BMW researchers use engine heat to produce steam power

[siko]

BMW researchers use engine heat to produce steam power

Munich, Germany – BMW Group reports that its Research and Engineering team has succeeded in harnessing engine heat to increase power and reduce fuel consumption. The innovative assistance drive, combined with a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, reduced fuel consumption by up to 15 per cent and generated 13.4 more horsepower in tests. The extra energy was derived exclusively from waste heat present in exhaust gases and cooling water.

The project, known as the Turbosteamer, works on the principle of the steam engine. Fluid is heated to form steam in two circuits, which is used to power the engine. The primary energy supplier is a high-temperature circuit which uses exhaust heat from the engine as an energy source, via heat exchangers. More than 80 per cent of the heat energy contained in the exhaust gases is recycled. The steam is then conducted directly into an expansion unit, linked to the engine's crankshaft. Most of the remaining residual heat is absorbed by the engine's cooling system, which acts as the Turbosteamer's second energy supply.

The components of the new system have been designed to be installed in existing model series, with tests showing that a number of sample packages will fit into a car such as the BMW 3 Series. Researchers are focusing on making the components smaller and simpler; BMW forecasts that the system may be ready for volume production within ten years.

Source: http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/051208-1.htm

 

[EnI]

 

[yomomwhat]

BMW researchers use engine heat to produce steam power

Munich, Germany – BMW Group reports that its Research and Engineering team has succeeded in harnessing engine heat to increase power and reduce fuel consumption. The innovative assistance drive, combined with a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, reduced fuel consumption by up to 15 per cent and generated 13.4 more horsepower in tests. The extra energy was derived exclusively from waste heat present in exhaust gases and cooling water.

The project, known as the Turbosteamer, works on the principle of the steam engine. Fluid is heated to form steam in two circuits, which is used to power the engine. The primary energy supplier is a high-temperature circuit which uses exhaust heat from the engine as an energy source, via heat exchangers. More than 80 per cent of the heat energy contained in the exhaust gases is recycled. The steam is then conducted directly into an expansion unit, linked to the engine's crankshaft. Most of the remaining residual heat is absorbed by the engine's cooling system, which acts as the Turbosteamer's second energy supply.

The components of the new system have been designed to be installed in existing model series, with tests showing that a number of sample packages will fit into a car such as the BMW 3 Series. Researchers are focusing on making the components smaller and simpler; BMW forecasts that the system may be ready for volume production within ten years.

Source: http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/051208-1.htm

"BMW forecasts that the system may be ready for volume production within ten years."

well thats useful!!!! lol....everything will be fuel cell then

 

[warot]

I love these kinds of new technology. I think that's the reason why I wanted to become an engineer in the first place.

 

[Lemantech]

brilliant...thats all i have to say

 

[warot]

"BMW forecasts that the system may be ready for volume production within ten years."

well thats useful!!!! lol....everything will be fuel cell then

Do you honestly think that everything will be fuel cell by then?

10 years does sound a bit long though.

 

[yomomwhat]

Do you honestly think that everything will be fuel cell by then?

10 years does sound a bit long though.

well why not, daimler chrysler have been testing them for ages, they say something like 2010 or 2012 for mass production, now thats 5-7 years....
it makes no sense to make somethig that improves fuel consumption by 15% for within 10 years?

 

[Matt]

"BMW forecasts that the system may be ready for volume production within ten years."

well thats useful!!!! lol....everything will be fuel cell then

Dont think so. The energy used to keep hydrogen in a cooled state is much greater than teh energy saved. So you end up using more electrical energy and end up burning more fossil fuels etc etc.

This is an awsome idea. Not letting the heat from the engine go away. Its actually smarter than a hybrid because the energy to produce those cars are very great. Very smart. BMW is always leading the way on innovation. You can quote me on that.

NOW TIME FOR SOME TRIG HW. yay.

 

[yomomwhat]

Dont think so. The energy used to keep hydrogen in a cooled state is much greater than teh energy saved. So you end up using more electrical energy and end up burning more fossil fuels etc etc.

