Waste heat recuperation system for water cooled engines - in which cooling water is heated by exhaust gases and used to drive generator

摘要

The cooling water outlet (4) from a high performance internal combustion engine is fed to a boiler (5). The exhaust pipe passes through the boiler to transfer heat to the water. The exhaust gases then pass to atmos. (8). The steam produced in the boiler is then utilised to drive a pistoned steam engine (10) which is coupled to an electric generator (12). Alternatively, a closed water circulation cycle could be used, whereby the steam from the boiler (5) is fed to a steam turbine. The turbine exhaust is then passed through a condenser and fed back to the internal combustion engine cooling system.