Patent Publication Number: US-2016222833-A1

Title: Waste heat recovery system layout and packaging strategy

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/111,437 filed Feb. 3, 2015. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The field to which the disclosure generally relates to includes fluid systems and methods of making and using the same. The fluid system may include a vehicle organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system, including a condenser, in which at least one of the ORC system or condenser is mounted within the vehicle fairing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Currently, some fluid systems may be used to take energy from a fluid and convert it into useful work on a system and may include a condenser. 
     A Rankine cycle is a model used to predict the performance of a heat engine, in which a working fluid may be directed to a boiler or heat exchanger where it is evaporated. The evaporated fluid may then be passed through an expansion device (turbine or other expander) in which work may be performed by the evaporated fluid on the expansion device, and then may be passed through a condenser where it may be re-condensed. In a final step, a pump may be used to return the liquefied working fluid to the boiler or heat exchanger. In a Rankine cycle, heat may be converted into useful work that can itself be converted into electricity. 
     An organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is named for its use of an organic, high molecular mass working fluid with a liquid-vapor phase-change, occurring at a lower temperature than the water-steam phase change. When used in a Rankine cycle system, the organic, high molecular mass working fluid may allow waste heat recovery from lower temperature sources such as biomass combustion, industrial waste heat, geothermal heat, or may be another source. An ORC system is ideally suited to recover energy from waste heat generated in a vehicle, where it is estimated that for each drop of fuel, only forty to fifty percent of the fuel energy is delivered to the power train, and the remainder is waste heat. The waste heat is typically lost to the environment via the vehicle exhaust, the radiator that cools the engine, and other pathways. 
     SUMMARY OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS 
     A number of variations may include a product including a system including a fluid circuit including a fluid, a pump, an expander, a power generation component, at least one heat exchanger, and a condenser, wherein the condenser is constructed and arranged to be mounted in the path of ram air on a vehicle; and an attachment for attaching at least the condenser to the vehicle in the path of ram air. 
     A number of variations may include a method including providing a fluid circuit including a fluid, a pump, an expander, a power generation component, at least one heat exchanger, and a condenser; attaching at least the condenser of the system to a surface of a vehicle though an attachment; and operating the fluid circuit to generate usable work from the fluid wherein the condenser is constructed and arranged to be mounted in the path of ram air on a vehicle. 
     Other illustrative variations within the scope of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while disclosing variations within the scope of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Select examples of variations within the scope of the invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a system according to a number of variations. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of a system according to a number of variations. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of a system according to a number of variations. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of a system according to a number of variations. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of a method according to a number of variations. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS 
     The following description of the variations is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application, or uses. 
     As used throughout the specification, the phrases “about” and “at or about” are intended to mean that the amount or value in question may be the value designated or some other value about the same. The phrase is intended to convey that similar values promote equivalent results or effects according to the invention. 
     In a number of variations, ORC systems may be used to improve the fuel efficiency of vehicle engines, for example, tractor-trailers that are used for long-haul commercial trucking. In a vehicle, an ORC system may use waste heat from the engine to boil or engage in heat transfer with a working fluid. This fluid may be expanded within the thermodynamic cycle to create useful power. In a number of variations, the expansion device may be a turbine in which the working fluid performs work on a turbine wheel connected to a shaft. By connecting the shaft to a generator, the waste heat may be converted to electric power that may be stored or used by the vehicle in other ancillary systems. The working fluid may then be condensed and returned to the boiler or heat exchanger via a pump. However, implementation of the ORC in a vehicle, particularly with respect to packaging of the condenser so that it can be used in a vehicle while still effectively cooling the working fluid, is challenging. One reason for this is the relatively large size of the condenser. In addition, in order to effectively and inexpensively cool the working fluid within the condenser, the condenser may be positioned within the airflow due to the movement of the vehicle. The placement of the condenser within this airflow may be constrained by vehicle size and the presence of other vehicle systems, particularly those vehicle systems that also need to be placed within the airflow due to the movement of the vehicle, including the vehicle radiator. In a number of variations, radiators may be mounted in a position where they receive airflow from the movement of the vehicle, such as behind a front grill. In a number of variations, a location for placement of the condenser which does not obstruct the view of the vehicle driver may be done. In a number of variations, the system described herein, the condenser may be placed within the fairing or air dam located on the tractor cabin. In a number of variations, system may be placed within the fairing or air dam located on the tractor cabin. In a number of variations, the fairing is an aerodynamic surface that encloses the upper side of the vehicle cabin to provide a smooth, streamlined transition between the vehicle windshield and the trailer roof. In a number of variations, placement of the condenser within the fairing may be advantageous since the fairing may accommodate the condenser despite its size, facilitates mounting of the condenser, and provides plenty of ram air from the relative wind speed. 
