Technologies for waste heat energy recovery from internal combustion engine: a review

Abstract

The diesel engine has always been the most efficient internal combustion engine available with thermal efficiency in the range of 40 to 45%; most of the losses come from the exhaust, through coolant, and by direct convection and radiation to the environment. Significant technologies such as Thermoelectric Generator (TEG), Bottoming Cycles and Turbo-compounding have been developed to recover exhaust heat and turn it into useful energy such as electricity. Energy recovery in the marine sector mainly focused in slow and large two or four stroke diesel engine. Therefore the main objective of this paper is to review each waste heat recovery technology based on latest developments, research trends and feasibility of adopting it into high power diesel engine application. The purpose of this paper was to compare different energy recoveries, performances of each technology and other factors effecting the application. It is hoped that this paper will become a guide in selecting waste heat recovery application on board marine vessel that use high power diesel engine as prime movers or power generating plants.