Engine assembly and waste heat recovery system

• Main Author: LANCASTER, CRAIG ROBERT ARTHUR
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 27.08.2014
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL; CRANKCASE VENTILATING; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES ORENGINES IN GENERAL; HEATING; HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINEPLANTS; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; LIGHTING; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAMTURBINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ENGINES; USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; WEAPONS

An engine assembly comprising an internal combustion engine (20) and a waste heat recovery system (22), wherein the waste heat recovery system is configured to direct refrigerant around a loop which comprises: a heat exchanger (24) configured to transfer heat from engine exhaust gases to the refrigerant such that the refrigerant is vaporised; a turbine (52) configured to receive and be driven by the vaporised refrigerant; and a condenser (44) configured to cool and condense the refrigerant for subsequent delivery in liquid form to the heat exchanger; wherein the turbine comprises a turbine wheel connected to a shaft which is held in a shaft housing, a bearing lubricated by liquid refrigerant being provided between the shaft and the shaft housing, and wherein squeeze film dampers which utilise the liquid refrigerant are provided between the bearing and the shaft housing.