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Researchers: Car exhaust may be used for power
WARREN, Michigan (AP) -- The stinky, steaming air that escapes from a car's tailpipe could help us use less gas.

Researchers are competing to meet a challenge from the U.S. Department of Energy: Improve fuel economy 10 percent by converting wasted exhaust heat into energy that can help power the vehicle.

General Motors Corp. is close to reaching the goal, as is a BMW AG supplier working with Ohio State University. Their research into thermoelectrics -- the science of using temperature differences to create electricity -- couldn't come at a better time as high gas prices accelerate efforts to make vehicles as efficient as possible.

GM researcher Jihui Yang said a metal-plated device that surrounds an exhaust pipe could increase fuel economy in a Chevrolet Suburban by about 5 percent, a 1-mile-per-gallon improvement that would be even greater in a smaller vehicle. Read Article



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bmwdrvrbmwdrvr - 8/11/2008 12:13:58 PM
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i though BMW already had a system like this......

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chewychewy - 8/11/2008 4:26:39 PMView My AgentSpace
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Exhaust is no longer stinky, the latest regulations have made it quite clean.

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BMW995BMW995 - 8/11/2008 5:36:19 PM
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BMW has been working on a heat recovery system for at least a couple of years. It basically is a steam generating system powered by the heat of the exhaust system. This "steam engine" supplements the power of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle. It is a lot more efficient than the electrical system developed by GM.

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TehShibbsTehShibbs - 8/11/2008 7:02:41 PM
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Exhaust is used to make energy. ITS CALLED A TURBO.

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GreenPleaseGreenPlease - 8/12/2008 8:49:52 AM
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Actually the described device is what is known as a thermoelectric couple (TEC). It is a solid state device that converts heat to electricity. They are characterized by low thermal conductivity and high electrical conductivity (an unusual property for anyone who knows anything about material science).

These devices are fairly inefficient: with a 900F temperature delta, this particular device would convert about 10% of the energy present into electricity.

If there was a heat exchanger prior to the turbo, it would allow the turbo to be located closer to the engine without risking longevity as the EGTs could be effectively lowered.

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