FR2917129A1 - Motorization system for propelling e.g. trawler, has energy converter transforming part/entire heat energy dissipated by heat engine into mechanical energy to drive alternator, and constituted of stirling engine - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a heat engine (10) e.g. internal combustion engine, and battery elements (14) e.g. group of batteries, rechargeable by an alternator (13), and an electrical motor (11) supplied with electrical energy by the battery elements. An energy converter transforms part or entire heat energy dissipated by the heat engine into mechanical energy to drive the alternator. The converter is constituted of a stirling engine (15) whose head is heated by calories issued from the heat energy.

Description

The present invention relates to a motorization system for vehicle with

  combustion engine internal combustion or explosion. Such a motorization system consists of a heat engine which, in addition to its main function of propulsion of the vehicle, is used to recharge, via an alternator it drives, the battery for powering the vehicle. The increase in crude oil prices encourages the development of motor systems whose fuel consumption is becoming increasingly low, that is to say systems whose energy efficiency (ratio of mechanical energy supplied to the fuel). energy contained in the fuel) is higher and higher.

  The object of the invention is therefore to seek means for increasing the energy efficiency of a heat engine of a vehicle. For this purpose, a motorization system for vehicles, according to the present invention, is of the type consisting of a heat engine and one or more battery cells rechargeable by at least one alternator. It is characterized in that it comprises a power converter designed to transform at least a portion, or all the thermal energy dissipated by the heat engine into mechanical energy used to drive said alternator. For example, said thermal energy converter into mechanical energy consists of a Stirling engine whose head is heated by calories from the extraction of at least a portion, or even all the thermal energy dissipated by the engine thermal. The advantages that result from the present invention are as follows. First, the energy that is dissipated by the engine is no longer rejected in one way or another in the air but is recovered to drive the Stirling engine which itself drives the alternator. Furthermore, by effectively extracting the energy dissipated by the heat engine, it runs at a lower temperature which contributes to further improve its intrinsic energy efficiency. The present invention is used in a motorization system for a vehicle, especially for a boat, of the type generally called "hybrid". Such motorization systems are generally composed of a heat engine and an electric motor which is supplied with electrical energy by one or more batteries, themselves charged by an external energy source, for example an electrical distribution network. , and possibly by an alternator that drives the engine.

  In the fishing sector, the rise in crude oil prices penalizes all activity using thermal engine vehicles by considerably reducing the financial margins of the operators. Indeed, fishing boats, such as trawlers, are equipped with a diesel engine generally. This heat engine, which is extremely stressed, must have a significant horsepower which leads to a proportionally large fuel consumption. A fishing trip of such a boat can be broken down into four positions. The first post is the movement of the boat to the fishing area. The second position corresponds to the work done on the fishing area, that is to say, on the one hand, to numerous and short trips on the fishing zone itself and at low speed and, on the other hand, pulling the trawl for its ascent out of the water. The third station corresponds to the power supply of the ship's electrical and electronic equipment, such as the cold room and navigation devices. The fourth station is the return trip to the home port.

