Engine system having improved efficiency
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorShane Elwart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising of an internal combustion engine, a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the engine, and a control system for controlling the engine and the thermoelectric device during a first mode, supply electrical energy to the thermoelectric device to cause the thermoelectric device to produce at least some heat, and during a second mode, operate the engine to produce at least some heat, where the thermoelectric device is operated to convert a temperature gradient at the thermoelectric device to electrical energy.
Claims21
A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a fuel burning engine for producing at least some heat;
- a thermoelectric device for generating electrical energy from a thermal gradient caused by the heat produced by the engine;
- an energy storage device for storing electrical energy;
- an electric motor for at least partially propelling the vehicle in response to an amount of electrical energy supplied to the motor;
- and
- a control system for varying an amount of heat produced by the engine in response to a temperature of the thermoelectric device.
A propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine;
- a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the engine;
- and
- a control system configured to:
- during a first mode, supply electrical energy to the thermoelectric device from at least an energy supply external the vehicle to cause the thermoelectric device to produce at least some heat;
- and
- during a second mode, operate the engine to produce at least some heat, where the thermoelectric device is operated to convert a temperature gradient at the thermoelectric device to electrical energy and wherein the control system is further configured to adjust an operating condition of the engine in response to a thermoelectric device temperature of the thermoelectric device.
A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a free-piston engine having at least one moveable piston, said engine producing heat;
- an induction machine for converting movement of the piston to electrical energy,
- a thermoelectric device arranged between a combustion chamber of the engine and a cooling sleeve of the engine for generating electrical energy from a thermal gradient between the combustion chamber and the cooling sleeve caused by heat produced by operation of the engine;
- an energy storage device for storing electrical energy;
- an electric motor for propelling the vehicle in response to an amount of electrical energy supplied to the motor;
- and
- a control system for varying a condition of the engine in response to an amount of electrical energy generated by the thermoelectric device and a thermoelectric device temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.