This is an awsome idea. Not letting the heat from the engine go away. Its actually smarter than a hybrid because the energy to produce those cars are very great. Very smart. BMW is always leading the way on innovation. You can quote me on that.

NOW TIME FOR SOME TRIG HW. yay.

"The energy used to keep hydrogen in a cooled state is much greater than teh energy saved. So you end up using more electrical energy and end up burning more fossil fuels etc etc."

kk so all the car makers are wasting their time making fuel cells no....the electrical energy to keep the hydorgen cool will come from renewable sources also....ever thought of that, even nuclear power, way cleaner than fossil fuels


"BMW is always leading the way on innovation"

no offense but that has to be the funniest thing i have heard for days, dont you pay attention to other compaines innovations, i suggest you do, for every innovation bmw have made MB have made 2, take for example the w220 vs the 7 series, which one had most innovations, take fuel cells, who do you think has more fuel cells than any other company....it goes on but i cant be bothered keep writing

 

[warot]

"The energy used to keep hydrogen in a cooled state is much greater than teh energy saved. So you end up using more electrical energy and end up burning more fossil fuels etc etc."

kk so all the car makers are wasting their time making fuel cells no....the electrical energy to keep the hydorgen cool will come from renewable sources also....ever thought of that, even nuclear power, way cleaner than fossil fuels


"BMW is always leading the way on innovation"

no offense but that has to be the funniest thing i have heard for days, dont you pay attention to other compaines innovations, i suggest you do, for every innovation bmw have made MB have made 2, take for example the w220 vs the 7 series, which one had most innovations, take fuel cells, who do you think has more fuel cells than any other company....it goes on but i cant be bothered keep writing

I don't think you understand... to make the hydrogen that these car needs takes a huge amount of energy, which is why fuel cell cars doesn't mean that we are clear cut from f-ing up our environment.
Nuclear energy to keep hydrogen cool? What?

By the way, even if Benz says that fuel cell cars will be in production by 2010, it doesn't mean that every car in the world is going to be mostly fuel cell. Plus even if it goes into production, you need stations that will have hydrogen fuel... that, will not be ready available by 2010 all over the world I think.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

...take for example the w220 vs the 7 series, which one had most innovations..

Sorry to go a bit off-topic guys ... but since yomomwhat proposed the question, I'd like to see him you answer it if he could please,.. or atleast state the innovations in the W220.

 

[yomomwhat]

Sorry to go a bit off-topic guys ... but since yomomwhat proposed the question, I'd like to see him you answer it if he could please,.. or atleast state the innovations in the W220.

kk
linguatronic
distronic
pre safe
bi xenons
airmatic / abc
teleaid
etc

just look on google

"The latest 220 series S-Class includes more than 30 new developments, for which a total of 340 patents have been registered."

look at every s class, first to have air bags, seat belts, first to have a diesel engine even....ok so tell me the 7 series innovations other than i drive?
just saw this on GCF even
· Seat belt tensioners and belt force limiters in the rear

· Automatic child seat recognition system

· Window bags

· PRE-SAFE occupant protection system

· DISTRONIC autonomous intelligent cruise control

· Automatic cylinder shut-off

· Co-efficient of drag rating = 0.27

· Keyless-Go access system

· Air suspension with AIRmatic adaptive damping system as standard

· At the time world’s most powerful passenger car diesel engine in the S 400 CDI


"Over 30 new developments once again made the S-Class from Mercedes-Benz a trendsetter for passenger car design in general. "



happy??!!

 

[yomomwhat]

I don't think you understand... to make the hydrogen that these car needs takes a huge amount of energy, which is why fuel cell cars doesn't mean that we are clear cut from f-ing up our environment.
Nuclear energy to keep hydrogen cool? What?

