CryoPower engine tech promises efficiency boost for HGVs

Ricardo, which has been developing the technology for the past ten years, estimates that in heavy truck applications its CryoPower technology would provide potential operator savings of approximately £9,000 ($12,500) per year for each vehicle, or £180,000 ($250,000) per MW in a distributed power generation application.  The technology will now be further developed by spin-out company Dolphin N2, which is looking for additional investment to fund a full demonstration and take the technology through to production.

According to Ricardo, the CryoPower concept uses a split-cycle engine to enable significantly improved internal thermal efficiency in comparison with today’s advanced engines.

It is based on the use of a separate induction and compression cylinder from that used for combustion and exhaust. This enables recovery of otherwise wasted exhaust heat to the working gas after the end of compression.

The compression process is carried out isothermally, cooled via the injection of a small amount of liquid nitrogen. The liquid nitrogen is thus both a coolant and an additional energy vector, which offsets some of the fuel requirement.  The combustion process utilises either renewable or traditional fuels, liquid or gaseous, and delivers heat energy back to the chilled and compressed intake air.