Transportation Vehicle Waste Heat Recovery System

A one-cylinder diesel engine will be modified to achieve a 20% to 40% improvement in fuel efficiency. This will be accomplished by insulating the interior of the combustion chamber with a proprietary thermal insulating material. Heat normally transferred to the engine coolant through the walls of the head, cylinder and piston will be retained within the combustion chamber where it is available to do additional work. Up to 60% of the retained heat may be converted into additional mechanical work. In addition to exhibiting a very low thermal conductivity, the insulating material provides a very low volumetric heat capacity. This desirable characteristic reduces the preheating of the intake gasses, permitting a higher pressure at TDC resulting in more available work, in addition to that gained from the insulation. The anticipated fuel efficiency improvement will be verified in a test bed pumping water with a head of 100 to 600 feet. This concept, referred to as a “Dwight Engine”, will be applicable and retrofitable to production internal combustion engines and provides an attractive path to a significant reduction in the over 180 billion gallons of motor fuel consumed by cars, trucks and busses each year.