Vehicle driving method and hybrid vehicle propulsion system

• US 6,202,782 B1
• Filed: 05/03/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takefumi Hatanaka
• Original Assignee: Takefumi Hatanaka
• Inventors: Hatanaka, Takefumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US09/304,481
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 60/391, 60/391.61, 60/391.81, 60/391.82, 180/65.2, 180/301, 180/302
• US Class Current: 180/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 3/04 of turbine type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/101 Regulating means specially adapted therefor F01K23/105, F01K23/108 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/14 Gas-turbine plants having means for storing energy, e.g. for meeting peak loads
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/20 Adaptations of gas-turbine plants for driving vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A vehicle driving method and hybrid propulsion system are disclosed. In the vehicle driving method and hybrid propulsion system, a heat engine is intermittently operated to provide a first power output and hot exhaust. A heat recovery unit containing thermal storage means is utilized to recover and store waste of hot exhaust, thereby enabling continuous production of motive gases during non-operation period of the heat engine. An expansion turbine is coupled to the heat engine and expands the motive gases to produce a second power output in a continuous fashion. The vehicle is driven by the first and second power outputs. A control unit operates the heat engine in an on/off mode to intermittently supply the hot exhaust to heat recovery unit, thereby providing remarkable fuel economy with reduced pollutants.

Claims

1. A method of driving a vehicle including a heat engine for generating a first power output and discharging hot exhaust, an expansion turbine coupled to said heat engine via an output shaft for generating a second power output, a heat recovery unit including thermal storage means for recovering and storing heat of said hot exhaust to produce motive gases, and a control unit for controlling the operation of said heat engine, comprising the steps of:

operating said heat engine to produce said first power output;

supplying said hot exhaust to said heat recovery unit for thereby recovering and storing heat of said hot exhaust by said thermal storage means to produce said motive gases;

applying said motive gases to said expansion turbine to generate said second power output;

controlling the operation of said heat engine in an on/off mode to intermittently supply said hot exhaust to said thermal storage means; and

driving said vehicle with the use of at least one of said first and second power outputs.

2. A method of claim 1, and further comprising the steps of:

detecting the temperature of said thermal storage means to generate a temperature signal;

said controlling step enabling intermittent operation of said heat engine in response to said temperature signal so as to maintain said thermal storage means within a predetermined temperature range.

3. A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising:

a gas turbine for generating a first power output and discharging hot exhaust;

an expansion turbine for generating a second power output;

an output shaft coupled to said gas turbine and said expansion turbine for driving said vehicle;

heat recovery means including thermal storage means for recovering and storing heat of said hot exhaust to generate motive gases in a closed circuit to operate said expansion turbine; and

a control unit for operating said gas turbine in an on/off mode to intermittently supply said hot exhaust to said thermal storage means.

4. A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 3, further comprising:

temperature sensing means for detecting temperature of said thermal storage means to generate a temperature signal;

said control unit being responsive to said temperature signal for intermittently operating said gas turbine so as to maintain said thermal storage means within a predetermined temperature range.

5. A hybrid propulsion system according to claims 3 or 4, further comprising a turbine housing enclosing said gas turbine and said expansion turbine in axially spaced and concentric relationship.

6. A hybrid propulsion system according to claims 3 or 4, in which said gas turbine comprises an annular stator including at least one radially and inwardly extending flow deflector, a flywheel turbine rotatably disposed in said annular stator and having its outer periphery formed with an annular jet stream path and a plurality of circumferentially spaced turbine blades facing said annular path, said annular path accommodating said flow deflector.

7. A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 6, in which said expansion turbine comprises an annular stator including at least one radially and inwardly extending flow deflector, and a flywheel turbine having its outer periphery formed with an annular jet stream path and a plurality of circumferentially spaced turbine blades facing said annular path, said annular path accommodating said flow deflector.

8. A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 7, in which said output shaft comprises a first hollow shaft coupled to said expansion turbine and a second shaft coupled to said gas turbine and extending through said first hollow shaft.

9. A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising:

a turbine housing;

a compressor mounted on said turbine housing to supply compressed air;

combustor means for combusting air and fuel to produce first motive gases;

first and second annular stator means fixedly mounted in said turbine housing in axially spaced relationship and each including an inlet to introduce a jet stream in a tangential direction, an outlet to exhaust expanded gases and at least one radially and axially extending flow deflector to deflect said jet stream;

first and second turbine rotors rotatably disposed in said first and second annular stators to produce first and second power outputs, respectively and coupled to a common output shaft, each of said first and second turbine rotors including on its outer periphery formed with an annular jet stream path communicating with said inlet and said outlet to allow said jet stream to run therebetween and accommodating therein said flow deflector, and a plurality of turbine blades formed adjacent said annular path;

said first stator means introducing said first motive gases and discharging said expanded gases as hot exhaust;

heat recovery means including thermal storage means for recovering and storing heat of said hot exhaust to thereby produce second motive gases to be applied to the inlet of said second stator means; and

control means for operating said combustor means in an on/off mode to cause said hot exhaust to be intermittently supplied to said thermal storage means.

10. A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 9, further comprising throttle means movably disposed in said turbine housing and actuated by said control means to minimize pumping action of said compressor during non-operation period of said combustor means.

11. A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 9, in which said first and second turbine rotors comprise first and second flywheels, respectively, each of said first and second flywheels including a pair of rotor disks fixedly supported by said output shaft, each of said rotor disks including a radially extending annular wall formed with said turbine blades facing said annular path.

12. A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 11, in which each of said turbine blades has a first surface to introduce said jet stream deflected by said flow deflector, an intermediate surface upon which said jet stream impinges, and a second surface contiguous with said intermediate surface for guiding said jet stream toward said annular path.

13. A hybrid propulsion system according to claims 9 or 10, in which said combustor means comprises a substantially semi-circular combustion chamber disposed in said turbine housing, a pre-evaporation and pre-mixing duct mounted at an entrance of said combustion chamber, a fuel nozzle mounted in said duct.

14. A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 13, in which said combustor means further comprises an injection nozzle mounted in said combustion chamber downstream of said duct to effect injection of water or vapor thereinto.

15. A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 14, further comprising means for recycling vapors contained in said hot exhaust.

16. A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising:

a gas turbine including a turbine housing, compressor means mounted in said turbine housing, combustor means communicating with said compressor means to produce primary motive gases, a primary expansion turbine driven by said primary motive gases to produce a power output, and an output shaft coupled to said primary expansion;

control means for operating said gas turbine in an on/off mode;

said gas turbine including primary annular stator means fixedly mounted in said turbine housing and having an inlet to introduce a jet stream of said primary motive gases into said stator means in a tangential direction, at least one flow deflector radially and inwardly extending to deflect said jet stream and an outlet to exhaust hot exhaust, and said primary expansion turbine including a flywheel having its outer periphery formed with an annular jet stream path to allow said jet stream and a plurality of circumferentially spaced turbine blades formed adjacent said annular path, said annular path receiving said flow deflector of said stator means.

17. A hybrid propulsion system according to claim 16, further comprising:

heat recovery means including thermal storage means for recovering and storing heat of said hot exhaust to produce secondary motive gases;

secondary annular stator means fixedly mounted in said turbine housing in axially spaced relationship from said primary stator means to introduce said secondary motive gases in a tangential direction; and

a secondary expansion turbine rotatably disposed in said secondary stator means and including a flywheel connected to said output shaft and having an annular jet stream path to introduce said jet stream of said secondary motive gases and turbine blade means formed adjacent said annular path for expansion of said secondary motive gases.