     A product  8  including a system  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  according to a number of variations. In a number of variations, the system  100  may include a fluid circuit  180 . In a number of variations, the fluid circuit  180  may include a working fluid  195 . In a number of variations, the working fluid  195  may be an organic, high molecular mass working fluid with a liquid-vapor phase-change, occurring at a lower temperature than the water-steam phase change. In a number of variations, the working fluid  190  may include at least one of steam, fluorinol, ammonia, ethanol, methanol, kerosene, gasoline, diesel, propanol, butanol, water, benzene, toluene, methane, ethane, propane, butane, acetone, or liquid hydrogen. In a number of variations, the fluid circuit  180  may further include at least one pump  150 . In a number of variations, the fluid circuit  180  may further include at least one expander  118 . In a number of variations, the fluid circuit  180  may further include at least one power generation component  160 . In a number of variations, the fluid circuit  180  may further include at least one heat exchanger  102 . In a number of variations, the fluid circuit  180  may further include at least one condenser  130 . In a number of variations, the fluid circuit  180  may include at least one valve  190 . In a number of variations, at least one of the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be enclosed within a single housing  500 . In a number of variations, the system  100  may be used to recover heat from a source  8 . In a number of variations, the system  100  may convert heat from a source  8  into useful work through the power generation component  160 . In a number of variations, the useful work may then be converted into power, which may then be converted into electricity through the power generation component  160 . In a number of variations, the system  100  may direct working fluid  195  through the heat exchanger  102  where it may be evaporated. In a number of variations, the system  100  may then direct the working fluid  195  through the expander  118  where it performs work. In a number of variations, the system  100  may then direct working fluid  195  through the condenser  130  where it may be re-condensed. In a number of variations, the system  100  may then direct working fluid through the pump  150  where it may be returned to a liquefied fluid for a return to the heat exchanger  102 . In a number of variations, the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be a thermodynamic cycle including but not limited to, a Rankine cycle, a Kalina cycle, an Otto cycle, or may be another type. In a number of variations, the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be an organic Rankine cycle. In a number of variations, the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be a Kalina or similar cycle which may provide climate control of the vehicle  10 , tractor  12 , or trailer  40 . 
     In a number of variations, the system  100  may be used to recover heat from a chemical process such as, but not limited to, a geothermal energy generator process, a solar energy generator process, a combustion process, an industrial waste heat process, or a wind energy generator process, or may be another process. In a number of variations, the system  100  may be a component of a vehicle  10 . In a number of variations, the vehicle  10  may include, but not limited to, a bicycle, a motor vehicle (including, but not limited to, buses, automobiles, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles), a spacecraft, a watercraft, an aircraft, or a train. In a number of variations, the movement of a vehicle  10  may result in airflow through or along its exterior herein defined as “ram air.” In a number of variations, the condenser  130  may be constructed and arranged to be mounted in the path of ram air on a vehicle  10 . In a number of variations, the product  8  may further include an attachment  25  for attaching at least the condenser  130  to the vehicle  10  in the path of ram air. In a number of variations, the system  100  may be used to recover heat from a vehicle  10  component such as, but not limited to, a vehicle engine  14 , a radiator  16 , an axle oil heat exchanger  45 , an engine oil heat exchanger  47 , a cabin heater  43 , exhaust gas turbocharger  170 , exhaust gas aftertreatment system  192 , or may be another type. In a number of variations, the system  100  may be used to recover waste heat from a vehicle  10  exhaust. As shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , in a number of variations, the vehicle  10  may include a tractor trailer  10 . In a number of variations, the vehicle  10  may include a tractor  12 . In a number of variations, the tractor  12  may be used in commercial trucking. In a number of variations, the tractor  12  may have a front surface  301 , a top surface  303 , a bottom surface  305 , a back surface  307 , and at least one side surface  309 . In a number of variations, ram air may be