Waste heat recovery system with nozzle block including geometrically different nozzles and turbine expander for the same

A turbine expander for a waste heat recovery system for outputting power based on a working fluid, said turbine expander comprising:

• a turbine blade rotatable by the working fluid;
• a shaft coupled to and rotatable by said turbine blade, with said shaft extending along a longitudinal axis;
• and
• a nozzle assembly for directing the working fluid to said turbine blade for rotating said turbine blade, said nozzle assembly comprising,
• a nozzle block disposed about said shaft and adjacent said turbine blade,
• a first nozzle component coupled to said nozzle block for accelerating the working fluid, with said nozzle component defining a first nozzle having a first geometrical configuration,
• a second nozzle component coupled to said nozzle block for accelerating the working fluid, with said second nozzle component defining a second nozzle having a second geometrical configuration that is different from said first geometrical configuration,
• a third nozzle component coupled to said nozzle block for accelerating the working fluid, with said third nozzle component defining a third nozzle having a third geometrical configuration that is different from at least one of said first and second geometrical configurations, and
• a fourth nozzle component coupled to said nozzle block for accelerating the working fluid, with said fourth nozzle component defining a fourth nozzle having a fourth geometrical configuration that is different from at least one of said first, second, and third geometrical configurations,
• wherein said first, second, third, and fourth nozzle components are spaced circumferentially about said longitudinal axis,
• wherein at least a portion of said nozzle block is disposed between any one of said first, second, third and fourth nozzles and said turbine blade.

A waste heat recovery system for recovering waste heat of an internal combustion engine, said waste heat recovery system comprising:

• a turbine expander for outputting power based on a working fluid, said turbine expander comprising,
• a turbine blade rotatable by the working fluid,
• a shaft coupled to and rotatable by said turbine blade, with said shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, and
• a nozzle assembly for directing the working fluid to said turbine blade for rotating said turbine blade, said nozzle assembly comprising,
• a nozzle block disposed about said shaft and adjacent said turbine blade, with said nozzle block defining a bore, and
• a first nozzle component removably coupled to said nozzle block such that said nozzle component is selectively disposed in said bore for accelerating the working fluid, with said first nozzle component defining a first nozzle,
• a second nozzle component coupled to said nozzle block for accelerating the working fluid, with said second nozzle component defining a second nozzle,
• a third nozzle component coupled to said nozzle block for accelerating the working fluid, with said third nozzle component defining a third nozzle, and
• a fourth nozzle component coupled to said nozzle block for accelerating the working fluid, with said fourth nozzle component defining a fourth nozzle,
• wherein said first, second, third, and fourth nozzle components are spaced circumferentially about said longitudinal axis;
• a flow control device in fluid communication with said turbine expander for directing the working fluid to said nozzle or to bypass said turbine expander;
• and
• a controller in communication with said flow control device and adapted to control said flow control device to direct the working fluid to said nozzle or to bypass said turbine expander, wherein at least a portion of said nozzle block is disposed between said first nozzle and said turbine blade.

A turbine expander for a waste heat recovery system for outputting power based on a working fluid, said turbine expander comprising:

• a turbine blade rotatable by the working fluid;
• a shaft coupled to and rotatable by said turbine blade;
• and
• a nozzle assembly for directing the working fluid to said turbine blade for rotating said turbine blade, said nozzle assembly comprising,
• a nozzle block disposed about said shaft and adjacent said turbine blade, with said nozzle block defining a first bore, and
• a first nozzle component removably coupled to said nozzle block such that said nozzle component is selectively disposed in said bore for accelerating the working fluid, with said first nozzle component defining a first nozzle;
• a second nozzle component coupled to said nozzle block for accelerating the working fluid, with said second nozzle component defining a second nozzle,
• a third nozzle component coupled to said nozzle block for accelerating the working fluid, with said third nozzle component defining a third nozzle, and
• a fourth nozzle component coupled to said nozzle block for accelerating the working fluid, with said fourth nozzle component defining a fourth nozzle,
• wherein said first, second, third, and fourth nozzle components are spaced circumferentially about said longitudinal axis,
• wherein at least a portion of said nozzle block is disposed between said first nozzle and said turbine blade.