Thermo-electric Engine Waste Heat Recovery via Organic Rankine Cycle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines and solar energy systems face inefficiencies in harnessing waste heat and solar energy, leading to significant energy loss and environmental impact, with existing solutions being complex, incompatible with existing systems, or lacking in widespread applicability.
Innovation Solution
A thermo-electric engine utilizing a closed organic Rankine cycle to harvest waste heat from internal combustion engines and solar energy, converting it into usable power through a heat exchanger, turbine, and condenser system, integrated with existing engine components for improved efficiency and adaptability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a closed Rankine cycle system is implemented to harvest waste heat, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the waste heat recovery system with the existing internal combustion engine cooling system by integrating the evaporator with the engine block and using the coolant as the heat transfer medium. This merging approach allows the Rankine cycle system to utilize existing infrastructure, thereby reducing overall system complexity while still achieving waste heat recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system serves dual functions: it cools the engine and simultaneously provides thermal energy to the evaporator for waste heat recovery. The coolant circulates through both the engine cooling passages and the evaporator, enabling one fluid system to perform multiple thermal management tasks
2Loss of energy
If a complex multi-component system is used for heat recovery, then energy harvesting capability is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules (evaporator, turbine, condenser, pump) that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized and manufactured using standard processes, improving ease of manufacture while maintaining the complete system's energy harvesting capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the engine's own coolant as the working fluid for the evaporator, eliminating the need for separate fluid handling systems. The coolant already circulates through the engine, so no additional pumps or fluid transfer mechanisms are needed for the heat recovery portion
3Use of energy by moving object
If existing engine systems are modified to include heat recovery components, then fuel efficiency is improved, but adaptability to existing systems decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator acts as an intermediary component that interfaces with the existing cooling system without requiring fundamental modifications to the engine. It connects to the coolant circulation loop and extracts heat from the coolant, serving as a bridge between the existing system and the new waste heat recovery functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system operates by changing the thermal parameters of the existing coolant flow, extracting heat at specific points in the circulation loop. By adjusting the evaporator's heat exchange parameters and the turbine's operating conditions, the system can be adapted to different engine types and operating conditions without redesigning the core engine architecture
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
Enhances the overall efficiency of internal combustion engines by converting previously wasted energy into drive power, reduces fuel consumption, and effectively harnesses solar energy for electrical generation, offering economic and environmental benefits.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger, such as an evaporator, that receives heated liquid coolant from an internal combustion engine
Implementation Method 2
a turbine that converts the movement of the fluid into usable energy, such as electrical energy
Implementation Method 3
a condenser that removes heat from the vapor to return the fluid to its liquid state
Implementation Method 4
a pump that returns the liquid to the heat exchanger to repeat the cycle
Data Source
AI summary
A thermo-electric engine with a working fluid operative in a closed Rankine cycle to enable a harvesting energy from an external source of thermodynamic energy, such as an internal combustion engine or solar energy. The thermo-electric engine can have an evaporator; a turbine fluidically coupled to the evaporator; a heat exchanger comprising a condenser for receiving working fluid from the turbine; a hot liquid input for coupling to a source of heated liquid coolant from an internal combustion engine to the evaporator; a liquid return for returning liquid coolant to the internal combustion engine; a cooling liquid input to the condenser for receiving cooling liquid from a radiator; and a cooling liquid return for returning the cooling liquid to the radiator. Alternatively, a solar energy collector can power a turbine fluidically coupled to the solar energy collector for receiving working fluid.