A Turbo Range Extender (TREx)

Completed

Energy Efficiency(Transport)
Not Energy Related

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
Birmingham high Performance TurboMachinery Limited

Collaborative R&D

Innovate UK

01 January 2018

31 December 2019

24 months

£388,093

West Midlands

Competition Call: 1704_EE_JIANGUK_EE - Jiangsu-UK Industrial Challenge Programme - Open. Activity Jiangsu - UK Open Scope International programme

Project Contact, Birmingham high Performance TurboMachinery Limited

Electric vehicles (EVs) are featured with zero emission and excellent driveability, but the travelling range per charge has constrained their wide adoption by public. Adding batteries is one of the current solutions to extend the range, but the weights and costs of these vehicles increase considerablly. Some companies have employed a small piston engine with an electric generator, but the emissions and thermal efficiency are worse than those of bigger piston engines measured in per unit power output. This project is proposed to develop a turbogenerator with a radical configuration as the future range extender for EVs. Compared with the current microgas turbine engines, the proposed engine has much higher thermal efficiency. Compared with current piston engines, it cuts NOx by 85, the new turbopower system can also be used in marine vessels, UAVs, heavy duty vehicles, distributed power generators, and portable power sources. In the proposed project, Birmingham High Performance Turbomachinery Limtied will be working on developing the engine until it is fired and tested. The new engine will be fitted with patented new hybrid air bearings to reduce friction and wear. The Chinese company Wuxi Yuanchang will develop a high speed electric generator to be installed on the engine. The proposed turbogenerator has the possibility to be the future drivetrain for EVs and impacting a European light vehicle market estimated to be worth half a trillion Euros.

06/09/19