JP2009167824A - Vehicle power supply - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively use remaining heat of an exhaust passage after stopping an internal combustion engine. <P>SOLUTION: This vehicular power source device is provided for driving a generator 34 by a Stirling engine SE, by arranging the Stirling engine SE operating by heat energy of exhaust gas in a downstream position of an exhaust emission control device 13 of an exhaust passage 12 of the internal combustion engine GE. Since the generator 34 is driven by operating the Stirling engine SE by the remaining heat of the exhaust passage 12 even after stopping the internal combustion engine GE, not only power generation is continued even in an nonoperable state of the generator driven by the internal combustion engine GE, but also the remaining heat of the exhaust passage 12 conventionally wastefully disposed of, is effectively used and converted into electric energy. Since the Stirling engine SE drives the generator 34 by operating by the remaining heat of the exhaust passage 12 while the internal combustion engine GE is idly stopping when stopping a vehicle, for example, driving of a starter motor for restarting the internal combustion engine GE and driving of an electric fan for cooling an exhaust system, are performed without imposing a burden on a battery. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular power supply apparatus in which a Stirling engine is disposed at a downstream position of an exhaust gas purification device in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, and a generator is driven by the Stirling engine that is operated by thermal energy of the exhaust gas.

The heat receiving part of the displacer cylinder device of the γ-type Stirling engine is faced downstream of the exhaust gas purification device provided in the exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, and the crankshaft is rotated by this displacer cylinder device and a power cylinder device cooperating therewith. Thus, an exhaust heat energy recovery device for an internal combustion engine that converts thermal energy of exhaust gas into mechanical energy is known from Patent Document 1 below.
JP 2002-266701 A

  By the way, it is conceivable that such a Stirling engine is operated with exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine which is a driving source for traveling of the vehicle, and a generator is driven with the output to generate electric power. In this case, since the supply of exhaust gas to the Stirling engine is stopped when the internal combustion engine is stopped, the Stirling engine is also stopped.

  However, even if the internal combustion engine is stopped, the exhaust passage is maintained at a high temperature for a while due to the residual heat.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to effectively utilize the residual heat of the exhaust passage after the internal combustion engine is stopped.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a Stirling engine is disposed downstream of the exhaust gas purification device in the exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, and the Stirling engine operates with the thermal energy of the exhaust gas. A vehicle power supply device for driving a generator, wherein the Stirling engine is driven by residual heat in the exhaust passage even after the internal combustion engine is stopped to drive the generator. Is done.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the internal combustion engine can be idle-stopped when the vehicle is stopped, and the Stirling engine is capable of remaining heat in the exhaust passage during the idle-stop. A vehicular power supply device is proposed, which is actuated to drive the generator.

  The gasoline engine GE of the embodiment corresponds to the internal combustion engine of the present invention.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect, the Stirling engine that is operated by the thermal energy of the exhaust gas is disposed at the downstream position of the exhaust gas purification device in the exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, and the Stirling engine is driven by the Stirling engine. Even after the internal combustion engine is stopped, the generator is driven by operating with the remaining heat in the exhaust passage, so that not only can the power generation continue even if the generator driven by the internal combustion engine is inoperable. The residual heat of the exhaust passage, which has been wasted in the past, can be effectively utilized and converted into electrical energy.

  Further, according to the configuration of claim 2, since the Stirling engine operates with the residual heat of the exhaust passage to drive the generator while the internal combustion engine is idlingly stopped when the vehicle is stopped, the battery is not burdened. For example, it is possible to drive a starter motor for restarting the internal combustion engine or an electric fan for cooling the exhaust system.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a gasoline engine equipped with a Stirling engine. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, for example, a gasoline engine GE that is a driving source for driving an automobile includes an intake passage 11 and an exhaust passage 12, and the exhaust passage 12 carries an exhaust gas purification device 13 that carries a catalyst for purifying exhaust gas. Is provided. A Stirling engine SE for recovering the thermal energy of the exhaust gas whose temperature has increased through the exhaust gas purification device 13 as mechanical energy is provided in the enlarged diameter portion 12a where the diameter of the exhaust passage 12 immediately downstream of the exhaust gas purification device 13 is enlarged. It is done. The exhaust passage 12 and the intake passage 11 downstream of the Stirling engine SE are connected by an EGR passage 14 for recirculating exhaust gas (EGR gas), and the EGR gas for controlling the recirculation amount of EGR gas in the middle of the EGR passage 14 A control valve 15 is provided.

