A vehicle includes a pump, an evaporator, and an expander in sequential fluid communication in a closed loop containing a condenser configured to transfer heat between a working fluid and ambient air. The vehicle has a generator driven by the expander. The evaporator is configured to transfer heat from at least one of an engine coolant, a battery coolant, an engine lubricant, a transmission lubricant, an exhaust gas in an exhaust system, and an exhaust gas in an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system to the working fluid.

An internal combustion engine heat energy recovery system (1) comprises a first heat exchanger (20) arranged in heat communication with at least one heat energy source of an internal combustion engine (10) and with a working fluid of the system (1) for the transfer of heat energy from the heat energy source to the working fluid of the system (1). A turbine (30) is arranged in fluid communication with the working fluid heated in the first heat exchanger (20) for the expansion of the working fluid to produce shaft power. A second heat exchanger (40) is arranged in heat communication with the expanded working fluid to remove waste heat therefrom and transfer it to an external source such as the atmosphere. A first compressor (50) is arranged in fluid communication with the working fluid exiting the heat exchanger for increasing the pressure of the cooled working fluid prior to its entry into the first heat exchanger (20). The working fluid of the system is a substantially supercritical fluid.

An engine coolant circuit circulating coolant to cool an engine includes: a plurality of thermostatic switching valves disposed in parallel in passages leading from a coolant outlet of the engine; electrically driven three-way valves disposed downstream from the respective thermostatic switching valves in terms of a circulating direction of the coolant; and a radiator and an engine waste heat recovery device disposed in parallel in passages leading from coolant outlets of the electrically driven three-way valves, each one of the electrically driven three-way valves being provided with two coolant outlets, having one of the two coolant outlets thereof configured to communicate with the radiator, and having another one of the two coolant outlets thereof configured to communicate with the engine waste heat recovery device.

Apparatus for utilizing heat wasted from an engine includes: a Rankine cycle (31); a transmission mechanism that couples an output shaft of an expansion device (37) to a rotary shaft of an engine via an electromagnetic clutch (32) that can be engaged and disengaged; a passage (65) through which refrigerant exiting a heat exchanger (36) flows so as to bypass the expansion device (37); and a bypass valve (66) interposed in the passage. To stop the expansion device (37), the electromagnetic clutch (32) is switched from an engaged state to a disengaged state after switching the bypass valve (66) from a closed state to an open state. If the bypass valve (66) becomes stuck in the closed state, expansion device front-rear differential pressure limiting processing in which a front-rear differential pressure of the expansion device is limited while maintaining the electromagnetic clutch (32) in the engaged state is performed.

A device for utilizing waste heat from an engine, which is provided with a Rankine cycle device having an expander bypass passage and a bypass valve that opens and closes the expander bypass passage, and transmits the output torque Tr of the Rankine cycle device to the engine, estimates the output torque Tr of the Rankine cycle device accurately. An output calculation part includes a torque estimation portion that estimates the torque of an expander. The torque estimation portion has a first torque estimation equation corresponding to an opening position of a bypass valve, and a second torque estimation equation corresponding to a closed position of the bypass valve. The output calculation part calculates an output torque Tr of a Rankine cycle device, based on a torque estimated value by the first or second torque estimation equation.

A system for recovering thermal energy from one or more devices of an engine is provided to increase the overall efficiency of the engine. The system comprises an exhaust turbocharger, which is in fluid communication with the engine and driven by a supply of exhaust gas from the engine. The driven exhaust turbocharger is configured to supply compressed air to the engine. A boiler is provided to transfer heat from the exhaust gas to a heat-transfer fluid to generate a heat-transfer vapor. The vapor operates to drive a vapor turbocharger to supply additional compressed air to the engine. The vapor is further used to absorb heat from a coolant fluid used in an engine cooling system before a vapor compressor compresses the vapor back to a semi-saturated state and returns it to the boiler to complete a vapor cycle. A method for implementing the above-mentioned system is also provided.

A dual heating process is performed in the absence of an open flame. Heat is created by a rotating prime mover(s) driving a fluid shear heater. Heat is also collected from a cooling system of the prime mover, and from any exhaust heat generated by the prime mover. The heat energy collected from all of these sources is transmitted through heat exchangers to a fluid where heat energy is desired. The fluid being heated may be glycol or air, depending on the type of heat desired.

A system of recycling exhaust heat from an internal combustion engine may include an EGR line circulating a portion of exhaust gas generated from the engine to an intake side, a working fluid circulating line configured to have a working fluid satisfying a Rankine cycle, which is circulated therein, and an EGR side heat exchanging unit configured to perform a heat-exchange between an EGR gas flowing in the EGR line and the working fluid flowing in the working fluid circulating line. When a temperature of the EGR gas is equal to or greater than a reference temperature T1, the EGR gas is circulated to the intake side via the EGR side heat exchanging unit, and when the temperature of the EGR gas is less than the reference temperature T1, the EGR gas is circulated to the intake side without passing through the EGR side heat exchanging unit.

Systems and generating power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to supply electrical power. In embodiments, an inlet temperature of a flow of gas from a source to an ORC unit may be determined. The source may connect to a main pipeline. The main pipeline may connect to a supply pipeline. The supply pipeline may connect to the ORC unit thereby to allow gas to flow from the source to the ORC unit. Heat from the flow of gas may cause the ORC unit to generate electrical power. The outlet temperature of the flow of the gas from the ORC unit to a return pipe may be determined. A flow of working fluid may be adjusted to a percentage sufficient to maintain temperature of the flow of compressed gas within the selected operating temperature range.

Systems and generating power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to supply electrical power. In embodiments, an inlet temperature of a flow of gas from a source to an ORC unit may be determined. The source may connect to a main pipeline. The main pipeline may connect to a supply pipeline. The supply pipeline may connect to the ORC unit thereby to allow gas to flow from the source to the ORC unit. Heat from the flow of gas may cause the ORC unit to generate electrical power. The outlet temperature of the flow of the gas from the ORC unit to a return pipe may be determined. A flow of working fluid may be adjusted to a percentage sufficient to maintain temperature of the flow of compressed gas within the selected operating temperature range.