found along or through any of the components along these parts ( 301 ,  303 ,  305 ,  107 ,  309 ) of the tractor  12 . In a number of variations, the tractor  12  may be used to pull a trailer  40  that may be heavily loaded. In a number of variations, the trailer  40  may have a front surface  311 , a top surface  313 , a bottom surface  315 , a back surface  317 , and at least one side surface  319 . In a number of variations, ram air may be found along or through any of the components along these parts ( 311 ,  313 ,  315 ,  317 ,  319 ) of the tractor  12 . In a number of variations, the tractor  12  may include the engine  14 , which may be located forward of a driver&#39;s seat  20  and may be connected to at least one wheel  18  via a drive train (not shown). In a number of variations, the driver&#39;s seat  20  may be located within a cabin  22 . In a number of variations, the engine  14  may be cooled via a coolant supplied by a radiator  16 . In a number of variations, the radiator  16  may be located at the front  301  of the tractor  12 , behind a front grill  28 . In a number of variations, the cabin  22  may have a fairing  30  on top of a cabin roof  26 . In a number of variations, the fairing  30  may be a curved surface that encloses the cabin roof  26  to aerodynamically streamline a transition between a cabin windshield  24  and a trailer roof  42  or trailer top surface  313 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , in a number of variations, the condenser  130  of the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be mounted on or enclosed within the fairing  30  of a vehicle  10  in contact with ram air on at least one side of the condenser  130 . In a number of variations, the condenser  130  of the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be mounted on or enclosed within at least one of a front surface of the vehicle  10 , tractor  301 , or trailer  311  in contact with ram air on at least one side of the condenser  130 . In a number of variations, the condenser  130  of the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be mounted on or enclosed within at least one of a top surface of the vehicle  10 , tractor  303 , or trailer  313  in contact with ram air on at least one side of the condenser  130 . In a number of variations, the condenser  130  of the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be mounted on or enclosed within at least one of a bottom surface of the vehicle  10 , tractor  305 , or trailer  315  in contact with ram air on at least one side of the condenser  130 . In a number of variations, the condenser  130  of the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be mounted on or enclosed within at least one of a back surface of the vehicle  10 , tractor  307 , or trailer  317  in contact with ram air on at least one side of the condenser  130 . In a number of variations, the condenser  130  of the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be mounted on or enclosed within at least one of a side surface of the vehicle  10 , tractor  309 , or trailer  319  in contact with ram air on at least one side of the condenser  130 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , in a number of variations, the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be mounted on or enclosed within the fairing  30  of a vehicle  10  in contact with ram air on at least one side of the condenser  130 . In a number of variations, the housing  500  enclosing the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may replace the fairing  30 . In a number of variations, the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be mounted on or enclosed within at least one of a front surface of the vehicle  10 , tractor  301 , or trailer  311  in contact with ram air on at least one side of the condenser  130 . In a number of variations, the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be mounted on or enclosed within at least one of a top surface of the vehicle  10 , tractor  303 , or trailer  313  in contact with ram air on at least one side of the condenser  130 . In a number of variations, the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be mounted on or enclosed within at least one of a bottom surface of the vehicle  10 , tractor  305 , or trailer  315  in contact with ram air on at least one side of the condenser  130 . In a number of variations, the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be mounted on or enclosed within at least one of a back surface of the vehicle  10 , tractor  307 , or trailer  317  in contact with ram air on at least one side of the condenser  130 . In a number of variations, the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be mounted on or enclosed within at least one of a side surface of the vehicle  10 , tractor  309 , or trailer  319  in contact with ram air on at least one side of the condenser  130 . In a number of variations, the system  100  or condenser  130  may be mounted externally anywhere on the vehicle  10  to be minimally invasive and may decrease condenser  130  size. 