  The EGR passage 14 is provided with an EGR control valve abnormality determining means 16 for determining an abnormality of the EGR control valve 15 and an EGR passage abnormality determining means 17 for determining an abnormality of the EGR passage 14, and these EGR control valves The electronic control unit 18 to which the abnormality determining unit 16 and the EGR passage abnormality determining unit 17 are connected controls the driving and stopping of the Stirling engine SE.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the Stirling engine SE of the present embodiment is of a two-piston type (α type) provided with a high temperature side power cylinder device 21H and a low temperature side power cylinder device 21L.

  The high temperature side power cylinder device 21H is partitioned between the first power cylinder 22H, the first power piston 23H slidably fitted to the first power cylinder 22H, and the first power cylinder 22H and the first power piston 23H. And a variable volume heating chamber 24H. The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the cylinder axis L of the first power cylinder 22H, the first power piston 23H and the heating chamber 24H is an oval shape (track shape for athletics) having a major axis DL and a minor axis DS (see FIG. 5). .

  The low temperature side power cylinder device 21L is partitioned between the second power cylinder 22L, the second power piston 23L slidably fitted to the second power cylinder 22L, and the second power cylinder 22L and the second power piston 23L. And a variable volume cooling chamber 24L. The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the cylinder axis L of the second power cylinder 22L, the second power piston 23L, and the cooling chamber 24L is an oval shape (track shape for athletics) having a major axis DL and a minor axis DS (see FIG. 5). .

  The heating chamber 24H and the cooling chamber 24L communicate with each other through a plurality of working gas passages 25, and a working gas such as air is sealed therein.

  The high temperature side power cylinder device 21H and the low temperature side power cylinder device 21L have substantially the same structure and are juxtaposed, and the heating chamber 24H of the high temperature side power cylinder device 21H faces the enlarged diameter portion 12a of the exhaust passage 12. Yes. At this time, in the high temperature side power cylinder device 21H, the direction of the major axis DL of the heating chamber 24H is along the longitudinal direction (exhaust gas flow direction) of the enlarged diameter portion 12a of the exhaust passage 12, and the minor diameter DS is enlarged in the exhaust passage 12. It arrange | positions so that the radial direction (direction orthogonal to the flow direction of exhaust gas) of the diameter part 12a may be met. The cooling chamber 24L of the low temperature side power cylinder device 21L faces the cooling water passage 26 through which the cooling water flows.

  The Lombic mechanism 27 that converts the driving force of the high temperature side and low temperature side power cylinder devices 21H and 21L into rotational motion includes first and second rotations arranged in parallel to the direction of the short diameter DS of the heating chamber 24H and the cooling chamber 24L. The first and second gears 30, 31 fixed to the shafts 28, 29, the first and second rotating shafts 28, 29, respectively, and the boss 23a at the lower end of the first power piston 23H are connected to the first power piston 23H. Two equal-length first links 33H, 33H connected to the first crank portions 32H, 32H of the second rotary shafts 28, 29 and a boss portion 23a at the lower end of the second power piston 23L are connected to the first and second This is composed of two equal-length second links 33L and 33L connected to the second crank portions 32L and 32L of the rotary shafts 28 and 29, respectively. A generator 34 is connected to one of the first and second rotating shafts 28, 29, for example, the first rotating shaft 29.

  The first links 33H and 33H are connected to the first crank portion so that the phase of the second power piston 23L of the low temperature side power cylinder device 21L is delayed by 90 ° with respect to the phase of the first power piston 23H of the high temperature side power cylinder device 21H. The second links 33L and 33L are connected to the second crank portions 32L and 32L while being connected to 32H and 32H. That is, after the first power piston 23H reaches the top dead center, the second power piston 23L reaches the top dead center with a phase delay of 90 °.

  Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

  The Stirling engine SE performs a heating stroke, an expansion stroke, a cooling stroke, and a compression stroke while the first and second rotating shafts 28 and 29 rotate 360 °.

  In the heating stroke in which the phase of the first and second rotating shafts 28 and 29 is from 0 ° to 90 °, the inertia of the rotating parts such as the first and second rotating shafts 28 and 29 causes the first of the high temperature side power cylinder device 21H. The first power piston 23H descends from the top dead center shown in FIG. 2 to the middle point, and the second power piston 23L of the low temperature side power cylinder device 21L rises from the middle point shown in FIG. 2 to the top dead center. Meanwhile, the working gas in the cooling chamber 24L of the low temperature side power cylinder device 21L passes through the working gas passage 25, flows into the heating chamber 24H of the high temperature side power cylinder device 21H, and is heated by the high temperature exhaust gas. The pressure in the cooling chamber 24L increases.

  In the expansion stroke when the phase of the first and second rotating shafts 28 and 29 is 90 ° to 180 °, the increased pressure in the heating chamber 24H and the cooling chamber 24L causes the first power piston 23H of the high temperature side power cylinder device 21H. Is lowered from the middle point to the bottom dead center, and the second power piston 23 of the low temperature side power cylinder device 21L is lowered from the top dead center to the middle point, whereby the Stirling engine SE generates a driving force.

  In the cooling stroke in which the phase of the first and second rotating shafts 28 and 29 is from 180 ° to 270 °, the inertia of the rotating parts such as the first and second rotating shafts 28 and 29 causes the first of the high temperature side power cylinder device 21H. The first power piston 23H rises from the bottom dead center to the middle point, and the second power piston 23L of the low temperature side power cylinder device 21L falls from the middle point to the bottom dead center. Meanwhile, the working gas in the heating chamber 24H of the high temperature side power cylinder device 21H passes through the working gas passage 25, flows into the cooling chamber 24L of the low temperature side power cylinder device 21L, and is cooled by the low temperature cooling water. And the pressure in the cooling chamber 24L decreases.

  In the compression stroke in which the phases of the first and second rotary shafts 28 and 29 are from 270 ° to 360 °, the first power piston 23H of the high temperature side power cylinder device 21H is caused by the reduced pressure in the heating chamber 24H and the cooling chamber 24L. As the second power piston 23L of the low temperature side power cylinder device 21L rises from the midpoint to the top dead center, the Stirling engine SE generates driving force.

  In this way, when the first power piston 23H and the second power piston 23L rise and fall with a phase difference of 90 °, the first power piston 23H is connected to the first link 33H, 33H and the first crank portions 32H, 32H. Are connected to the second power piston 23L via the second links 33L, 33L and the second crank portions 32L, 32L. The rotary shafts 28 and 29 are driven. At this time, since the first and second rotating shafts 28 and 29 connected by the first and second gears 30 and 31 rotate in the same phase and in opposite directions, the two first links 33H and 33H are mutually connected. And the two second links 33L and 33L move symmetrically with each other.

  The high temperature side and low temperature side power cylinder devices 21H and 21L perform oilless lubrication to prevent oil from entering the working gas, but the first and second links 33H and 33H; By making the above-mentioned symmetrical movements, side thrust does not act on the first and second power pistons 23H and 23L, and seizure of the sliding portion with the first and second power cylinders 22H and 22L occurs. Can be prevented.

  By the way, the output of the Stirling engine SE increases as the amount of heat received in the heating chamber 24H of the high temperature side power cylinder device 21H increases, and the amount of received heat increases as the cross-sectional area of the heating chamber 24H increases. However, since the diameter of the enlarged diameter portion 12a of the exhaust passage 12 facing the heating chamber 24H cannot be increased without limitation, the cross-sectional area of the heating chamber 24H is increased within the limited diameter range of the enlarged diameter portion 12a. Is required.

