IC engine waste heat economiser - uses exhaust to generate electricity by peltier effect to drive auxiliary motor

摘要

A vehicle has an internal combustion engine (1) which discharges hot gases through an exhaust pipe (2). A thermoelectric converter (3) is placed in the exhaust pipe. The converter contains thermoelectric couples which produce an electromotive force when heated by the Peltier effect. The electric terminals of the converter are connected to an electric motor (4) mechanically coupled to the output shaft (6) of the internal combustion engine (1). They can also supply auxiliary electrical equipment (5). the exhaust gases are cooled to as low a temperature as possible in the converter and the energy recovered is converted into electricity which is used to add to the power output of the engine. The overall efficiency is thus increased.