Feasibility analysis of an exhaust gas waste heat driven jet-ejector cooling system for charge air cooling of turbocharged gasoline engines

The present paper analyzes the feasibility of an exhaust gas driven jet-ejector cooling system for charge air cooling of turbocharged gasoline engines in addition to the conventional charge air cooler to increase the engine efficiency. Thereto, steady-state experiments of a jet-ejector cooling system and an exhaust gas heat exchanger prototype working with the refrigerant R134a are used to analyze the operation and control of the compound system and determine feasible cooling capacities, charge air temperatures, thermal COPth and hydraulic COPh. Moreover, the cooling system is rated regarding its power densities and engine backpressure. The exhaust gas waste heat recovery, system power densities, and engine back-pressure are acceptable. However, the hydraulic COPh and the amount of reject heat need to be improved, necessitating for instance a multi-staging of the jet-ejection. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.