Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Mechanic
... Replace the throttle plate with a very light positive displacement supercharger that uses the power lost in normal throttle plate restriction and converts it to electrical energy ...
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I've been thinking of that for a year or so now, knowing I would not be the first but haven't found anything about it until this.
It would not have to replace the throttle plate, it could run in parallel and use the TPS as a guide to what to do.
In addition, it would need a throttle plate on its own (assuming the turbine would leak when stationary).
If the throttle plate is closed, the plate governing the turbine should be closed too.
If it is partly open the turbine plate should be fully open, allowing it to spin and generate electricity.
If it is at WOT the dynamo should act as a motor and spin up the turbine to create boost.
You might need a valve of some kind to prevent reverse flow through the throttle house...
When I cruise in the right lane I'm typically at 50% engine @ 1800 RPM, EGR and all; it displaces some 20 liters of air per second at 65% atmospheric pressure (at sea level) so about 13 liters at full pressure, losing 35% of that pressure at the throttle plate.
There is in this case some 450 Watt lost in friction on the plate.
It will be very hard to harvest that efficiently, but even if we can regain just 20% that would be 90 Watt.
Why then have a hybrid system and not just hook it up to the 12V battery?
It will reduce the load on the alternator or prolong the battery life on those who run without an alternator.
I do have a hybrid system, but I would hook this up to the 12V battery nonetheless. Way easier to do than the high voltage needed for the hybrid pack...
I have not found any turbine yet that would be usable for this though.
I expect it to be very small, after all 20 liters per second is not much.
Same for the generator. I've been looking at small wind generators but they are quite expensive, and of course I don't know if they can be converted to a turbine setup.
Bottom line; this can only work with a suitable turbine and generator. The search is on.
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