  In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the cylinder axis L of the heating chamber 24H of the high temperature side power cylinder device 21H is an oval shape having a major axis DL and a minor axis DS, and the major axis DL is the enlarged diameter portion 12a of the exhaust passage 12. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of the heating chamber can be increased and the output of the Stirling engine SE can be increased as compared with a high-temperature side power cylinder device having a normal circular cross section.

  Even if a high temperature side power cylinder device having a circular cross section is employed, the total amount of heat received can be increased if a plurality of high temperature side power cylinder devices are arranged along the enlarged diameter portion 12 a of the exhaust passage 12. However, in this case, not only the number of parts increases, resulting in an increase in cost but also received by the high temperature side power cylinder device located upstream in the exhaust gas flow direction and the high temperature side power cylinder device located downstream. There is a problem that the amount of heat becomes non-uniform and the efficiency of the Stirling engine SE as a whole decreases. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the number of the high temperature side power cylinder devices 21H is one, so the above-described problems do not occur.

  In addition, the Lombic mechanism 27 has a large dimension in the arrangement direction of the first and second gears 30 and 31 and a small dimension in a direction perpendicular thereto (the thickness direction of the first and second gears 30 and 31). In the present embodiment, the direction of the long diameter DL of the heating chamber 24H of the high-temperature side power cylinder device 21H and the arrangement direction of the first and second gears 30 and 31 are matched, so the first and second directions orthogonal to the first and second directions. Compared with the case where the gears 30 and 31 are arranged, the Stirling engine SE can be made compact by superimposing the Lombic mechanism 27 as much as possible within the projection area in the cylinder axis L direction of the high temperature side power cylinder device 21H.

  By the way, in the gasoline engine GE, it is known that the properties of exhaust gas are improved by cooling the EGR gas and returning it to the intake system.

  In the present embodiment, since the upstream end of the EGR passage 14 is connected to the exhaust passage 12 at the downstream position of the Stirling engine SE, the operation of the heating chamber 24H of the Stirling engine SE is performed without providing a special gas cooler for cooling the EGR gas. The EGR gas can be cooled by heat exchange with the gas, and the properties of the exhaust gas can be improved while the cost is reduced by eliminating the gas cooler.

  The electronic control unit 18 determines an abnormality of the EGR device based on signals from the EGR control valve abnormality determining means 16 and the EGR passage abnormality determining means 17, but when the Stirling engine SE is operated, the temperature of the EGR gas decreases. Therefore, there is a possibility that the abnormality determination of the EGR device by the electronic control unit 18 cannot be performed with high accuracy. Therefore, in this embodiment, the following measures are taken.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 6, first, in step S1, the temperature of the heating chamber 24H, which is a heat receiving portion of the Stirling engine SE, is detected or estimated based on the output of a temperature sensor (not shown). Instead of using the temperature sensor, the elapsed time from the start of the gasoline engine GE, the coolant temperature of the gasoline engine GE, the integrated intake air amount after the start of the gasoline engine GE, the integrated fuel injection amount after the start of the gasoline engine GE The temperature of the heat receiving part may be estimated based on the exhaust gas temperature of the gasoline engine GE or the like.

  Subsequently, in step S2, the EGR control valve abnormality determining means 16 detects a failure of the EGR control valve 15 based on the flow rate of the EGR gas, and in step S3, a failure of the EGR passage 14 based on the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust passage 12 ( EGR gas leakage) is detected.

  In step S4, the temperature of the heat receiving part of the Stirling engine SE is higher than the determination value, the Stirling engine SE is in an operable state, the EGR control valve 15 is normal in Step S5, and the EGR passage 14 in Step S6. Is normal, the Stirling engine SE is started in step S7.

  Thus, since the Stirling engine SE is started after the abnormality determination of the EGR control valve 15 and the EGR passage 14 is completed, the temperature of the exhaust gas is lowered by starting the Stirling engine SE, and the EGR control valve 15 and the EGR passage 14 are abnormal. The inconvenience that the determination cannot be performed with high accuracy can be avoided.