     Referring Back to  FIG. 1 , the system  100  may include a fluid circuit  180  which may include at least one of a pump  150 , an expander  118 , a power generation component  160 , a condenser  130 , or a heat exchanger  102 . In a number of variations, the heat exchanger  102  may perform a heat transfer to or from the fluid  195 . In a number of variations, the heat exchanger  102  may be a heat exchanger type including, but not limited to an electric heating, a double pipe, a shell and tube, a plate heat, a plate and shell, an adiabatic wheel, a plate fin heat, a pillow plate, or a fluid heat exchanger or may be another type. In a number of variations, the heat exchanger  102  may evaporate the fluid  195 . In a number of variations, the heat exchanger  102  may include a boiler which may allow the fluid to undergo a phase change from liquid to gas. In a number of variations, the heat exchanger  102  may be a shell and tube heat exchanger, and may include at least one of a heat exchanger housing  104 , a heat exchanger working fluid inlet  106  and a heat exchanger working fluid outlet  108 . In a number of variations, the heat exchanger working fluid inlet  106  and the heat exchanger working fluid outlet  108  may be connected by heat exchanger tubes  114  (shown schematically) disposed within the housing  104 . In a number of variations, the housing  104  may include an exhaust gas inlet  110  that may be configured to receive exhaust gas from the engine  14 , and an exhaust gas outlet  112 . In a number of variations, in the heat exchanger  102 , exhaust gas may enter the heat exchanger housing  104  via the exhaust gas inlet  110 , and may pass over the heat exchanger tubes  114  which may contain the working fluid  195 . As a result, in a number of variations, heat may be transferred from the exhaust gas to the working fluid  195  or vice versa within the heat exchanger tubes  114 . In a number of variations, in the heat exchanger  102 , the working fluid  195  may undergo a phase change from liquid to gas or vice versa due to the heat transfer. In a number of variations, the radiator  16  may be included in the system  100  inside or connected to the fluid circuit  180  to further provide heat transfer to or from the fluid  195 . In a number of variations, the radiator  16  may plum to the heat exchanger  102  of the fluid circuit  180  provide heat transfer to or from the fluid  195 . 
     In a number of variations, the expander  118  may include at least one turbine  119 . In a number of variations, the turbine  119  may be an impulse or reaction turbine. In a number of variations, the turbine  119  may be at least one of a steam turbine, a gas turbine, a transonic turbine, a contra-rotating turbine, a statorless turbine, a shrouded turbine, a ceramic turbine, a shroudless turbine, a bladless turbine, a water turbine (including Pelton, Francis, Kaplan, Turgo, or Cross-flow), a pressure compound turbine, or may be another type. In a number of variations, the turbine  119  may be an axial or a radial turbine. In a number of variations, the expander  118  may include an expander housing  120  that may have an expander working fluid inlet  126  that may be connected to the heat exchanger working fluid outlet  108  and may receive the working fluid  195  from the heat exchanger  102 . In a number of variations, the expander housing  120  may include an expander working fluid outlet  128 . In a number of variations, the expander  118  may be an axial impulse turbine in which the high pressure gas delivered by the heat exchanger  102  may be passed through a nozzle (not shown) configured to decrease the pressure and increase the velocity of the working fluid  195 . In a number of variations, the working fluid  195  may then passed over a turbine wheel  122  that may be housed in the expander housing  120 . In a number of variations, the working fluid  195  may cause the turbine wheel  122  to rotate about an expander shaft  124 . In a number of variations, as a result, the working fluid  195  exits the expander working fluid outlet  128  having performed usable work. In a number of variations, the turbine wheel  122  may connected to a power generation component  160  via the expander shaft  124 . In a number of variations, the rotation of the turbine wheel  122  may result in electricity generation within the power generation component  160 . 
     In a number of variations, the power generation component  160  may be an electric generator. In a number of variations, the power generation component  160  may include an armature (not shown) which may generate electric current to be collected by an electric collection component (not shown). In a number of variations, the power generation component  160  may be a dynamo or an alternator. In a number of variations, the power generation component  160  may rotate at speeds from about 0 to about 80,000 RPM, and may produce power in the range of 1 to 40 kilowatts. In a number of variations, the electric current may be used to power an engine or other component of a vehicle  10 . In a number of variations, the electric current may be stored in or used to charge a battery (not shown). In a number of variations, the electrical power produced by the generator  160  can be used to power vehicle electrical systems such as the air conditioning system, a motor used to provide power to the power train, or may be another component. In a number of variations, at least one of the power generation component  160 , expander shaft  124 , or turbine wheel  122  may be mechanically coupled to a gear reduction device (not shown) which may be mechanically coupled to a vehicle powertrain (not shown) or engine  14 . In a number of variations, at least one of the power generation component  160 , expander shaft  124 , or turbine wheel  122  may be mechanically coupled to a differential which may be mechanically coupled to a vehicle crank train. 