By the way, even if Benz says that fuel cell cars will be in production by 2010, it doesn't mean that every car in the world is going to be mostly fuel cell. Plus even if it goes into production, you need stations that will have hydrogen fuel... that, will not be ready available by 2010 all over the world I think.

when i said nuclear power, well seeing as nuclear power is cleaner than fossil fuels.....to therefore generate the electricity to produce the hydrogen, and then there is sun and wind and hydro etc

edit: lol i didnt mean keep cool, i just meant the thing about not using fossil fuels ha

 

[warot]

when i said nuclear power, well seeing as nuclear power is cleaner than fossil fuels.....to therefore generate the electricity to produce the hydrogen, and then there is sun and wind and hydro etc

edit: lol i didnt mean keep cool, i just meant the thing about not using fossil fuels ha

"There is concern, however, about the energy-consuming process of manufacturing the hydrogen, which may still generate pollution and still requires either fossil fuel, nuclear power generation, or as yet undeveloped alternative generation. In this regard, hydrogen fuel technology itself cannot be said to reduce fossil fuel dependence."

"A common misconception among the public is that elemental hydrogen is a source of energy, and that there are "mines" or "reservoirs" of hydrogen to find. This is simply not true, hydrogen is not a primary source of energy: it is only an energy storage medium, and must be manufactured using energy from other sources.

The physical laws relating to the conservation of energy unfortunately create a situation where the energy needed to create the fuel in the first place may reduce the ultimate energy efficiency of the system to below that of the most efficient gasoline internal-combustion engines"

So as you can see, although fuel cell seems to be a very attractive solution, it's not going to be as easy as you think to implement it. It will take a lot longer than 2010 before you will see only fuel cell cars. Therefore, this technology that BMW is developping will be a good short term idea.

And let's stop with the whole thing that Benz created this first and BMW did that first... you do realize that companies like Bosch is the one that ends up producing it.

 

[Matt]

"BMW is always leading the way on innovation"

no offense but that has to be the funniest thing i have heard for days, dont you pay attention to other compaines innovations, i suggest you do, for every innovation bmw have made MB have made 2, take for example the w220 vs the 7 series, which one had most innovations, take fuel cells, who do you think has more fuel cells than any other company....it goes on but i cant be bothered keep writing

I knew I would eat my words when I said "you can quote me on that". But now I'm quoting you because of your stupid comment. First of all BMW was the first company to inroduce a hydrogen powered car (ie the e38 7 series), which produced 270 hp. BMW then made the speed record with the hydrogen car (bimmer bois avatar). SO please dont bring a quanitity of hydrogen cars into the idea of innovation and atleast know your facts on BMW's hydrogen car history. Also look at the new S class. They copied the I-drive with Command three, took many styling aspects of the 7 ie tail lights, and now the S is using the mounted shift lever when BMW had it first.


Type this into google: first hydrogen car and see what comes up.

 

[Matt]

edit: lol i didnt mean keep cool, i just meant the thing about not using fossil fuels ha

We get about 90% of our energy from fossil fuels.

 

[siko]

Did you guys know that Jules Verne prophesied the use of hydrogen some 130 years ago...

"Water is the coal of the future. The energy of tomorrow is water broken down into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. These elements will secure the earth’s power supply for an indefinite period."

- Jules Verne “The Mysterious Island”, 1874

 

[warot]

Did you guys know that Jules Verne prophesied the use of hydrogen some 130 years ago...

"Water is the coal of the future. The energy of tomorrow is water broken down into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. These elements will secure the earth’s power supply for an indefinite period."

- Jules Verne “The Mysterious Island”, 1874

Wow nice one siko.... It's crazy to think that a guy in the 1800's thought of this kind of stuff. On the other hand, they predicted (in the early computer days) that personal computers would be as small as a piano...

Sometimes you get it right sometimes you get if awfully wrong.

 

[Porsche Guy]

Anyone got an idea how much this little extra weighs?

 

[yomomwhat]

We get about 90% of our energy from fossil fuels.

yes....i didnt say we didnt...but think of all the wind farms currently being created...it wont be that long until many people get renewable energy