  For a boat of about 20 meters long, for example, the engine used must have a power of about 600 horses and, for its supply, a diesel tank of 20,000 to 30,000 liters. Today, there are hybrid drive systems for vehicles that combine a fuel combustion engine derived from crude oil such as gasoline, diesel, or other and an electric motor and whose purpose is to reduce fuel consumption. since the electric motor can work to take over the engine on various occasions. These motorization systems are however not entirely satisfactory because their performance is dependent on the storage capacity of the batteries that power the electric motor. If this capacity is too low, the duration of use of the electric motor is too short which makes the system obsolete. The object of the present invention is also to provide a vehicle engine system of the hybrid drive system type in which the batteries of the electric motor are optimally loaded so as to make the most of the electric motor. For this purpose, the present invention relates to a motorization system for vehicles as described above which further comprises an electric motor powered by one or more rechargeable battery cells by at least one alternator driven by said converter. heat energy into mechanical energy. According to another characteristic of the invention, said calories supplying said energy converter are recovered in a heat collector in which a fluid carries said dissipated thermal energy. Said fluid is either constituted by the exhaust gases emitted by the heat engine, or by the cooling liquid of said heat engine, or by the lubricating liquid of the heat engine. According to another characteristic of the invention, said converter is supplied with thermal energy by a heat transfer fluid which is heated by an auxiliary heating system. Said auxiliary heating system consists of either a fuel-burning boiler or an electric heater for a coolant, said electric heater being powered by said at least one battery cell or at least one auxiliary battery element or by a solar collector transforming the solar energy it receives into electrical energy or by a wind turbine transforming the energy of movement of the wind into electrical energy, that is to say of a solar collector with heat transfer fluid. According to another characteristic of the invention, said vehicle being a boat, it comprises an electric generator by anti-roll device consisting of two tubes respectively mounted port and starboard of the hull of said boat, each of said tubes housing a turbine designed to drive in rotation an alternator, which is provided for recharging said one or more battery cells or at least one auxiliary battery cell.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, it comprises a wind turbine provided for driving an electric generator itself intended to recharge said battery element (s). According to another characteristic of the invention, it comprises a heat-insulated container containing a fluid which is heated by an auxiliary heating device, said fluid being able to supply said thermal energy converter with mechanical energy. Said auxiliary heating apparatus consists of either a fuel combustion boiler or an electric heating device for a coolant, said electric heater is powered by said one or more battery cells or by at least one auxiliary battery element or by a solar collector transforming the solar energy it receives into electrical energy or by a wind turbine transforming the energy of movement of the wind into electrical energy, that is to say of a solar collector with heat transfer fluid. The present invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a fishing boat, which is then characterized in that it comprises at least one motorization system whose characteristics have just been described. The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being given in relation to the attached drawings, among which: FIG. . 1 is a schematic representation of a propulsion device of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the operation of a Stirling engine used in a propulsion device, and FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a propulsion device of a vehicle according to another embodiment of the invention. The engine system 1 according to the invention is used for the propulsion of a boat 2, for example a fishing boat such as a trawler. It consists essentially of a heat engine 10 of the fuel type and an electric motor 11 which is supplied with electrical energy by a battery element 14 (a battery cell is either a battery or a group of batteries ). The heat engine 10 is provided to drive an alternator 13 which is connected to said battery element 14 so as to be able to charge it. With the alternator 13, when the heat engine 10 is running and, therefore, drives it, the mechanical energy it provides to the alternator 13 is converted into electrical energy so as to recharge the battery element 14 Other means of recharging the battery element 14 may also be provided, such as for example charging means from an electrical energy distribution network, from solar cells, wind turbines, transducers of any energy (mechanical, chemical, electrochemical, nuclear, combustion, or other) in electrical energy and, ultimately, any means capable of producing electricity with sufficient energy to recharge said battery cell 14 The motorization system 1 further comprises a specific means 12 for recharging the battery 14, itself consisting of a Stirling engine 15 and an alternator 16 which the motor 15 drives and which is electrically connected to said battery element 14 to be able to recharge it with electrical energy. The Stirling engine 15 is designed to convert the heat energy dissipated by the heat engine 10 into mechanical energy which is transmitted to the alternator 16.

  In a heat engine, such as the engine 10, only 30% of the energy contained in the fuel is converted into mechanical energy, the remaining 70% being lost as heat, first 30% in the cooling circuit said engine to prevent it from heating inconsiderately and 40% to the exhaust in the form of heat dissipated energy, present in the exhaust gas. An exemplary embodiment of a Stirling engine 15 is shown in FIG. 2. It consists of a cylinder 31 forming said enclosure closed and housing, on the one hand, a displacer 32 and, on the other hand, a piston 33. The displacer 32 can slide in the cylinder 31 while allowing the fluid contained in the cylinder 31 between its side wall 32a and the wall 31a of the cylinder 31. The piston 33 can itself slide in the cylinder 31 but in a manner fitted and sealed thereto so as not to let go of fluid by its side wall. According to the present invention, the heat energy dissipated by the heat engine 10, or a part thereof, is recovered in a heat collector 151 in thermal contact with the head El of the cylinder 31 of the Stirling engine so as to transmit to warm the fluid that it contains. For example, the heat collector 151 consists of a chamber which is traversed right through by a conduit 153 in which the exhaust gas emitted by the heat engine 10, generally at a temperature of the order of 350 to 450 C, transit and transfer the calories they contain in the middle, such as air, a gas, a liquid or any suitable coolant, that the chamber itself contains. Advantageously, the duct 153 is in the form of a coil, in order to increase the heat transfer area. It will also be noted that the body of the heat engine 10 is, when the latter is running, at a relatively high temperature so that said heat collector 151, by its proximity to said body, also recovers calories. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a heat collector 152 may also be provided to recover the heat which is normally discharged into the air, via a coolant and by means of a radiator, and to transmit it. El head of Stirling engine to heat the fluid that it contains. To do this, the coolant of said heat engine 10 circulates in a chamber that said heat collector 152 forms and transfers heat to the head El of the Stirling engine. It could also be a pipe in which circulates said coolant and which is in thermal contact with the head El of the engine. This pipe could be in the form of a coil surrounding the head El while being in contact with it. Similarly, a heat collector (not shown) may also be provided to recover the heat that is normally present in the lubricating liquid, usually oil, the engine. To do this, the lubricating liquid of said heat engine 10 circulates in a chamber that said heat collector forms and transfers heat to the head El of the Stirling engine. It could also be a pipe in which said lubricating liquid circulates and which is in thermal contact with the head E1 of the heat engine. This pipe could be in the form of a coil surrounding the head E 1 while being in contact with it. The operating principle of the Stirling engine 15 is as follows. At first, the displacer 32 and the piston 33 are at most away from each other. The fluid inside the cylinder 31 is at its lowest pressure. In a second step, by inertia, the piston 33 approaches the head El of the cylinder 31 and thus slightly compresses the fluid. In a third step, the displacer 32 approaches the piston 33 and, as a result, the fluid is transferred from its cold part, at the end E2 on the piston side 33, to the hot part, on the head side E1 of the cylinder 31 (see the arrows). Thus, the fluid in contact with the cylinder head 31 heats and expands, but since it is contained in a limited volume, its pressure increases. This pressure provides a mechanical energy that is supplied to the piston 33. In the last time, the displacer 32 rises to the head El and thus transfers the fluid into the volume between it and the piston 33. The cycle continues as long as heat is transferred to the head El of the cylinder 31.

