Apparatus and method of disabling a waste heat recovery apparatus working fluid flow

Abstract

An apparatus and method for operating Waste Heat Recovery system based on a Rankine cycle and including a vaporizer/boiler heated by an internal combustion engine exhaust waste heat, an expander, a condenser, and a pump for circulating a working fluid through the circuit, includes a shutoff valve placed at the inlet side of the pump and controlled in the event an emergency shutdown is needed to stop working fluid circulation by closing and causing the pump to cavitate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a waste heat recovery apparatus associated with an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, the apparatus including a boiler, an expander, a condenser, and a pump connected on a circuit circulating a working fluid, comprising the steps of:
 monitoring a status of selected components of a vehicle having an engine and a waste heat recovery apparatus;   detecting a trigger condition of at least one of the engine and the waste heat recovery apparatus for shutting off a working fluid flow; and,   closing a valve ups of a pump inlet to stop working fluid flow to the pump.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising monitoring the status of at least one of a waste heat boiler, an expander, a condenser, an accumulator, and a working fluid circuit. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger condition is a signal indicating a pressure of the working fluid below a low pressure threshold. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger condition is fault code for a valve actuator of the working fluid circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger condition is a signal indicating a collision involving the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger condition is a signal indicating is a malfunction of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         7 . A waste heat recovery apparatus for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a waste heat boiler an expander, a condenser, and a fluid pump arranged on the fluid circuit;   a shutoff valve disposed on the fluid circuit between the condenser and fluid pump; and,   a controller connected to the shutoff valve and configured to shutoff fluid flow in the fluid circuit upon receipt of a signal indicating an abnormal condition in a component arranged on the fluid circuit.   
     
     
         8 . The waste heat recovery apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is connected to receive signals from vehicle systems, and wherein the controller is configured to shut off fluid flow in the fluid circuit upon receipt of a signal indicating a malfunction of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         9 . A vehicle having a waste heat recovery apparatus, comprising:
 an internal combustion engine;   a waste heat recovery apparatus including a waste heat boiler, an expander, a condenser, and a fluid pump arranged on a fluid circuit, the waste heat boiler being connected to receive waste heat from the engine to heat a working fluid;   a shutoff valve disposed on the fluid circuit between the condenser and the fluid pump; and,   a controller connected to the shutoff valve and connected to receive signals indicating a condition of the internal combustion engine and waste heat recovery apparatus, the controller including a memory storing trigger conditions for closing the shutoff valve and configured to compare a signal received to the trigger conditions and to close the shutoff valve upon receipt of a signal indicating a trigger condition.