Energy recovery system in an engine

Abstract

A energy recovery system for an internal combustion engine which dynamically allocates heat energy to multiple vehicle accessory systems

1 . An internal combustion engine system comprising: an internal combustion engine producing heated emissions from one or more combustion chamber(s), a gaseous matter generator connected proximal to said combustion chamber(s), said gaseous matter generator operatively configured to receive said heated emissions from said one or more combustion chamber(s) and to apply the heat from said heated emissions to produce gaseous matter; a turbine, driven by said gaseous matter, having a compartment with a shaft extending therethrough, said compartment housing an impeller on said shaft; an exhaust gas conduit configured to direct exhaust gas into said compartment in a manner to impel said impeller; and a gaseous matter conduit from said gaseous matter generator configured to direct exhaust gas into compartment in a manner to impel said impeller.  
   
   
       2 . An internal combustion engine system, in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said gaseous matter is steam.  
   
   
       3 . An internal combustion engine system, in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said gaseous matter generator comprises a condenser, operatively connected to said turbine by a first conduit and a boiler, operatively connected to said condenser by a second conduit; said condenser and said first and second conduits enclosed in a fluid jacket operatively configured to circulate heated coolant.  
   
   
       4 . An internal combustion engine system, in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid reservoir heater having a gaseous matter conduit, said gaseous matter conduit operatively connected to said gaseous matter generator by conduits.  
   
   
       5 . A heated engine fluid reservoir comprising: 
 a heat source, containing a fluid, comprising an input source fluid port and an output source fluid port;    a distribution allocator, containing said fluid, connected to said heat source by a fluid conduit, comprising electrically operable fluid valves operatively configured to interconnect a plurality of input fluid ports and output fluid ports;    a fluid pump operatively, containing said fluid, connected to said distribution allocator, said fluid pump capable of pumping fluid through said heat source and into said distribution allocator; and    an engine fluid reservoir having a fluid conduit thermally coupled to the internal surface of said engine fluid reservoir, said fluid conduit operatively connected to said input port and said output port of said distribution allocator.    
   
   
       6 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 5 , where said heat source further comprises a temperature sensor.  
   
   
       7 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 5 , where said fluid reservoir heater further comprises a temperature sensor.  
   
   
       8 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 5 , where said heat source is a heat-exchanger.  
   
   
       9 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 5 , where said heat source is a battery powered electrical heater.  
   
   
       10 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 5 , where said beat source is an electrical heater powered by electricity generated from engine heat.  
   
   
       11 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said heat source is powered by electricity produced by a turbine-generator.  
   
   
       12 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the turbine-generator is a steam powered turbine-generator.  
   
   
       13 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said fluid is anti-freeze fluid.  
   
   
       14 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is alcohol.  
   
   
       15 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is methanol.  
   
   
       16 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is ethylene glycol.  
   
   
       17 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is propylene glycol.  
   
   
       18 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is a mixture of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.  
   
   
       19 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is organic acid technology anti-freeze.  
   
   
       20 . A heated engine fluid reservoir, in accordance with  claim 5 , where said heat source is chosen, on a priority basis, from the prioritized group consisting of an electrical heater powered by electricity generated from engine heat and a battery powered electrical heater.  
   
   
       21 . An energy recovery system in a vehicle comprising: 
 a heat source, containing a fluid, comprising an input source fluid port and an output source fluid port;    a distribution allocator, containing said fluid, connected to said heat source by a fluid conduit, comprising electrically operable fluid valves operatively configured to interconnect a plurality of input fluid ports and output fluid ports;    a fluid pump operatively, containing said fluid, connected to said distribution allocator, said fluid pump capable of pumping fluid through said heat source and into said distribution allocator;    a controller electrically connected to said distribution allocator and operatively configured to control the position of said electrically operable fluid valves; and    a plurality of temperature sensors configured to perform temperature measurements of said fluid at diverse locations; and    a controller logic unit comprising a processor and an electronic memory containing executable code to generate controller commands, said controller logic unit operatively configured to receive said temperature measurements from said plurality of temperature sensors, perform said executable code, and transmit said generated commands to said controller.    
   
   
       22 . An energy recovery system, in accordance with  claim 21 , where said heat source is a heat-exchanger.  
   
   
       23 . An energy recovery system, in accordance with  claim 21 , where said heat source is a battery powered electrical heater.  
   
   
       24 . An energy recovery system, in accordance with  claim 21 , where said heat source is an electrical heater powered by electricity generated from engine heat.  
   
   
       25 . An energy recovery system, in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said heat source is powered by electricity produced by a turbine-generator.  
   
   
       26 . An energy recovery system, in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein the turbine-generator is a steam powered turbine-generator.  
   
   
       27 . An energy recovery system, in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said fluid is anti-freeze fluid.  
   
   
       28 . An energy recovery system, in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is alcohol.  
   
   
       29 . An energy recovery system, in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is methanol.  
   
   
       30 . An energy recovery system, in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is ethylene glycol.  
   
   
       31 . An energy recovery system, in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is propylene glycol.  
   
   
       32 . An energy recovery system, in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is a mixture of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol,  
   
   
       33 . An energy recovery system, in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is organic acid technology anti-freeze.  
   
   
       34 . An energy recovery system, in accordance with  claim 21 , where said heat source is chosen, on a priority basis, from the prioritized group consisting of an electrical heater powered by electricity generated from engine heat and a battery powered electrical heater.  
   
   
       35 . A vehicle brake de-icing system comprising: 
 a heat source, containing a fluid, comprising an input source fluid port and an output source fluid port;    a distribution allocator, containing said fluid, connected to said heat source by a fluid conduit, comprising electrically operable fluid valves operatively configured to interconnect a plurality of input fluid ports and output fluid ports;    a fluid pump operatively, containing said fluid, connected to said distribution allocator, said fluid pump capable of pumping fluid through said heat source and into said distribution allocator; and    a fluid conduit thermally coupled to at least one vehicle brake system component, said fluid conduit operatively connected to said input port and said output port of said distribution allocator.    
   
   
       36 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 35 , where said heat source further comprises a temperature sensor.  
   
   
       37 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 35 , where said brake system component further comprises a temperature sensor.  
   
   
       38 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 35 , where said heat source is a heat-exchanger.  
   
   
       39 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 35 , where said heat source is a battery powered electrical heater.  
   
   
       40 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 35 , where said heat source is an electrical heater powered by electricity generated from engine heat.  
   
   
       41 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 35 , wherein said heat source is powered by electricity produced by a turbine-generator.  
   
   
       42 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 41 , wherein the turbine-generator is a steam powered turbine-generator.  
   
   
       43 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 35 , wherein said fluid is anti-freeze fluid.  
   
   
       44 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is alcohol.  
   
   
       45 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is methanol.  
   
   
       46 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is ethylene glycol.  
   
   
       47 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is propylene glycol.  
   
   
       48 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is a mixture of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.  
   
   
       49 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein said anti-freeze fluid is organic acid technology anti-freeze.  
   
   
       50 . A vehicle brake de-icing system, in accordance with  claim 35 , where said heat source is chosen, on a priority basis, from the prioritized group consisting of an electrical heater powered by electricity generated from engine heat and a battery powered electrical heater.