An exhaust heat recovery device for an engine including a Rankine cycle, including a steam accumulator that stores a surplus of a working medium for driving a turbine, and a leveling line that discharges the stored surplus working medium from the steam accumulator to the turbine, when the turbine cannot output predetermined power only with the working medium flowing out from a boiler, and levels the power outputted from the turbine. Since the power outputted from the turbine can be leveled without reduction of the power, even if the working medium cannot vaporize with the boiler immediately after start-up, immediately before stop, or during a low-load operation of the engine, exhaust heat from the engine can be efficiently used.

An exhaust heat recovery device for an engine including a Rankine cycle, including a steam accumulator that stores a surplus of a working medium for driving a turbine, and a leveling line that discharges the stored surplus working medium from the steam accumulator to the turbine, when the turbine cannot output predetermined power only with the working medium flowing out from a boiler, and levels the power outputted from the turbine. Since the power outputted from the turbine can be leveled without reduction of the power, even if the working medium cannot vaporize with the boiler immediately after start-up, immediately before stop, or during a low-load operation of the engine, exhaust heat from the engine can be efficiently used.

A method and a device for recovering heat from an engine and for converting the heat into mechanical energy using an expansion machine. A heat accumulator fluid is guided in a primary circuit by means of a primary pump and is firstly heated by the waste heat of the combustion engine by means of a heat exchanger, is transferred into a heat accumulator and recirculated to the first heat exchanger, and, secondly, the heat accumulator fluid is guided in a secondary circuit by said heat accumulator fluid being extracted in the vapor state from the heat accumulator and being supplied to the expansion machine, and being condensed by means of a condenser downstream thereof and being recirculated into the heat accumulator by means of a secondary pump. The primary circuit of the heat accumulator fluid is connected to the secondary circuit exclusively via the heat accumulator.

A method and a device for recovering heat from an engine and for converting the heat into mechanical energy using an expansion machine. A heat accumulator fluid is guided in a primary circuit by means of a primary pump and is firstly heated by the waste heat of the combustion engine by means of a heat exchanger, is transferred into a heat accumulator and recirculated to the first heat exchanger, and, secondly, the heat accumulator fluid is guided in a secondary circuit by said heat accumulator fluid being extracted in the vapor state from the heat accumulator and being supplied to the expansion machine, and being condensed by means of a condenser downstream thereof and being recirculated into the heat accumulator by means of a secondary pump. The primary circuit of the heat accumulator fluid is connected to the secondary circuit exclusively via the heat accumulator.

A powertrain waste heat recovery system includes a first powertrain component and a second powertrain component. The powertrain waste heat recovery system also includes a heat recovery circuit circulating a heat recovery fluid through a heat recovery heat exchanger. The heat recovery heat exchanger transfers heat from the first powertrain component to the heat recovery fluid during a powertrain propulsion mode and transfers heat from the second powertrain component to the heat recovery fluid during a powertrain retarding mode. The powertrain waste heat recovery system also includes a conversion device for converting thermal energy from the heat recovery fluid to an energy form other than thermal energy.

A powertrain waste heat recovery system includes a first powertrain component and a second powertrain component. The powertrain waste heat recovery system also includes a heat recovery circuit circulating a heat recovery fluid through a heat recovery heat exchanger. The heat recovery heat exchanger transfers heat from the first powertrain component to the heat recovery fluid during a powertrain propulsion mode and transfers heat from the second powertrain component to the heat recovery fluid during a powertrain retarding mode. The powertrain waste heat recovery system also includes a conversion device for converting thermal energy from the heat recovery fluid to an energy form other than thermal energy.