oxidizes carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and other contaminants, transforming emissions into carbon dioxide and water, thereby converting harm into benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The post-combustion chamber introduces additional oxygen and uses high-temperature oxidation to rapidly and completely burn off contaminants. This strong oxidizing environment ensures thorough combustion of unburned fuel and conversion of harmful emissions into harmless products.
3Productivity
If a turbocharger is added to improve efficiency, then air compression is enhanced, but device complexity and back pressure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the turbocharger function with the post-combustion chamber into an integrated assembly. The turbocharger compressor is positioned within the exhaust system, and its exhaust outlet connects directly to the post-combustion chamber, combining power recovery and emission treatment functions while managing complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The post-combustion chamber serves multiple functions: it acts as a secondary combustion zone for energy recovery, an emission control device for oxidizing contaminants, and a heat exchanger for thermal management. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing system complexity.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If a catalytic converter is added to reduce emissions, then tailpipe emissions are reduced, but back pressure and energy loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of passively filtering emissions through catalysis, the system actively combusts unburned fuel and contaminants in the post-combustion chamber. This converts the harmful exhaust gases into useful thermal energy and power, eliminating energy loss while reducing emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The post-combustion chamber uses high-temperature oxidation with excess oxygen to rapidly and completely destroy harmful emissions. This strong oxidizing process is more effective than catalytic conversion and does not create the back pressure penalties associated with catalytic converters.
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 combination results in a 20% to 40% increase in efficiency and over 90% reduction in emissions by harnessing exhaust energy to power secondary functions and complete combustion, outperforming standalone reciprocating engines in both metrics.
Implementation Method 1
The turbine engine includes a combustion chamber and a power turbine. The exhaust of the reciprocating engine is mixed with ambient air and burned in the combustion chamber of the turbine engine.
Implementation Method 2
The exhaust and air in the combustion chamber heat and expand, driving the power turbine.
Implementation Method 3
The turbine compressor compresses the exhaust and ambient air in preparation for combusting the exhaust in the combustion chamber.
Implementation Method 4
The invention reduces tailpipe emissions by incinerating the exhaust gas and particulate matter from the reciprocating engine exhaust at a very high temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A primary reciprocating engine is combined with a secondary turbine engine. The turbine engine utilizes the exhaust of the reciprocating engine as fuel, resulting in an increase in efficiency and reduction in emissions over a conventional reciprocating engine alone. The secondary turbine engine powers secondary functions of the reciprocating engine, such as relieving the back pressure at the exhaust ports, driving the turbocharger that pressurizes the air intake, and driving an electrical generator. Oxyhydrogen (HHO) used to ignite the reciprocating engine exhaust and complete combustion of the reciprocating engine fuel is obtained by disassociating distilled water into hydrogen and oxygen using the electricity from the electrical generator.