Waste Heat Utilization Device for Internal Combustion Engine

• US 20100101224A1
• Filed: 04/01/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kanou, Yasuaki, Kasuya, Junichiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/597
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 15/02 for driving vehicles, e.g. locomotives
• 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 25/10 the vapours being cold, e.g. ammonia, carbon dioxide, ether
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/105 Using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2031/18 Detecting fluid leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/14 Condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/167 by adjusting the pre-set temperature according to engine parameters, e.g. engine load, engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 2260/00 Recuperating heat from exhaust gases of combustion engines and heat from cooling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 5/00 Profiting from waste heat of combustion engines, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 5/04 in combination with other waste heat from combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A waste heat utilization device recovering waste heat produced by an internal combustion engine from a heat medium includes a Rankine cycle circuit including an evaporator, an expander, a condenser and a pump serially arranged in a circulation line along which a combustible working fluid circulates, a casing air-tightly enclosing the Rankine cycle circuit, and an inactivation device for creating a chemically-inactive condition inside the casing.

Claims

1. A waste heat utilization device recovering waste heat produced by an internal combustion engine from a heat medium, comprising:

a Rankine cycle circuit including an evaporator, an expander, a condenser and a pump serially arranged in a circulation line along which a combustible working fluid circulates, where the evaporator transfers heat from said heat medium to the working fluid, the expander expands the working fluid that has passed through the evaporator, thereby producing drive power, the condenser condenses the working fluid that has passed through the expander, and the pump forces the working fluid that has passed through the condenser toward the evaporator,

a casing air-tightly enclosing the Rankine cycle circuit, and

inactivation means for creating a chemically-inactive condition inside the casing.

2. The waste heat utilization device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein

the inactivation means includes an evacuation port formed to the casing for use in evacuating the casing.

3. The waste heat utilization device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein

the inactivation means includes a gas filling port formed to the casing for use in filling the casing with an inert gas.

4. The waste heat utilization device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, further comprising failure detection means detecting and coping with a failure of the Rankine cycle circuit, wherein

when detecting a failure of the Rankine cycle circuit, the failure coping means issues a warning to outside the casing and stops the driving of the pump.

5. The waste heat utilization device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 4, wherein

the failure coping means includes working fluid leakage detection means detecting a leakage of the working fluid inside the casing.

6. The waste heat utilization device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 4, wherein

the failure coping means includes pressure increase detection means detecting a pressure increase inside the casing.

7. The waste heat utilization device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein

said heat medium is cooling water cooling the internal combustion engine, and the waste heat utilization device further comprises a first cooling water circuit though which the cooling water circulates passing through the internal combustion engine and then through the evaporator,

a second cooling water circuit including a radiator arranged outside the casing to cool the cooling water with outside air, through which the cooling water circulates passing through the radiator and then through said condenser, and

pipe connecting means provided to the casing to allow the first cooling water circuit and the second cooling water circuit to extend from inside to outside the casing, keeping the casing airtight.

8. The waste heat utilization device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 4, further comprising

an electrical generator arranged inside the casing to convert the drive power produced by the evaporator to electrical power, and

a terminal provided to the casing to allow the electrical power generated by the electrical generator to be drawn out from inside the casing, keeping the casing airtight.

9. The waste heat utilization device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 8, wherein

the failure coping means detects a failure of the Rankin cycle circuit and stops the driving of the pump via the terminal.

10. The waste heat utilization device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 7, further comprising

electrical power detection means detecting the electrical power generated by the electrical generator,

a third cooling water circuit through which cooling water circulates passing through the internal combustion engine and then through said radiator, and

flow distribution means distributing the flow of cooling water that has passed through the internal combustion engine to said first and third cooling water circuits, wherein

when the electrical power detected by the electrical power detection means is greater than or equal to a preset value, the flow distribution means increases the flow of cooling water passing through the internal combustion engine and entering the third cooling water circuit.

11. The waste heat utilization device for the internal combustion engine according to claim 10, wherein

when the failure coping means detects a failure of the Rankin cycle circuit, the flow distribution means directs all the flow of cooling water that has passed through the internal combustion engine to the third cooling water circuit.