     In a number of variations, the condenser  130  may be a heat exchanger including, but not limited to an electric heating, a double pipe, a shell and tube, a plate heat, a plate and shell, an adiabatic wheel, a plate fin heat, a pillow plate, or a fluid heat exchanger or may be another type. In a number of variations, the condenser  130  may be an air cooled condenser. In a number of variations, the condenser  130  may be an air or water heat exchanger with a water condenser. In a number of variations, the condenser  130  may include a water condenser where a second fluid  197  cools the working fluid  195  where the second fluid  197  may include water. In a number of variations, the condenser  130  may be a shell and tube heat exchanger, and may include at least one of a condenser housing  132 , a condenser working fluid inlet  134  that may be connected to the expander working fluid outlet  128 , or a condenser working fluid outlet  136 . In a number of variations, the condenser working fluid inlet  134  and the condenser working fluid outlet  136  may be connected by tubes  142  (shown schematically) disposed within the housing  132 . In a number of variations, the condenser housing  132  may include at least one of, ram air or second fluid inlet  138  that may configured to receive ram air due to the motion of the vehicle  10 , and a ram air or second fluid outlet  140 . In a number of variations, when installed in the fairing  30 , the condenser  130  may be oriented so that the ram air or second fluid inlet  138  faces the vehicle  10  front tractor front  301 , or trailer front  311 . In a number of variations, the ram air or second fluid inlet  138  may be large relative to the front-facing side of the condenser  130  in order to maximize the amount of the ram air or second fluid captured and directed across the condenser tubes  142 . In a number of variations, the ratio of the area of the ram air or second fluid inlet  138  to the area of the front-facing side of the condenser housing  132  may be in a range of about 0.7 to about 0.98. In a number of variations, the ram air or second fluid outlet  140  may be corresponding large to facilitate free flow of air through the condenser  130 . In a number of variations, in the condenser  130 , the working fluid  195  may enter the condenser housing  132  via the condenser working fluid inlet  134 , and may pass through the condenser tubes  142 . In a number of variations, during motion of the vehicle  10 , ram air or second fluid may pass over the condenser tubes  142 , whereby the working fluid  195  may experience heat transfer or may be cooled. In a number of variations, in the condenser  130 , the working fluid  195  may undergo a phase change from gas to liquid due to cooling by the ram air. In a number of variations, the size and shape of the housing  132 , number and configuration of the condenser tubes  142 , and materials used to form the housing  132  and condenser tubes  142  will depend on the requirements of the specific application and may be any shape including, but not limited to, rectangular, polygonal, cube, sphere, hemisphere, cuboid, cylinder, cone, dodecahedron, octahedron, pyramid, prism, or may be another shape. 
     In a number of variations, the pump  150  may move the fluid  195  through the fluid circuit  180  and may determine fluid  195  flowrate. In a number of variations, the pump  150  may be a rotary positive displacement pump, a reciprocating positive displacement pump, a gear pump, a screw pump, a progressing cavity pump, a roots-type pump, a peristaltic pump, a plunger pump, a rope pump, a impeller pump, a hydraulic ram pump, a radial-flow pump, an axial-flow pump, a mixed-flow pump, an eductor-jet pump, a steam pump, a gravity pump, a valveless pump, or may be another type. In a number of variations, the pump  150  may pressurize the fluid  195  as a liquid or a gas. In a number of variations, the fluid circuit  180  may include a high pressure pump  150 A, a low pressure pump  150 B, or both. In a number of variations, the pump  150  may include an inlet  154  that may be connected to, and may receive the working fluid  195  from the condenser working fluid outlet  136 . In a number of variations, due to action of the pump  150 , the working fluid  195  may be pressurized and may exit the pump  150  via the pump outlet  156 . In a number of variations, the pump  150  may provide high pressure working fluid  195  to the working fluid inlet  106  of the heat exchanger  102 . 
