HENRY CO-GENERATION FOR VEHICLES
Interest in trying to utilize engine waste heat has been around since the early days of engine development.
Since engines are roughly 30-40 percent efficient, there is about 60 percent which is lost to the environment as heat through the radiator and exhaust.
There are various ways to try and capture this. The best known way is too use the heat to boil a fluid which in turns powers a turbine or expansion engine. After expansion, the vapor returns to a condenser and is re-used.
This turbine can then be coupled to the drive train or can turn a generator and the electricity can be used in the vehicle.
Early prototype systems have been exhaust heat only, complicated and expensive. The key requirements for a marketable system are: reasonable cost, simplicity and durability.
The "Henry Co-Gen" method is a very simple approach to capturing both engine block and exhaust heat with a minimum of heat exchangers, pumps and controls. It is estimated that an installed system in a long-haul truck could cost $5000.00 or less and pay for itself in about a year.
We have recently done some "proof-of-concept" tests on a V-8 engine with good results and we will soon be doing more extensive work with a diesel engine. If these results are promising we will want to do field tests on an actual truck.
Download the PDF for the Henry Co-Gen test program and read more about it.
Mike and the Henry Co-Gen test at UTEP September, 2007.
