Waste heat recovery system layout and packaging strategy

Abstract

A number of variations include a product including system including a fluid circuit comprising a fluid, a pump, an expander, a power generation component, at least one heat exchanger, and a condenser, wherein the condenser is constructed and arranged to be mounted in the path of ram air on a vehicle; and an attachment for attaching at least the condenser to the vehicle in the path of ram air. In a number of variations, the system may include an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system in a vehicle to convert waste heat energy to usable power where the condenser of the ORC system is housed within the fairing on the vehicle cabin roof to ensure placement within the path of ram air on the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A product comprising:
 a system comprising: a fluid circuit comprising a fluid, a pump, an expander, a power generation component, at least one heat exchanger, and a condenser, wherein the condenser is constructed and arranged to be mounted in the path of ram air on a vehicle; and an attachment for attaching at least the condenser to the vehicle in the path of ram air.   
     
     
         2 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the condenser is mounted on or enclosed within the fairing of a vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the condenser is mounted on a top surface of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the condenser is mounted on a side surface of the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the condenser is mounted on a bottom surface of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the condenser is mounted on a front surface of the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the fluid comprises at least one of steam, fluorinol, ammonia, ethanol, methanol, kerosene, gasoline, diesel, propanol, butanol, water, benzene, toluene, methane, ethane, propane, butane, acetone, or liquid hydrogen. 
     
     
         8 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the fluid circuit is an organic Rankine cycle. 
     
     
         9 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the fluid circuit is constructed and arranged to recover waste heat from a vehicle exhaust system. 
     
     
         10 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the entire fluid circuit is constructed and arranged to be in a single housing mounted in the path of ram air on a vehicle through the attachment. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 providing a system comprising a fluid circuit comprising a fluid, a pump, an expander, a power generation component, at least one heat exchanger, and a condenser;   attaching at least the condenser of the system to a surface of a vehicle though an attachment; and   operating the fluid circuit to generate usable work from the fluid wherein the condenser is constructed and arranged to be mounted in the path of ram air on a vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the condenser is mounted on or enclosed within the fairing of a vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the condenser is mounted on a top surface of the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the condenser is mounted on a side surface of the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the condenser is mounted on a bottom surface of the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the condenser is mounted on a front surface of the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the fluid comprises at least one of steam, fluorinol, ammonia, ethanol, methanol, kerosene, gasoline, diesel, propanol, butanol, water, benzene, toluene, methane, ethane, propane, butane, acetone, or liquid hydrogen. 
     
     
         18 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the fluid circuit is an organic Rankine cycle. 
     
     
         19 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the fluid circuit is constructed and arranged to recover waste heat from a vehicle exhaust system. 
     
     
         20 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the entire fluid circuit is constructed and arranged to be in a single housing mounted in the path of ram air on a vehicle through the attachment.