  According to a variant of the invention, at least one duct is in thermal contact with the head E1 of said Stirling engine, which duct is traversed by a coolant which is heated by an auxiliary heating system. This auxiliary heating system is, for example, a fuel combustion boiler 165 of any type (flammable gas such as methane, propane, butane, wood and wood derivatives, petroleum derivatives such as gasoline, fuel oil, etc.). , or nuclear, even thermonuclear, etc. which is intended to heat a circulating heat transfer fluid in contact directly or indirectly with the head El of the Stirling engine so as to transfer the heat energy it contains.

  It may also be an electric heater, such as one or more electrical resistors that provide the heat radiated to the head El of the Stirling engine either directly because in direct contact with it or indirectly because dipping into a fluid coolant circulating in contact directly or indirectly with the head El Stirling engine, so as to transfer the heat energy it contains. This electrical apparatus is powered either by the main battery element 14, or by an auxiliary battery element (not shown), or by a solar collector transforming the solar energy it receives into electrical energy. It may also be a solar collector 164 with a heat transfer fluid designed to heat, by means of solar radiation, a heat transfer fluid which circulates in contact directly or indirectly with the head E1 of the Stirling engine so as to transfer energy to it. calorific it contains. It can also be a wind turbine designed to transform the energy of wind movement into electrical energy. This electrical energy is intended to power an electric heating system, such as one or more electrical resistors that provide the heat they radiate to the head El Stirling engine is directly because in direct contact with it, or indirectly because diving into a heat transfer fluid circulating in contact directly or indirectly with the head E 1 of the Stirling engine so as to transfer the heat energy it contains. A heat transfer fluid, whatever its origin, to transfer the energy it contains to the head E 1 may, for example, flow in a coil that is in thermal contact with it, for example by being wound on it. It is important to note that even if the heat engine 10 is stopped, a release of heat is still observed at the outlet of the exhaust 101 for a period of about ten minutes and will thus continue to power the Stirling engine 12. In an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3, the motorization system 1 comprises other means of recharging the battery element 14 or auxiliary battery elements. For example, it may be an electric generator with anti-roll device 161. Normally, such an anti-roll device 161 is provided to prevent the roll movements of the boat during navigation in rough seas. This is composed of two tubes 1611 and 1612 respectively disposed port and starboard of the hull of the boat 2, at its water line and longitudinally. According to the invention, each tube 1611, 1612 houses in its interior volume at least one turbine, such as the turbine 1613, itself mechanically connected to an alternator, such as the alternator 1614 provided to be able to recharge the battery element 14. As the boat sails, each turbine, such as the turbine 1613, is rotated by the water flowing through the tubes 1611 and 1612 and thus supplies mechanical energy to the corresponding alternator, thereby recharging the turbine. Battery element 14. This anti-roll device generator system 161 may also be used when the boat is at anchor on a dead body. Indeed, in this position, the boat turns the bow facing the current, which flows along the sides of the hull, where precisely are anti-roll devices. This current flows in the tubes 1611 and 1612, rotates the turbines and from there, the corresponding alternator. It may also be an electric generator that is driven by an air motor 162 and electrically connected to the battery element 14 so as to recharge it. The advantage of this type of engine is that it uses to operate, in addition to compressed air, the outside air which is filtered and thus rejected clean outside. It may also be a solar electric generator 163, for example composed of photovoltaic cells, such as the photovoltaic cell 1631, arranged on the roof of the booth 21 of the boat 2 and electrically connected to the battery element 14. so you can recharge it. Photovoltaic cells 1632 transform solar radiation into electrical energy that is supplied to the battery 14.