     In a number of variations, the fluid circuit  180  may further include at least one valve  190 . In a number of variations, the valve  190  may be at least one of a ball valve, a butterfly valve, a ceramic disc valve, a check valve, a choke valve, a diaphragm valve, a gate valve, a globe valve, a knife valve, a needle valve, a pinch valve, a piston valve, a plug valve, a poppet valve, a spool valve, a thermal expansion valve, a pressure reducing valve, a sampling valve, a safety valve, or may be another type. In a number of variations, the at least one valve  190  may be included in the fluid circuit  180  between the pump  150  and the heat exchanger  102 , and may be configured to selectively redirect at least some working fluid  195  to a high pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system  168  associated with the engine  14 . In a number of variations, the re-directed working fluid  195  may be heated by exhaust gas in the EGR system  168  and then may be directed to the expander working fluid inlet  126 , bypassing the heat exchanger  102 . In a number of variations, the fluid circuit  180  may include at least one controller  155 . In a number of variations, the controller  155  may control operation of the expander  118 , heat exchanger  102 , valve  190 , condenser  130 , pump  150 , power generation component  160 , or other components based on a number of variations including, but not limited to, fluid temperature, fluid pressure, power generation component output, pump flowrate, amount of engine waste heat being created, or may be another variable. 
     In a number of variations, the system  100  or fluid circuit  180  may be arranged so that the condenser  130  may be mounted to the cabin roof  26  adjacent a forward edge thereof. In a number of variations, the fairing  30  may surround the condenser  130 , facilitating mounting of the condenser  130  in this location. In a number of variations, the fairing  30  may include a grill or louvered area that may be aligned with the ram air inlet  138  of the condenser  130  and may be configured to direct or accept ram air toward the ram air inlet  138 . In a number of variations, the fairing  30  may include a grill or louvered area that may be aligned with the ram air inlet  138  of the condenser  130  and may be configured to direct or accept ram air toward the ram air inlet  138 . In a number of variations, the front surface of at least one of the vehicle  10 , tractor  301 , or trailer  311  may include a grill or louvered area that may be aligned with the ram air inlet  138  of the condenser  130  and may be configured to direct or accept ram air toward the ram air inlet  138 . In a number of variations, the top surface of at least one of the vehicle  10 , tractor  303 , or trailer  313  may include a grill or louvered area that may be aligned with the ram air inlet  138  of the condenser  130  and may be configured to direct or accept ram air toward the ram air inlet  138 . In a number of variations, the bottom surface of at least one of the vehicle  10 , tractor  305 , or trailer  315  may include a grill or louvered area that may be aligned with the ram air inlet  138  of the condenser  130  and may be configured to direct or accept ram air toward the ram air inlet  138 . In a number of variations, the back surface of at least one of the vehicle  10 , tractor  307 , or trailer  317  may include a grill or louvered area that may be aligned with the ram air inlet  138  of the condenser  130  and may be configured to direct or accept ram air toward the ram air inlet  138 . In a number of variations, the side surface of at least one of the vehicle  10 , tractor  309 , or trailer  319  may include a grill or louvered area that may be aligned with the ram air inlet  138  of the condenser  130  and may be configured to direct or accept ram air toward the ram air inlet  138 . In a number of variations, the condenser  130  may be mounted on the vehicle  10  in such a way that the condenser  130  may be in the path of airflow from the movement of the vehicle, out of the sight line of a driver  5  of the vehicle  10 , and outside the path of airflow from the movement of the vehicle  10  to the radiator  16 . In a number of variations, the condenser  130 , fluid circuit  180  or system  100  may also be used with other cabin  22  layouts, including, but not limited to, the cab-over-engine layout. 
     In a number of variations, the system  100  may be supplied with exhaust gas from the turbine section  174  of an exhaust gas turbocharger  170  connected to the engine  14 . In a number of variations, the exhaust gas turbocharger  170  may include at least one of the turbine section  174  which houses a turbine wheel (not shown), a compressor section  172  which houses a compressor wheel (not shown), or a turbocharger shaft  176  that connects the turbine wheel to the compressor wheel. In a number of variations, the turbine wheel may be rotatably driven by an inflow of exhaust gas supplied from the exhaust manifold  14   a  of the engine  14 . In a number of variations, rotation of the turbine wheel may cause rotation of the compressor wheel, whereby the compressor section  172  may increase the air mass flow rate, airflow density and air pressure delivered to the engine&#39;s cylinders via the engine&#39;s air intake manifold  14   b . In a number of variations, exhaust gas exiting the turbine section  174  may be directed to the exhaust gas inlet  110  after treatment in an exhaust gas after treatment system  192 . In a number of variations, collocating the system  100  next to the exhaust gas after treatment system  192  may reduce piping loss and increase treatment system  192  thermal efficiency or allow for vehicle retrofits. In a number of variations, engine heat may be used to both increase engine  14  efficiency via the turbocharger  170 , and also may provide electrical power to the vehicle  10  via the system  100 . In a number of variations, the system  100  may be designed to fit within or adjacent to at least one existing component of a vehicle  10  such as, but not limited to, the exhaust system, exhaust gas turbocharger  170 , exhaust gas after treatment system  192 , radiator  16 , or engine  14 . In a number of variations, the system  100  may be used in a hybrid drive system vehicle  10 . In a number of variations, the system  100  may be mounted under the vehicle  10  chassis without significant modifications to existing components. In a number of variations, the system  100  being mounted in the fairing  30  may lower condensing pressure/temperature and may improve overall vehicle  10  thermal performance. In a number of variations, the system  100  mounted in the fairing  30  may increase vehicle cooling system efficiency by returning airflow to existing components such as, but not limited to, the charge air cooler (not shown) or air conditioning condenser (not shown). 
