Rankine power system for use with exhaust gas aftertreatment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10570784-B2
Application number	US-201815973963-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2018
Priority date	Sep 22, 2017
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

A power system for converting waste heat from exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine to electrical energy includes an aftertreatment assembly positioned within a first housing. The power system also includes an evaporator assembly positioned within a second housing. The evaporator assembly is positioned directly adjacent the aftertreatment assembly. The evaporator assembly includes a first portion of a working fluid loop in thermal communication with a first length of an exhaust conduit that extends from the aftertreatment assembly into the second housing. The power system also includes a power pack positioned inside a third housing. The power pack is positioned directly adjacent the evaporator assembly opposite to the aftertreatment assembly. The power pack includes a tank, a condenser, a pump and an expander fluidly connected by a second portion of the working fluid loop. The second portion is fluidly connected to the first portion of the working fluid loop.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power system for converting waste heat from exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine to electrical energy, the power system comprising:
an aftertreatment assembly positioned within a first housing, the aftertreatment assembly comprising an exhaust conduit operable to receive exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine;
an evaporator assembly positioned within a second housing, the evaporator assembly positioned directly adjacent the aftertreatment assembly, the evaporator assembly comprising a first portion of a working fluid loop, the first portion of the working fluid loop in thermal communication with a first length of the exhaust conduit that extends from the aftertreatment assembly into the second housing; and
a power pack positioned inside a third housing, the power pack positioned directly adjacent the evaporator assembly opposite to the aftertreatment assembly, the power pack comprising a tank, a condenser, a pump and an expander fluidly connected by a second portion of the working fluid loop, the second portion fluidly connected to the first portion of the working fluid loop.

2. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the power system is configured to connect to a vehicle that is operable to move in a forward direction of travel, the aftertreatment assembly, the evaporator assembly and the power pack positioned directly adjacent one another in a direction parallel to the forward direction of travel.

3. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the aftertreatment assembly, the evaporator assembly and the power pack are aligned in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle.

4. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the first housing, the second housing and the third housing are configured to connect laterally adjacent to a frame of a vehicle between a front wheel and a rear wheel.

5. The power system of claim 1 wherein the exhaust conduit includes a first length positioned in the first housing and a second length positioned in the second housing, the first length and the second length joined together by a service connector permitting the evaporator assembly to be disconnected from the aftertreatment assembly for service or maintenance.

6. The power system of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the working fluid loop is connected to the second portion of the working fluid loop by a pair of service connectors permitting the power pack to be disconnected from the evaporator assembly for service or maintenance.

7. The power system of claim 6 wherein each service connector of the pair of service connectors is a quick-connect fitting that is operable to longitudinally and releasably connect the first portion of the work fluid loop to the second portion of the working fluid loop.

Assignees

• Tenneco Gmbh

Inventors

• Grelet Vincent
• Tipner Pierre

Classifications

• F01P3/12

  Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts · CPC title

• F01N2240/02

  a heat exchanger · CPC title

• F01K23/101 Primary

  Regulating means specially adapted therefor (F01K23/105, F01K23/108 take precedence) · CPC title

• F02G2280/50

  Compressors or pumps · CPC title

• B60K13/04

  concerning exhaust · CPC title