  It may also be a wind turbine arranged, for example, on the roof of the cabin 21 of the boat and provided to drive a generator electrically connected to the battery element 14 so as to recharge it. It should be noted that at least one, if not some or all of the alternators referred to in this description could supply not only or not only the battery element 14 for charging, but also all type of energy storage element. It could be an insulated tank containing water which is heated by at least one auxiliary device for heating a heat transfer fluid. As before, it could be a fuel combustion boiler, an electric heater for a heat transfer fluid, for example powered by said battery cell (s) (14) or by at least one battery element. auxiliary batteries or by a solar collector transforming the solar energy it receives into electrical energy or by a wind turbine transforming the energy of displacement of the wind into electrical energy or a solar collector with heat transfer fluid. But it could also be other battery elements which, at the desired moment, will supply an electric heater for the El head of the Stirling engine 1. It will also be noted that in the description, as well as in the claims, the word "alternator" has been used interchangeably to designate an alternator intended to produce an alternating current following the rotation of its rotor (alternating current which the person skilled in the art knows how to straighten to obtain a direct current) but also a dynamo intended to produce directly a direct current following the rotation of its rotor.

  The embodiments described are not intended to be limiting but merely illustrative, it will be understood that any other electric generator can function as an auxiliary charging means batteries. The skilled person will choose the appropriate means for their operation. Thanks to the device 1 according to the invention, a fuel economy is allowed. Indeed, the propulsion device 1 according to the invention reduces the load on the engine 10 and thus reduce fuel consumption. In addition, the engine can be chosen for a power of 300 horses instead of the 500 horses needed for a boat equipped with a heat engine.

  For example, a fishing vessel trawler 21 meters equipped with a heat engine that travels at 10 knots for 1 hour consumes about 621 / hour. The same boat equipped with the propulsion device according to the invention moving at a speed of 10 knots for 1 hour will use the engine for 40 min and the electric motor for 20 min and consume 41 1 / hour. The device of the invention thus saves 21 1 / hour, a saving of 33.6%.

Claims (20)

  1) Motorization system for vehicles of the type consisting of a heat engine and one or more battery cells (14) rechargeable by at least one alternator (13, 16), characterized in that it comprises a converter of energy provided to transform at least a portion, or all the thermal energy dissipated by the engine (10) into mechanical energy capable of driving said or alternator (13, 16).   2) A motorization system according to claim 1, of the type further comprising an electric motor (11) supplied with electrical energy by said at least one battery cell (14) rechargeable by at least one alternator (13, 16), characterized in that said one or more alternators (13, 16) are driven by said heat energy converter into mechanical energy.   3) Motorization system for vehicles according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said heat energy energy converter is constituted by a Stirling engine whose head (El) is heated by calories from the extraction at least a part, or even all the thermal energy dissipated by the heat engine (10).   4) System according to claim 3, characterized in that said calories supplying said energy converter are recovered in a heat collector (151) in which passes a fluid carrying said dissipated thermal energy.   5) System according to claim 4, characterized in that said fluid is constituted by the exhaust gas emitted by the heat engine (10).   6) System according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that said fluid 30 consists of the cooling liquid of said engine (10).   7) System according to one of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that said fluid is constituted by the lubricating liquid of the heat engine (10).   8) System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said converter is supplied with thermal energy by a heat transfer fluid which is heated by an auxiliary heating system.   9) System according to claim 8, characterized in that said auxiliary heating system consists of a fuel combustion boiler.   10) System according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said auxiliary heating system consists of an electric heater of a heat transfer fluid.   11) System according to claim 10, characterized in that said electric heater is powered by said one or more battery cells (14) or by at least one auxiliary battery element or by a solar collector transforming the solar energy that it receives in electrical energy or by a wind turbine transforming the energy of displacement of the wind into electrical energy.   12) System according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that said auxiliary heating system consists of a solar thermal fluid collector. 20   13) System according to one of the preceding claims, said vehicle being a boat, characterized in that it comprises an electric generator by anti-roll device (161) consisting of two tubes (1611 and 1612) respectively mounted port and starboard of the hull said boat, each of said tubes housing a turbine 25 provided for rotating an alternator, which is provided for recharging said one or more battery cells (14) or at least one auxiliary battery cell.   14) System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a wind turbine provided for driving an electric generator itself provided for recharging said battery element (s) (14).   15) System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a heat insulated container containing a fluid which is heated by an auxiliary heating apparatus, said fluid being able to supply said thermal energy converter with mechanical energy.   16) System according to claim 15, characterized in that said auxiliary heating apparatus consists of a fuel combustion boiler.   17) System according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that said auxiliary heating system consists of an electric heater of a heat transfer fluid.   18) System according to claim 17, characterized in that said electric heater is powered by said at least one battery cell (14) or by at least one auxiliary battery cell or by a solar collector transforming the solar energy that it receives electrical energy or a wind turbine transforming the energy of movement of the wind into electrical energy.   19) System according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that said auxiliary heating system consists of a solar heat transfer fluid sensor.   20) Vehicle, especially fishing vessel, characterized in that it comprises at least one motorization system according to one of the preceding claims.