Waste Heat Recovery in Transportation Sector

Detailed overview of innovation with sample startups and prominent university research


What it is

Waste heat recovery in the transportation sector involves capturing and utilizing waste heat generated from various sources within transportation systems, such as vehicle exhaust, engine coolant, and braking systems. This recovered heat can be used to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and generate auxiliary power for vehicle systems.

Impact on climate action

Waste Heat Recovery in the Transportation Sector within Industrial Waste Heat Recovery boosts climate action by capturing and repurposing waste heat from vehicles and industrial processes. By converting this heat into usable energy, the innovation enhances efficiency, reduces emissions, and contributes to a more sustainable and energy-efficient transportation system.

Underlying
Technology

  • Heat Exchangers: Heat exchangers are the primary technology used to capture waste heat from exhaust gases, engine coolant, or other sources. Different types of heat exchangers, such as shell and tube, plate, and finned tube exchangers, are selected based on the temperature, pressure, and flow rate of the waste heat stream.
  • Thermoelectric Generators (TEGs): TEGs can directly convert waste heat into electricity, providing a source of auxiliary power for vehicle systems.
  • Rankine Cycle Systems: Rankine cycle systems, such as Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems, can be used to convert waste heat into mechanical work or electricity.
  • Turbocompounding: Turbocompounding systems recover waste heat from exhaust gases to drive a turbine that provides additional power to the engine.
  • Waste Heat Recovery for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles: Waste heat recovery can be used to improve the efficiency of hybrid and electric vehicles by preheating the cabin or battery, extending range and reducing energy consumption.

TRL : 5-8 (depending on the specific technology and application)


Prominent Innovation themes

  • High-Temperature Waste Heat Recovery Systems: Innovations in materials and design are enabling the development of waste heat recovery systems that can operate at higher temperatures, recovering more energy from exhaust gases and other high-temperature sources.
  • Thermoelectric Generators for Automotive Applications: Advancements in TEG technology are making them more efficient and cost-effective for automotive applications, providing a source of auxiliary power for vehicle systems.
  • Waste Heat Recovery for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles: Researchers and companies are developing waste heat recovery systems specifically designed for hybrid and electric vehicles, improving efficiency and extending range.
  • Waste Heat Recovery for Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Waste heat recovery systems are being developed for heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks and buses, to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

Other Innovation Subthemes

  • Integration of Thermoelectric Generators in Vehicle Design
  • Optimization of Rankine Cycle Systems for Transportation
  • Next-Generation Turbocompounding Technologies
  • Hybrid Waste Heat Recovery Systems for Trucks
  • Innovative Cooling Solutions for Waste Heat Recovery
  • Enhancing Battery Performance with Waste Heat Recovery
  • Waste Heat Recovery in Maritime Transport
  • Waste Heat Recovery for Aviation
  • Waste Heat Recovery in Public Transport Infrastructure
  • Thermal Management Solutions for Electric Vehicles
  • Waste Heat Recovery in Autonomous Vehicles
  • Waste Heat Recovery for Rail Transport

Related Innovations

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Sample Global Startups and Companies

