# US 10,309,299 B2 · Systems and methods for use with internal combustion engines and vehicles comprising the same

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- Number: US 10,309,299 B2
- Document ID: US10309299B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/209,556
- Filed: 2016-07-13
- Published: 2017-01-19
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-07-13
- Assignees: Purdue Research Foundation
- Applicants: Purdue Research Foundation
- Inventors: Adhiraj B. Mathur; Haiyan Henry Zhang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309299B2

## CPC

- F02B 39/085: {the fluid drive using expansion of fluids other than exhaust gases, e.g. a Rankine cycle}
- F02G 5/02: Profiting from waste heat of exhaust gases
- F02G 2254/15: by exhaust gas
- F02G 2280/50: Compressors or pumps
- Y02E 20/30: Technologies for a more efficient combustion or heat usage
- Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies
- F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G)
- F02G: HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS (steam engine plants, special vapour plants, plants operating on either hot gas or combustion-product gases together with other fluid F01K; gas-turbine plants F02C; jet-propulsion plants F02K); USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a gear box configured to amplify a rotational speed of an impeller in the compressor relative to a rotational speed of the shaft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a shaft lubrication housing comprising an internal oil for lubricating moving components of the system.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the Stirling engine has a beta-type configuration.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the Stirling engine has an alpha-type configuration.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the Stirling engine comprises at least a second cylinder having a piston therein coupled to the flywheel, the first and second cylinders being configured to pivot relative to each other to maintain a linear thrust force of the pistons thereof normal to a translational axis of their respective first and second cylinders as the flywheel rotates.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a power split device driven by the shaft to generate electricity during operation of the Stirling engine, and a battery storage system for storing the electrical energy.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The internal combustion engine of claim 1 with the system of claim 1 installed thereon.

### Claim 9

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.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a gear box to amplify a rotational speed of an impeller in the compressor relative to a rotational speed of the shaft.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a shaft lubrication housing on the system comprising an internal oil for lubricating moving components of the system.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the Stirling engine has a beta-type configuration.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the Stirling engine has an alpha-type configuration.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the Stirling engine comprises at least a second cylinder having a piston therein coupled to the flywheel, the method further comprising pivoting the first and second cylinders relative to each other during operation of the Stirling engine to maintain a linear thrust force of the pistons thereof normal to a translational axis of their respective first and second cylinders as the flywheel rotates.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising generating electricity with a power split device driven by the shaft during operation of the Stirling engine.

### Claim 16

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.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The vehicle of claim 16, further comprising means driven by the shaft for generating electrical energy and a battery storage system for storing the electrical energy.