Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1215833
A waste heat recovery (WHR) system connects a working fluid to fluid passages formed in an engine block and/or a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, forming an engine heat exchanger. The fluid passages are formed near high temperature areas of the engine, subjecting the working fluid to sufficient heat energy to vaporize the working fluid while the working fluid advantageously cools the engine block and/or cylinder head, improving fuel efficiency. The location of the engine heat exchanger downstream from an EGR boiler and upstream from an exhaust heat exchanger provides an optimal position of the engine heat exchanger with respect to the thermodynamic cycle of the WHR system, giving priority to cooling of EGR gas. The configuration of valves in the WHR system provides the ability to select a plurality of parallel flow paths for optimal operation.
Research Organization:
Cummins Inc., Columbus, IN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
EE0003403
Assignee:
Cummins Inc. (Columbus, IN)
Patent Number(s):
9,140,209
Application Number:
13/679,885
OSTI ID:
1215833
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English