  1. EnerMotion:
    • Technology Enhancement: EnerMotion focuses on waste heat recovery systems for vehicles, particularly in the automotive sector. Their solutions capture and utilize waste heat generated by the vehicle’s engine or exhaust system to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. EnerMotion’s technology integrates heat exchangers, thermoelectric generators, and control systems to convert waste heat into usable energy.
    • Uniqueness of the Startup: EnerMotion stands out for its expertise in waste heat recovery technology tailored specifically for the transportation sector. Their solutions are designed to be compact, lightweight, and cost-effective, making them suitable for integration into various types of vehicles, including passenger cars, trucks, and buses.
    • End-User Segments Addressing: EnerMotion serves automotive manufacturers, fleet operators, and transportation companies seeking to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of their vehicles. Their waste heat recovery systems offer potential fuel savings and emissions reductions, making them attractive to stakeholders looking to improve the environmental performance of their fleets.
  2. Gentherm:
    • Technology Enhancement: Gentherm specializes in thermal management solutions, including waste heat recovery systems for vehicles and other applications. Their automotive waste heat recovery systems capture excess heat from the engine, exhaust, or other vehicle components and convert it into electrical power or provide supplementary heating for the cabin. Gentherm’s technology aims to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and enhance passenger comfort.
    • Uniqueness of the Startup: Gentherm stands out for its broad expertise in thermal management and its focus on developing innovative solutions for waste heat recovery in the automotive industry. Their systems leverage advanced materials, heat transfer technologies, and control algorithms to optimize energy recovery and thermal performance.
    • End-User Segments Addressing: Gentherm serves automotive OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and tier-1 suppliers looking to incorporate waste heat recovery technology into their vehicle platforms. Their solutions address the growing demand for fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles, particularly in the context of increasingly stringent emissions regulations and sustainability goals.
  3. Achates Power:
    • Technology Enhancement: Achates Power specializes in developing next-generation internal combustion engines with a focus on efficiency, emissions reduction, and waste heat recovery. Their opposed-piston engine architecture offers inherent thermal efficiency advantages, which can be further enhanced through waste heat recovery systems. Achates Power’s technology aims to deliver significant fuel economy improvements and emissions reductions in various transportation applications.
    • Uniqueness of the Startup: Achates Power stands out for its innovative engine design and its integration of waste heat recovery technology to maximize energy efficiency. Their opposed-piston engine platform offers a scalable and flexible solution for a wide range of transportation applications, including light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles, marine vessels, and power generation.
    • End-User Segments Addressing: Achates Power targets automotive OEMs, engine manufacturers, and other stakeholders in the transportation industry seeking to improve the efficiency and sustainability of their vehicles and powertrains. Their technology offers potential benefits in terms of fuel savings, emissions reduction, and overall vehicle performance, making it attractive to a diverse range of end-users.

Sample Research At Top-Tier Universities

  1. University of Michigan:
    • Research Focus: The University of Michigan is actively engaged in research on Waste Heat Recovery in the Transportation Sector, focusing on developing advanced technologies and systems for capturing and utilizing waste heat from vehicle exhaust and other thermal sources.
    • Uniqueness: Their research encompasses the design and optimization of waste heat recovery systems, including thermoelectric generators, organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems, and heat exchangers, tailored for application in various types of vehicles, such as passenger cars, trucks, buses, and locomotives. They also investigate novel materials, manufacturing processes, and control strategies to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and scalability of waste heat recovery solutions.
    • End-use Applications: The outcomes of their work have applications in improving the fuel efficiency, reducing emissions, and enhancing the performance of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). By recovering waste heat and converting it into useful energy, the University of Michigan’s research contributes to reducing fuel consumption, lowering operating costs, and extending the range of transportation fleets, thereby promoting energy sustainability and environmental stewardship.
  2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT):
    • Research Focus: MIT is at the forefront of research on Waste Heat Recovery in the Transportation Sector, leveraging its expertise in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and energy conversion to develop innovative approaches for harnessing waste heat from vehicles and converting it into usable energy.
    • Uniqueness: Their research involves exploring advanced thermal management systems, waste heat recovery technologies, and hybrid powertrain architectures to maximize the utilization of waste heat in automotive applications. They also investigate integrated vehicle design, component-level optimization, and system-level performance analysis to identify opportunities for waste heat recovery across different vehicle platforms and operating conditions.
    • End-use Applications: The outcomes of their work find applications in improving the efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of conventional and electric vehicles. By capturing and utilizing waste heat from exhaust gases, engine coolant, and braking systems, MIT’s research enables the development of more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly transportation solutions, contributing to sustainable mobility and climate change mitigation efforts.
  3. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL):
    • Research Focus: NREL conducts cutting-edge research on Waste Heat Recovery in the Transportation Sector, leveraging its expertise in renewable energy technologies, vehicle systems integration, and techno-economic analysis to advance the development and deployment of waste heat recovery solutions for transportation applications.
    • Uniqueness: Their research encompasses the characterization of waste heat sources, thermal energy storage technologies, and waste heat recovery architectures for various transportation modes, including light-duty vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, and marine vessels. They also conduct modeling, simulation, and experimental studies to assess the performance, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits of waste heat recovery systems under real-world operating conditions.
    • End-use Applications: The outcomes of their work have applications in enhancing the efficiency, reducing emissions, and increasing the operational range of vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, hybrid powertrains, and fuel cells. By leveraging waste heat as a valuable energy resource, NREL’s research supports the transition to cleaner, more sustainable transportation systems, enabling economic growth, energy security, and environmental protection.

commercial_img Commercial Implementation

Waste heat recovery systems are being implemented in various transportation applications, including heavy-duty vehicles, passenger cars, and ships. For example, BMW has implemented a thermoelectric generator in some of its models to recover waste heat from the exhaust system and generate electricity for the vehicle’s electrical system.



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