  Since the generator 34 is connected to the first rotating shaft 28 of the Stirling engine SE, the thermal energy of the exhaust gas of the gasoline engine GE is converted into mechanical energy by the Stirling engine SE, and then the generator 34 is driven by the mechanical energy. Can be converted into electrical energy. Even if the gasoline engine GE is stopped, the temperature of the exhaust passage 12 does not immediately decrease due to residual heat, but is maintained at a high temperature for a while. Therefore, the Stirling engine SE is continuously operated during that time to generate power. It is possible to recover the heat energy of the exhaust gas effectively.

  In particular, if the gasoline engine GE is configured to be capable of idle stop, the Stirling engine SE continues to operate without stopping even when the gasoline GE stops due to a signal or the like, so the generator 34 is continuously operated. be able to. As a result, the gasoline engine GE that has been idle-stopped is restarted with the electric power generated by the generator 34, or even if the gasoline engine GE is stopped, the electric fan is driven and the exhaust system is not consumed without consuming battery power. Cooling air for cooling can be supplied.

  7 to 9 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 2, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9.

  In the Stirling engine SE of the first embodiment, the high temperature side and low temperature side power cylinder devices 21H and 21L are juxtaposed in the axial direction of the first and second rotating shafts 28 and 29. The second embodiment The Stirling engine SE is arranged such that the high temperature side and low temperature side power cylinder devices 21H and 21L face each other with the first and second rotating shafts 28 and 29 interposed therebetween.

  According to the second embodiment, the dimension in the cylinder axis L direction of the high-temperature side power cylinder device 21H of the Stirling engine SE is larger than that in the layout of the first embodiment, but is orthogonal to the cylinder axis L direction. It is possible to reduce the size in the direction (direction of the first and second rotating shafts 28 and 29).

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention can perform a various design change in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

  For example, in the embodiment, the cross-sectional shapes of both the heating chamber 24H of the high temperature side power cylinder device 21H and the cooling chamber 24L of the low temperature side power cylinder device 21L are oblong, but the cross sectional shapes are the long diameter DL and the short diameter DS. If it has, it may be an ellipse or a rectangle with rounded corners.

  In the embodiment, the cross-sectional shapes of both the heating chamber 24H of the high temperature side power cylinder device 21H and the cooling chamber 24L of the low temperature side power cylinder device 21L are oval, but the cross sectional shape of the cooling chamber 24L is oval or the like. It need not be, and may be circular.

  In the embodiment, the α-type Stirling engine SE is exemplified, but the present invention can also be applied to a β-type or γ-type Stirling engine.

  When a β-type Stirling engine with the displacer piston and power piston arranged coaxially is used, or when a γ-type Stirling engine with the displacer piston and power piston arranged on separate axes is used, the top surface of the displacer piston The facing heating chamber may be an oval shape having a long diameter DL and a short diameter DS.

  In the embodiment, the heat source of the Stirling engine SE is the exhaust gas of the gasoline engine GE, but may be the exhaust gas of other engines.

Overall configuration diagram of a gasoline engine provided with the Stirling engine of the first embodiment 2-2 line enlarged sectional view of FIG. 3-3 sectional view of FIG. Sectional view along line 4-4 in FIG. Sectional view along line 5-5 in FIG. EGR control flowchart The figure corresponding to the said FIG. 2 of the Stirling engine of 2nd Embodiment Sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. Sectional view along line 9-9 in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

12 Exhaust passage 13 Exhaust gas purification device 34 Generator GE Gasoline engine (internal combustion engine)
SE Stirling engine

Claims (2)

A Stirling engine (SE) is disposed downstream of the exhaust gas purification device (13) in the exhaust passage (12) of the internal combustion engine (GE), and the generator (34) is operated by the Stirling engine (SE) operated by the thermal energy of the exhaust gas. A vehicle power supply device for driving the vehicle,
The vehicular power supply apparatus, wherein the Stirling engine (SE) is operated by residual heat of the exhaust passage (12) to drive the generator (34) even after the internal combustion engine (GE) is stopped.   The internal combustion engine (GE) can be idle-stopped when the vehicle is stopped, and the Stirling engine (SE) is operated by the residual heat of the exhaust passage (12) during the idle-stop to drive the generator (34). The vehicular power supply device according to claim 1, wherein

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