Cummins Inc.
Integrated control system for engine waste heat recovery using an organic Rankine cycle

Abstract:

An engine waste heat recovery (WHR) system includes a turbocharger WHR portion, an exhaust WHR portion, an expander in the exhaust WHR portion, a condenser, valves, and a controller. The expander receives a working fluid in a superheated form and converts thermal energy in the working fluid into mechanical energy or electrical energy. The condenser condenses the working fluid for recirculation through the engine WHR system. The recuperator is fluidly coupled between the expander and the condenser to allow the working fluid to flow from the expander to the condenser. The recuperator transfers thermal energy to a flow of the working fluid from the turbocharger WHR portion. Each valve is fluidly coupled to one of the turbocharger WHR portion and the exhaust WHR portion. The controller is electrically coupled to the valves, and the controller selectively controls the valves to selectively circulate the working fluid through the engine WHR system.