     In a number of variations, the system  100  may be mounted to the vehicle  10  through an attachment  25 . In a number of variations, the condenser  130  may be mounted to the vehicle  10  through an attachment  25 . In a number of variations, the attachment  25  may attach at least one of the system  100  or condenser  130  to the vehicle  10  through a mechanical coupling. In a number of variations, the attachment  25  may comprise a frame for mounting the system  100  or condenser  130  to the vehicle. In a number of variations, the attachment  25  may comprise a part including, but not limited to, bolt, slot, edge, recess, fastener, buckle, button, cable tie, clamp, clip, clutch, flange, frog, grommet, latch, nail, peg, pin, hook and loop fastener, rivet, screw anchor, snap fastener, staple, stitch, strap, threaded fastener, tie, toggle bolt, zipper, wedge anchor, or may be another type. In a number of variations, the attachment  25  may attach at least one of the system  100  or condenser  130  to the vehicle  10  so that the condenser  130  may be constructed and arranged to be mounted in the path of ram air on the vehicle  10 . In a number of variations, the attachment  25  may attach at least one of the system  100  or condenser  130  to the vehicle  10  through a mechanical coupling including a process of welding (including arc welding, gas metal arc welding, shielded metal arc welding, bolting, or may be another type), use of an adhesive (such as, but not limited to, a metal epoxy, resin, silicone, polyurethane, polysifide, cyanoacrylate, UV-cure, or may be another type), or may be attached in a different way. In a number of variations, the system  100  may be oriented such that the condenser  130  resides in the front of the system  100  near the front  301  of the vehicle. 
     In a number of variations, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a method  800  is shown. In a number of variations, the method  800  may include a step  802  of providing a system  100  including a fluid circuit  180  which may include at least one of a fluid  195 , a pump  150 , an expander  118 , a power generation component  160 , at least one heat exchanger  102 , and a condenser  130 . In a number of variations, the method  800  may further include step  804  of attaching at least the condenser  130  of the system  100  to a surface of a vehicle  10  through an attachment  25 . In a number of variations, the method  800  may further include step  806  of operating the fluid circuit  180  to generate usable work from the working fluid  195  wherein the condenser  130  may be constructed and arranged to be mounted in the path of ram air on the vehicle  10 . In a number of variations, the method may further include wherein the condenser  130  may be mounted on or enclosed within the fairing  30  of a vehicle  10 . In a number of variations, the method may further include wherein the condenser  130  may be mounted on or enclosed within a top surface of the vehicle  10 . In a number of variations, the method may further include wherein the condenser  130  may be mounted on or enclosed within a bottom surface of the vehicle  10 . In a number of variations, the method may further include wherein the condenser  130  may be mounted on or enclosed within a front surface of the vehicle  10 . In a number of variations, the method may further include wherein the fluid circuit  180  may be an organic Rankine cycle. In a number of variations, the method may further include wherein the fluid circuit  180  may be constructed and arranged to recover waste heat from a vehicle exhaust system. In a number of variations, the method may further include wherein the entire fluid circuit  180  may be constructed and arranged to be mounted in the path of ram air on a vehicle on a vehicle  10  through the attachment  25 . 
