Turbosteamer
Encyclopedia
A turbosteamer is a term used by BMW
to describe a combined cycle
engine. It uses a steam engine
to convert waste heat energy from an internal combustion engine
into supplemental power for the vehicle. The turbosteamer device is affixed to the exhaust and cooling system. It salvages the heat wasted in the exhaust and radiator (as much as 80% of heat energy) and uses a steam piston or turbine to relay that power to the crankshaft. The steam circuit produces 14 hp and 15 ft.lbf of torque at peak (for a 1.8 Straight-4
engine), yielding an estimated 15% gain in fuel efficiency. Unlike gas-electric hybrids, these gains increase at higher, steadier speeds.
BMW has been the pioneer of this concept as early as 2000 under the direction of Dr. Raymond Freymann
, and while they are designing this system to fit to most current BMW models, the technology is not expected to reach production until 2015 onward, based on 2005 estimates.
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
to describe a combined cycle
Combined cycle
In electric power generation a combined cycle is an assembly of heat engines that work in tandem off the same source of heat, converting it into mechanical energy, which in turn usually drives electrical generators...
engine. It uses a steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
to convert waste heat energy from an internal combustion engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
into supplemental power for the vehicle. The turbosteamer device is affixed to the exhaust and cooling system. It salvages the heat wasted in the exhaust and radiator (as much as 80% of heat energy) and uses a steam piston or turbine to relay that power to the crankshaft. The steam circuit produces 14 hp and 15 ft.lbf of torque at peak (for a 1.8 Straight-4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engine), yielding an estimated 15% gain in fuel efficiency. Unlike gas-electric hybrids, these gains increase at higher, steadier speeds.
BMW has been the pioneer of this concept as early as 2000 under the direction of Dr. Raymond Freymann
Raymond Freymann
Raymond Freymann is an engineering professor and researcher, born on May 30, 1952 in Esch-sur-Alzette , and has authored or co-authored more than 150 scientific publications...
, and while they are designing this system to fit to most current BMW models, the technology is not expected to reach production until 2015 onward, based on 2005 estimates.
See also
- Crower six stroke
- SuperchargerSuperchargerA supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
- TurbochargerTurbochargerA turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
- TwinchargerTwinchargerTwincharger refers to a compound forced induction system used on some piston-type internal combustion engines. It is a combination of an exhaust-driven turbocharger and an engine-driven supercharger, each mitigating the weaknesses of the other...
- IntercoolerIntercoolerAn intercooler , or charge air cooler, is an air-to-air or air-to-liquid heat exchange device used on turbocharged and supercharged internal combustion engines to improve their volumetric efficiency by increasing intake air charge density through nearly isobaric cooling, which removes...
- Split-Cycle Hybrid
- COGAS
- Turbo-compound engineTurbo-compound engineA turbo-compound engine is a reciprocating engine that employs a blowdown turbine to recover energy from the exhaust gases. The turbine is usually mechanically connected to the crankshaft but electric and hydraulic systems have been investigated as well. The turbine increases the output of the...
- CogenerationCogenerationCogeneration is the use of a heat engine or a power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and useful heat....
- Combined cycleCombined cycleIn electric power generation a combined cycle is an assembly of heat engines that work in tandem off the same source of heat, converting it into mechanical energy, which in turn usually drives electrical generators...
Publications
- R. Freymann, W. Strobl, A. Obieglo: The Turbosteamer: A System Introducing the Principle of Cogeneration in Automotive Applications. Motortechnische Zeitschrift, MTZ 05/2008 Jahrgang 69, pp.404-412.