Systems and methods for use with internal combustion engines and vehicles comprising the same
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorsAdhiraj B. Mathur, Haiyan Henry Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and vehicles for use with internal combustion engines comprising combustion chambers that produce exhaust gases that include a Stirling engine having a hot side and a cold side with the hot side being in thermal contact with exhaust gases produced by the internal combustion engine. The Stirling engine is configured to be powered by heat from the exhaust gases during operation of the internal combustion engine, and a compressor powered by the Stirling engine is configured to provide compressed air to combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine.
Claims17
A system for use with an internal combustion engine comprising combustion chambers that draw in fuel and intake air and produce therefrom exhaust gases that exit the internal combustion engine through an exhaust gas flow passage, the system having an intake air charger comprising:
- a Stirling engine having at least a first cylinder having a piston therein coupled to a flywheel, a hot side associated with the first cylinder, and a cold side, the hot side of the first cylinder protruding into the exhaust gas flow passage so that an exterior surface of the first cylinder is within the exhaust gas flow passage, is in direct contact with the exhaust gases produced by the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine, and absorbs heat from the exhaust gases through convection, the exhaust gases heating the hot side of the first cylinder during operation of the internal combustion engine and causing the Stirling engine to rotate a shaft;
- and
- a compressor driven by the shaft to compress air and provide compressed air to the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine.
A method of improving the efficiency of an internal combustion engine comprising combustion chambers that draw in fuel and intake air and produce therefrom exhaust gases that exit the internal combustion engine through an exhaust gas flow passage, the method comprising:
- providing a system comprising a Stirling engine, a compressor, and a shaft through which the compressor is connected to and driven by the Stirling engine, the Stirling engine having at least a first cylinder having a piston therein coupled to a flywheel, a hot side associated with the first cylinder, and a cold side, the hot side of the first cylinder protruding into the exhaust gas flow passage so that an exterior surface of the first cylinder is within the exhaust gas flow passage, in direct contact with the exhaust gases, and absorbs heat from the exhaust gases through convection;
- converting the heat recovered with the Stirling engine from the exhaust gases into mechanical energy that includes rotating the shaft;
- powering the compressor with the shaft to produce compressed air;
- and
- providing the compressed air to the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine and produce therewith the exhaust gases.
A vehicle comprising:
- an internal combustion engine comprising combustion chambers that draw in fuel and intake air and produce therefrom exhaust gases that exit the internal combustion engine through an exhaust manifold;
- a Stirling engine having at least a first cylinder having a piston therein coupled to a flywheel, a hot side associated with the first cylinder, and a cold side, the hot side of the first cylinder protruding into the exhaust manifold so that an exterior surface of the first cylinder is within the exhaust manifold, is in direct contact with the exhaust gases produced by the internal combustion engine, and absorbs heat from the exhaust gases through convection, the exhaust gases heating the hot side of the first cylinder during operation of the internal combustion engine and causing the Stirling engine to rotate a shaft;
- and
- a compressor driven by the shaft to compress air and provide compressed air to the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.