Vehicle power supply system
First Claim
1. A power supply system for a vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
- means for recovering exhaust heat when the internal combustion engine is running;
means for storing the recovered heat energy at least in part as heat energy; and
means for providing the stored heat energy at a later time to provide heat and/or power for the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle power supply system comprises an internal combustion engine (1) and a steam generator (2) arranged in a “closed system”. Water, or another suitable working fluid, is supplied to the steam generator (2) whereupon it is heated using exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine (1). The steam that is generated is stored in a storage tank (3) until a later time, e.g. when the internal combustion engine (1) is not running, whereupon the steam is used to provide heat and/or power to vehicle. For example, the steam can be used to drive a generator (5), via an expander (4), to provide electricity for powering various electrical systems within the vehicle. Additionally, the hot exhaust (7) from the expander (4) can be supplied to a radiator (8) to provide heating for the vehicle cabin.
86 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A power supply system for a vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
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means for recovering exhaust heat when the internal combustion engine is running; means for storing the recovered heat energy at least in part as heat energy; and means for providing the stored heat energy at a later time to provide heat and/or power for the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 46)
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3. A power supply system for a vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, the system comprising:
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means for using exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine to heat a working fluid; and means for storing the heated working fluid whereby it may be used to provide heat and/or power for the vehicle at a later time.
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10. A power supply system, comprising:
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an internal combustion engine; means for using exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine to heat a working fluid; and a piston arrangement that may be driven by both the internal combustion engine and the heated working fluid in a gaseous form. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 20, 21, 22)
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15. A system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle which includes a catalytic converter exhaust gas treatment arrangement, the system comprising:
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means for using exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine to heat a working fluid; and means for using the heated working fluid to heat the catalyst of the exhaust gas treatment arrangement.
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17. A power supply system, comprising:
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an internal combustion engine; means for heating a working fluid using exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine; and a solid-state electricity generation arrangement that may be driven by exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine.
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23. A method of operating a power supply for a vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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recovering exhaust heat when the internal combustion engine is running; storing the recovered heat energy at least'"'"'in part as heat energy; and providing the stored heat energy at a later time to provide heat and/or power for the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47)
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25. A method of operating a power supply system for a vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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using exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine to heat a working fluid; and storing the heated working fluid whereby it may be used to provide heat and/or power for the vehicle at a later time.
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33. A method of operating a power supply system comprising an internal combustion engine, a working fluid system, and a piston arrangement, the method comprising:
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heating the working fluid using exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine; and driving the piston arrangement using both the internal combustion engine and the heated working fluid in a gaseous form.
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39. A Method of operating an engine system of a vehicle which includes an internal combustion engine and a catalytic converter exhaust gas treatment arrangement, the method comprising:
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using exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine to heat a working fluid; and using the heated working fluid to heat the catalyst of the exhaust gas treatment arrangement.
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41. A method of operating a power supply system comprising an internal combustion engine, a working fluid system, and a solid-state electricity generation arrangement, the method comprising:
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heating the working fluid using exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine; and heating the solid-state electricity generation arrangement using exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine.
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48. A power supply system substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.
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49. A system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.
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50. A method of operating a power supply system as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.
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51. A method of operating an engine system of a vehicle as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.
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52. A vehicle as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.
Specification