Derottone - great link!
>>> diesel-powered micro-turbine to drive a generator and rapidly charge a battery, which then powers an electric drive system. The TREV has a modular design so can fit a variety of applications. For example, the Ren RS can be equipped with two micro-turbines, a 28.4-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, and six electric motors with a combined output of 1,287 horsepower and 1,725 pound-feet of torque. CRRC Times Electric sees the weight-saving and range-extending capabilities of Techrules' powertrain as ideal for public transport in major cities, where fuel efficiency and low emissions are vital. <<< Here's some specifics on the TREV system:
https://www.environmentalengineering.org.uk/news/introducing-trev-from-china-3151/TREV technology: Unlike many previously developed turbine powertrain systems, there is no direct electrical feed from the generator to the electric motors: the TREV system is purely a series hybrid range extender system. Air drawn into the micro turbine is passed through a heat exchanger where heat from the exhaust air is transferred to the cold intake air after it has been compressed. Ignition of the compressed and heated fuel-air mixture generates enormous energy which is channelled at very high speeds to turn the turbine vanes. As this hot exhaust gas is expelled, it passes through the heat exchanger to ensure the heat energy is recuperated and transferred to cold intake air. Techrules Chief Technology Officer, Matthew Jin, explains: “In a conventional car, the combustion engine that converts a fuel’s chemical energy into useful mechanical energy is also the driving an engine that turns the wheels. Because turbines have always been a very inefficient way to convert chemical energy into useful wheel turning mechanical energy, only a few have tried to use a turbine in the powertrain system, and none have ever succeeded commercially.” But, with electric vehicles, an electric motor is used to drive the wheels, which effectively frees the combustion engine to exclusively convert chemical energy into mechanical energy and finally into electric energy. This is a major breakthrough, making it possible to use the highly efficient turbine engine as a range extender. Micro turbines are significantly more efficient than piston engines in range extender applications, because significantly less energy is sacrificed in frictional losses, meaning more of the fuel’s chemical energy is harnessed. The turbine shaft powers a generator that produces electricity to charge the battery cells. In Techrules’ TREV configuration, the turbine and the generator share the same shaft and rotate at the same speed of over 96,000 revolutions per minute producing an output of 36kW. Of this, 30kW powers the generator, with 6kW directly powering auxiliary equipment, such as the inverters. The 30kW electrical output from the generator is used to charge the battery pack. The total weight of the TREV range extender system (micro-turbine, inverters, fuel pumps, air pumps and generator, but excluding batteries and motors) is approximately 100 kg. TREV system features several proprietary innovative technologies that make it approximately
50 per cent more efficient than range extender systems using petrol engines, which dramatically increases the viability of its commercial series production.
The Hybrid system as popularized by Toyota & now Hyundai looks like it has some real competition from China. The Livewire already utilizes regenerative braking/charging. Three gallons of Bio-diesel and one of these TREV units would make the Greenies swoon as you glided by, eh? Good find, Derottone!
- ACR -
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