Waste heat recovery integrated cooling module

• US 10,605,149 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2015
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Benjamin, Jithin, Ernst, Timothy C., Zigan, James A., Augustin, Sr., Kevin C., Koeberlein, David E., Bagayatkar, Nimish
• Primary Examiner(s): Norman, Marc E
• Application Number:
  US15/521,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20170335745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/065 the combustion taking place in an internal combustion piston engine, e.g. a diesel engine
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 9/003 condenser cooling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/105 Using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/125 Driving auxiliary pumps electrically
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/14 Condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/18 Arrangements or mounting of liquid-to-air heat-exchangers such arrangements on cylinders or cylinder heads F01P3/04; relative to vehicles B60K11/04
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/20 Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine F01P3/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 5/12 Pump-driving arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 5/04 in combination with other waste heat from combustion engines

Abstract

Integrated cooling systems including a frame configured for mounting to a vehicle chassis in a path of ram air entering an engine compartment of a vehicle, a radiator connected to the frame in the ram air path, a waste heat recovery (WHR) condenser, a recouperator connected to the frame above a ram air path and coupled to the WHR condenser, and a coolant boiler connected to the frame below the ram air path and coupled to the radiator and recouperator are disclosed. Cooling systems configured for use in a WHR system, including an inlet header fixedly disposed on a first end of a condenser, the inlet header fluidly coupled to a heat exchanger to receive the working fluid, and a receiver fixedly disposed on a second end of the condenser opposite the first end, the receiver configured to receive the working fluid from the condenser are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A cooling system for a waste heat recovery (“

WHR”

) system, comprising;

a frame configured for mounting to a vehicle chassis in a path of ram air entering an engine compartment of a vehicle;

a recouperator connected to the frame above the ram air path, the recouperator operable to heat a refrigerant with heat provided by a working fluid;

a radiator connected to the frame in the ram air path;

a WHR condenser connected to the frame and fluidly connected and positioned to drain the working fluid into the WHR condenser; and

a coolant boiler connected to the frame in a stacked arrangement with the recouperator, wherein the coolant boiler is fluidly connected to receive the heated refrigerant from the recouperator.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the WHR condenser is connected to the frame downstream of the radiator relative to the ram air path.

3. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the WHR condenser is connected to the frame upstream of the radiator relative to the ram air path.

4. The cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a charge air cooler connected to the frame.

5. The cooling system of claim 4, wherein the charge air cooler is in the ram air path.

6. The cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a lift pump configured to communicate the working fluid to a feed pump.

7. The cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a WHR receiver fixedly disposed on the condenser and configured to receive the working fluid from the condenser.

8. The cooling system of claim 7, further comprising a lift pump fixedly disposed in the receiver and configured to communicate the working fluid to a feed pump.

9. The cooling system of claim 8, wherein the lift pump includes an inducer configured to reduce a net positive suction head.

10. A cooling system configured for use in a waste heat recovery system, comprising:

a condenser configured to condense a working fluid;

an inlet header fixedly disposed on a first end of the condenser, the inlet header

fluidly coupled to a heat exchanger to receive the working fluid from the heat exchanger;

a receiver fixedly disposed on a second end of the condenser opposite the first end, the receiver configured to receive the working fluid from the condenser; and

a lift pump fixedly disposed in the receiver, the lift pump configured to communicate the working fluid to a feed pump.

11. The cooling system of claim 10, wherein the lift pump is one of an electrically driven pump and a mechanically driven pump.

12. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein the mechanically or electrically driven pump includes one of a centrifugal type pump, a positive displacement pump, a gear pump, and a piston type pump.

13. The cooling system of claim 10, wherein the lift pump includes an inducer configured to reduce net positive suction head required.

14. The cooling system of claim 10, further comprising a level sensor disposed in the receiver, the level sensor configured to measure a level of the working fluid in the receiver.

15. A cooling system configured for use in a waste heat recovery system (“

WHR”

), comprising;

a condenser configured to condense a working fluid;

an inlet header fixedly disposed on a first end of the condenser, the inlet header fluidly coupled to a heat exchanger to receive the working fluid from the heat exchanger;

a receiver fixedly disposed on a second end of the condenser opposite the first end, the receiver configured to receive the working fluid from the condenser; and

a level sensor disposed in the receiver, the level sensor configured to measure a level of the working fluid in the receiver,

wherein the condenser, the inlet header, the receiver, a lift pump, and the level sensor are integrated with each other in a single unit.

16. The cooling system of claim 15, wherein the lift pump includes an inducer configured to reduce a net positive suction head.

17. The cooling system of claim 15, further comprising:

a frame configured for mounting to a vehicle chassis in a path of ram air entering an engine compartment of a vehicle;

a recouperator connected to the frame above the ram air path, the recouperator heating a refrigerant with heat provided by a working fluid;

a coolant boiler connected to the frame in a stacked arrangement with the recouperator, wherein the coolant boiler is fluidly connected to receive the heated refrigerant from the recouperator; and

a radiator connected to the frame in the ram air path,

wherein the condenser is connected to the frame and fluidly connected and positioned to drain the working fluid into the condenser.

18. The cooling system of claim 17, wherein the condenser is connected to the frame downstream of the radiator relative to the ram air path.

19. The cooling system of claim 18, wherein the coolant boiler is connected to the frame below the ram air path and is coupled to the radiator and the recouperator.