The lower fuel burn and pollutant emissions of hybrid electric vehicles give a strong motivation and encourage further investigations in this field. The know-how on hybrid vehicle technology is maturing, and the reliability of such power schemes is being tested in the mass production. The current research effort is to investigate novel configurations, which could achieve further performance benefits. This paper presents an assessment of a novel hybrid configuration comprising a micro-gas turbine, a battery bank, and a traction motor, focusing on its potential contribution to the reduction in fuel burn and emissions. The power required for the propulsion of the vehicle is provided by the electric motor. The electric power is stored by the batteries, which are charged by a periodic function of the micro-gas turbine. The micro-gas turbine starts up when the battery depth of discharge exceeds 80%, and its function continues until the batteries are full. The performance of the vehicle is investigated using an integrated software platform. The calculated acceleration performance and fuel economy are compared with those of conventional vehicles of the same power. The sensitivity of the results to the variation in the vehicle parameters such as mass, kinetic energy recovery, and battery type is calculated to identify the conditions under which the application of this hybrid technology offers potential benefits. The results indicate that if no mass penalties are incurred by the installation of additional components, the fuel savings can exceed 23%. However, an increase in the vehicle’s weight can shrink this benefit especially in the case of light vehicles. Lightweight batteries and kinetic energy recovery systems are deemed essential, enabling technologies for a realistic application of this hybrid system.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
February 2011
Research Papers
Performance Benefits of a Portable Hybrid Micro-Gas Turbine Power System for Automotive Applications
Fanos Christodoulou,
Fanos Christodoulou
Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
, CH-4153 Reinach BL, Switzerland
Search for other works by this author on:
Panagiotis Giannakakis,
Panagiotis Giannakakis
Department of Power and Propulsion,
Cranfield University
, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
Search for other works by this author on:
Anestis I. Kalfas
Anestis I. Kalfas
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Search for other works by this author on:
Fanos Christodoulou
Endress+Hauser Flowtec AG
, CH-4153 Reinach BL, Switzerland
Panagiotis Giannakakis
Department of Power and Propulsion,
Cranfield University
, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
Anestis I. Kalfas
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceJ. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Feb 2011, 133(2): 022301 (8 pages)
Published Online: October 29, 2010
Article history
Received:
May 5, 2010
Revised:
May 23, 2010
Online:
October 29, 2010
Published:
October 29, 2010
Citation
Christodoulou, F., Giannakakis, P., and Kalfas, A. I. (October 29, 2010). "Performance Benefits of a Portable Hybrid Micro-Gas Turbine Power System for Automotive Applications." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. February 2011; 133(2): 022301. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4002041
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Shape Optimization of an Industrial Aeroengine Combustor to reduce Thermoacoustic Instability
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Dynamic Response of A Pivot-Mounted Squeeze Film Damper: Measurements and Predictions
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Review of The Impact Of Hydrogen-Containing Fuels On Gas Turbine Hot-Section Materials
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Effects of Lattice Orientation Angle On Tpms-Based Transpiration Cooling
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Related Articles
The LETHE™ Gas Turbine Hybrid Prototype Vehicle of the University of Roma 1: Drive Cycle Analysis of Model Vehicle Management Unit
J. Energy Resour. Technol (June,2007)
A Gas Turbine-Based Hybrid Vehicle—Part II: Technological and Configuration Issues
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (July,2003)
Impact of Component Sizing in Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles for Energy Resource and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction
J. Energy Resour. Technol (December,2013)
Potential Benefits of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles for Consumers and Electric Power Utilities
J. Energy Resour. Technol (September,2011)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Characteristics Measurement and FPGA Controller Design for an Air Motor and Electric Motor Hybrid Power System
International Conference on Instrumentation, Measurement, Circuits and Systems (ICIMCS 2011)
Key Components of Liquid Cooled Systems
Thermal Design of Liquid Cooled Microelectronic Equipment
Defining Joint Quality Using Weld Attributes
Ultrasonic Welding of Lithium-Ion Batteries