Current Research
Two-stage Turborecovery of Exhaust Waste Energy
Principal investigators:
Graduate student:
Chia-Sheng (“Jason”) Lai
Sponsor:
Internal startup funds
Brief abstract:
Exhaust waste energy recovery methods to date suffer from poor recovery performance at low engine loads and corresponding low exhaust gas flows. This research effort explores the potential of applying the improved low-flow energy recovery behavior of two-stage turbocharger turbine (input) sections to the driving of generators or hydraulic pumps for energy reuse.
Impact:
Potential 7 percent to 10 percent improvement in fuel economy for vehicles powered by gasoline/diesel internal combustion engines.
Project schedule:
Simulation results by spring 2009. Bench-level/test cell system test results by spring 2010 and vehicle-level results by fall 2010.