BorgWarner Inc. in Auburn Hills has introduced the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) waste heat recovery system, which is new to the commercial vehicle sector. In conventional applications, almost 50 percent of the engine’s fuel energy is rejected to the environment as heat.
ORC waste heat recovery presents one of the most effective solutions to this challenge. BorgWarner produces and develops a complete system, consisting of tailpipe and EGR evaporators, an exhaust flap bypass valve, a turbine expander as well as turbine expander power electronics and a condenser.
The company’s system reduces CO2 emissions, improves fuel economy by 3 to 5 percent, and supports mild hybrid commercial vehicles.
“At BorgWarner, we constantly aim to drive the latest advancements in efficient mobility,” says Joe Fadool, president and general manager of BorgWarner emissions and thermal systems. “By converting wasted exhaust heat into usable electrical energy, we support our customers and protect the environment at the same time.”
BorgWarner’s ORC waste heat recovery system generates electrical energy by converting energy from the fuel that would be typically wasted as heat. The system takes advantage of the phase change characteristics of fluids similar to air conditioning or refrigeration systems.
The cycle can be divided into four steps. First, the cool working fluid from the condenser is pumped to high pressure. Then, waste heat from the engine heats the working fluid to a superheated vapor, which in turn drives the turbine expander and generates electrical power. Finally, the low-pressure vapor is cooled back to a liquid state by the condenser, and the process repeats itself.
Featuring a 48-volt electrical output, BorgWarner’s ORC turbine expander is well suited for combustion vehicles and supports mild hybrid commercial vehicles, an emerging trend expected for the next five to 10 years. Its oil-free bearing system and aerospace-inspired turbine allow for best-in-class efficiency.
BorgWarner’s evaporators enable improved balance between durability and high performance through an innovative design and manufacturing process. The exhaust bypass valve provides a valuable method for controlling the amount of heat entering the waste heat recovery system from the tailpipe exhaust system. At high engine loads, it is sometimes necessary to bypass the tailpipe evaporator.
The company’s exhaust bypass valve provides a proportional flow control of the exhaust and ensures low backpressure to maximize engine performance.​
BorgWarner is a global product leader in clean and efficient technology solutions for combustion, hybrid, and electric vehicles. With manufacturing and technical facilities in 66 locations in 18 countries, the company employs approximately 29,000 people worldwide.
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