Waste to Heat and Power: Directing the Automotive Radiator-Heated Air to Improve Combustion

Authors

  • Oladapo T. Ogunbodede Kwara State University, Malete, PMB 1530, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
  • Christopher Odetunde Kwara State University, Malete, PMB 1530, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
  • T Yomi Obidi Kwara State University, Malete, PMB 1530, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Keywords:

automotive, engine coolant, convection, radiator, combustion, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), air duct.

Abstract

Engine coolant heated in the engine block loses the heat of combustion to the atmosphere through the radiator.  The radiator coolant becomes cooler, and, with the assistance of the water pump resumes the cycle of absorbing heat and discharging it to the atmosphere.  The air drawn across the radiator grid, by forced or natural convection, usually flows undirected over the engine and into other parts of the vehicle underhood.  Depending on the prevailing temperature of the environment, this air from the radiator may be beneficial or of no help for the cooling of the engine outer wall.  A temperature sensor can detect when the aft-radiator air is beneficial for cooling the engine, and direct it over the engine, or when it does not improve engine cooling, in which case it may be diverted from the engine to the sides in the underhood, and channeled away through the vehicle underbody either below the driver location or at the vehicle rear.  In either case, there is enough heated air exiting the radiator to provide the needed air mixture for combustion and for turbocharging the engine.  In most designs, this is currently provided by exhaust gas through the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system. But the exhaust gas is highly contaminated, and causes problems such as coking in turbochargers and in the EGR.  The benefit of getting the air from the cooling system rather than from the exhaust system is that the air from the former is relatively clean and, therefore, better for improved combustion and for turbocharging. In this exploratory study, a method is presented for redirecting some of the aft-radiator air to the combustion chamber and to the turbocharger, as needed.

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Published

2016-05-22

How to Cite

T. Ogunbodede, O., Odetunde, C., & Obidi, T. Y. (2016). Waste to Heat and Power: Directing the Automotive Radiator-Heated Air to Improve Combustion. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences, 19(1), 191–198. Retrieved from https://asrjetsjournal.org/index.php/American_Scientific_Journal/article/view/1596

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