Optimization of a Brayton external combustion gas-turbine system for extended range electric vehicles

Wissam S. Bou Nader, Charbel J. Mansour and Maroun G. Nemer

Energy, 2018, vol. 150, issue C, 745-758

Abstract: Significant research efforts are considered in the automotive industry on the use of low-carbon fuels in order to reduce the emissions and improve the fuel economy of vehicles. Some of these fuels, such as the solid fuels for example, are only compatible with external combustion machines. These machines are only suitable for electrified powertrains relying on electric propulsion, in particular the extended-range-electric-vehicles with series hybrid powertrain configuration where fuel consumption strongly relies on the energy converter efficiency and power density. This paper investigates the fuel savings potential of these vehicles using a Brayton external combustion gas-turbine system as energy converter substitute to the conventional internal combustion engine. An exergo-technological explicit analysis is conducted to identify the best system configuration. A downstream-intercooled reheat external combustion gas-turbine (DIRe-ECGT) system is prioritized, offering the highest efficiency among the investigated systems. An extended-range-electric-vehicle model is developed and energy consumption simulations are performed on the worldwide-harmonized light vehicles test cycle. Fuel consumption simulation results are compared to a reference extended-range-electric-vehicle using an engine auxiliary-power-unit. Results show 6%–11.5% of fuel savings with the prioritized DIRe-ECGT auxiliary-power-unit as compared to the reference model, depending on the battery capacity and the trip distance.

Keywords: External combustion gas-turbine; Brayton cycle; Exergy analysis; Extended-range-electric-vehicle; Series hybrid; Dynamic programming (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544218304067
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:150:y:2018:i:c:p:745-758

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.03.008

Access Statistics for this article

Energy is currently edited by Henrik Lund and Mark J. Kaiser

More articles in Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().