Integrated waste heat recovery

Abstract

A system and method of operating a waste heat recovery system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes an expander/compressor portion mechanically linked to wheels of the vehicle, the expander/compressor portion including an inlet valve and an exhaust valve. A combustion engine is provided having an exhaust portion. A working fluid path is thermally coupled between the combustion engine and a working fluid, the working fluid path being fluidly coupled to the expander/compressor portion. A boiler portion is fluidly coupled to the working fluid path, the boiler portion further being thermally coupled to the exhaust portion. An accumulator tank portion having a cavity is operative to receive and store the working fluid, the accumulator tank portion fluidly coupled to the inlet valve and the exhaust valve. A condenser is fluidly coupled to the working fluid path and the exhaust valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A waste heat recovery system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
 an expander/compressor portion is mechanically linked to wheels of the vehicle, the expander/compressor portion including an inlet valve and an exhaust valve;   a combustion engine having an exhaust portion;   a working fluid path having a working fluid, the working fluid path being thermally coupled to exchange heat between the combustion engine and the working fluid, the working fluid path being fluidly coupled to the expander/compressor portion;   a boiler portion having a heat exchange portion that is fluidly coupled to the working fluid path, the boiler portion further being thermally coupled to the exhaust portion;   an accumulator tank portion having a cavity that is fluidly coupled to receive and store the working fluid, the accumulator tank portion being fluidly coupled to the working fluid path, the inlet valve and the exhaust valve of the expander/compressor portion; and   a condenser fluidly coupled to the working fluid path and the exhaust valve.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump portion fluidly coupled to the working fluid path between the condenser and the combustion engine. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor operative to control the system, wherein the processor is operative to control a vehicle driving mode that includes:
 operating the combustion engine to exchange heat with the working fluid;   control an output of the working fluid from the boiler portion to the expander/compressor portion; and   control the expander/compressor portion such that the expander/compressor portion drives the wheels of the vehicle.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor operative to control the system, wherein the processor is operative to control an accumulator charging mode that includes:
 operating the combustion engine and exchanging heat with the working fluid;   controlling an output of the working fluid from the boiler portion to the accumulator tank portion; and   controlling the accumulator tank portion to receive and store the working fluid.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor operative to control the system, wherein the processor is operative to control an accumulator tank depletion mode that includes:
 controlling the accumulator tank portion to output the working fluid to the expander/compressor portion; and   controlling the expander/compressor portion to receive the working fluid from the accumulator tank portion and drive the wheels of the vehicle.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor operative to control the system, wherein the processor is operative to control a regenerative breaking mode that includes:
 controlling the expander/compressor portion to receive the working fluid from the boiler portion, compressing the working fluid by being driven by the wheels of the vehicle, and outputting compressed working fluid to the accumulator tank portion; and   controlling the accumulator tank portion to receive and store the compressed working fluid.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor operative to control the system, wherein the processor is operative to control a warm up mode that includes controlling an output of the working fluid from the boiler portion to the engine such that the working fluid heats the engine. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the boiler portion is operative to receive the working fluid from the combustion engine at a high pressure and medium temperature and output the working fluid at a high pressure and high temperature. 
     
     
         9 . A waste heat recovery system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
 an expander/compressor portion mechanically linked to wheels of the vehicle, the expander/compressor portion including a primary inlet valve, a secondary inlet valve and an exhaust valve;   a combustion engine having an exhaust portion, the exhaust portion having an exhaust gas path;   a working fluid path having a working fluid, the working fluid path being thermally coupled to the combustion engine and fluidly coupled to the to the secondary inlet valve of the expander/compressor portion;   a boiler portion having a heat exchange portion thermally coupled to the exhaust gas path;   an accumulator tank portion that includes a cavity operative to receive and store the working fluid, the accumulator tank portion fluidly coupled to the working fluid path and the primary inlet valve; and   a condenser portion fluidly coupled between the exhaust valve and the boiler portion.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a pump portion fluidly coupled to the working fluid path between the condenser portion and the combustion engine. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a processor operative to control the system, wherein the processor is operative to control a vehicle driving mode that includes:
 operating the combustion engine to exchange heat with the working fluid;   controlling an output of the working fluid from the combustion engine to the expander/compressor portion;   controlling an output of the working fluid from the boiler portion to the expander/compressor portion; and   controlling the expander/compressor portion such that the expander/compressor portion drives the wheels of the vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a processor operative to control the system, wherein the processor is operative to control an accumulator charging mode that includes:
 operating the combustion engine to exchange heat with the working fluid;   controlling an output of the working fluid from the boiler portion to the accumulator tank portion; and   controlling the accumulator tank portion to receive and store the working fluid.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a processor operative to control the system, wherein the processor is operative to control an accumulator tank depletion mode that includes:
 controlling the accumulator tank portion to output the working fluid to the expander/compressor portion; and   controlling the expander/compressor portion to receive the working fluid from the accumulator tank portion and drive the wheels of the vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a processor operative to control the system, wherein the processor is operative to control a regenerative breaking mode that includes:
 controlling the expander/compressor portion to receive the working fluid from the boiler portion, compressing the working fluid by being driven by the wheels of the vehicle, and outputting compressed working fluid to the accumulator tank portion; and   controlling the accumulator tank portion to receive and store the compressed working fluid.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a processor operative to control the system, wherein the processor is operative to control a warm up mode that includes controlling an output of the working fluid from the boiler portion to the engine such that the working fluid heats the engine. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the boiler portion is operative to receive the working fluid from the combustion engine at a high pressure and medium temperature and output the working fluid at a high pressure and high temperature. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a waste heat recovery system for a vehicle having wheels, the method comprising:
 operating a combustion engine to exchange heat with a working fluid;   outputting the working fluid from the combustion engine to an accumulator tank; and   storing the working fluid in the accumulator tank.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 following the storing the working fluid in the accumulator tank, 
 outputting the working fluid from the accumulator tank to an expander/compressor portion; 
 driving the expander/compressor portion with the working fluid; and 
 driving the wheels of the vehicle with the expander/compressor portion. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 following the driving the wheels of the vehicle with the expander/compressor portion, receiving the working fluid in the expander/compressor portion;   driving the expander/compressor portion with the wheels of the vehicle;   compressing the working fluid with the expander/compressor portion;   outputting compressed working fluid from the expander/compressor portion to the accumulator tank portion; and   storing the compressed working fluid in the accumulator tank portion.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 outputting the working fluid from the accumulator tank portion to an expander/compressor portion;   driving the expander/compressor portion with the working fluid; and   driving the wheels of the vehicle with the expander/compressor portion.