     The following description of variants is only illustrative of components, elements, acts, product and methods considered to be within the scope of the invention and are not in any way intended to limit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly set forth. The components, elements, acts, product and methods as described herein may be combined and rearranged other than as expressly described herein and still are considered to be within the scope of the invention. 
     Variation 1 may include a system including a fluid, a pump, an expander, a power generation component, at least one heat exchanger, and a condenser, wherein the condenser is constructed and arranged to be mounted in the path of ram air on a vehicle. 
     Variation 2 may include a system as set forth in Variation 1 wherein the condenser is mounted on or enclosed within the fairing of a vehicle. 
     Variation 3 may include a system as set forth in any of Variations 1-2 wherein the condenser is mounted on a top of the vehicle. 
     Variation 4 may include a system as set forth in any of Variations 1-3 wherein the condenser is mounted on a side of the vehicle. 
     Variation 5 may include a system as set forth in any of Variations 1-4 wherein the condenser is mounted on a bottom of the vehicle. 
     Variation 6 may include a system as set forth in any of Variations 1-5 wherein the condenser is mounted on a front of the vehicle. 
     Variation 7 may include a system as set forth in any of Variations 1-6 wherein the fluid comprises at least one of steam, fluorinol, ammonia, ethanol, methanol, kerosene, gasoline, diesel, propanol, butanol, water, benzene, toluene, methane, ethane, propane, butane, acetone, or liquid hydrogen. 
     Variation 8 may include a system as set forth in any of Variations 1-7 wherein the fluid circuit is an organic Rankine cycle. 
     Variation 9 may include a system as set forth in any of Variations 1-8 wherein the fluid circuit is constructed and arranged to recover waste heat from a vehicle exhaust system. 
     Variation 10 may include a system as set forth in any of Variations 8-9 wherein the entire fluid circuit is constructed and arranged to be in a single housing mounted in the path of ram air on a vehicle through an attachment. 
     Variation 11 may include a method including providing a fluid circuit comprising a fluid, a pump, an expander, a power generation component, at least one heat exchanger, and a condenser; and operating the fluid circuit to generate usable work from the fluid wherein the condenser is constructed and arranged to be mounted in the path of ram air on a vehicle. 
     Variation 12 may include a method as set forth in Variation 11 wherein the condenser is mounted on or enclosed within the fairing of a vehicle. 
     Variation 13 may include a method as set forth in any of Variations 11-12 wherein the condenser is mounted on a top of the vehicle. 
     Variation 14 may include a method as set forth in any of Variations 11-13 wherein the condenser is mounted on a side of the vehicle. 
     Variation 15 may include a method as set forth in any of Variations 11-14 wherein the condenser is mounted on a bottom of the vehicle. 
     Variation 16 may include a method as set forth in any of Variations 11-15 wherein the condenser is mounted on a front of the vehicle. 
     Variation 17 may include a method as set forth in any of Variations 11-16 wherein the fluid comprises at least one of steam, fluorinol, ammonia, ethanol, methanol, kerosene, gasoline, diesel, propanol, butanol, water, benzene, toluene, methane, ethane, propane, butane, acetone, or liquid hydrogen. 
     Variation 18 may include a method as set forth in any of Variations 11-17 wherein the fluid circuit is an organic Rankine cycle. 
     Variation 19 may include a method as set forth in any of Variations 11-18 wherein the fluid circuit is constructed and arranged to recover waste heat from a vehicle exhaust system. 
     Variation 20 may include a method as set forth in any of Variations 11-19 wherein the entire fluid circuit is constructed and arranged to be in a single housing mounted in the path of ram air on a vehicle through an attachment. 
     Variation 21 may include a system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-20 wherein the fluid is an organic, high molecular mass working fluid with a liquid-vapor phase-change, occurring at a lower temperature than the water-steam phase change. 
     Variation 22 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-21 wherein the fluid circuit further comprises at least one valve. 
     Variation 23 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-22 the housing enclosing the fluid circuit replaces the fairing. 
     Variation 24 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-23 wherein system or fluid circuit is a thermodynamic cycle including but not limited to, a Rankine cycle, a Kalina cycle, or an Otto cycle. 
     Variation 25 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-24 wherein the system is used to recover heat from a chemical process such as, but not limited to, a geothermal energy generator process, a solar energy generator process, a combustion process, an industrial waste heat process, or a wind energy generator process. 
     Variation 26 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-25 wherein the system is used to recover heat from a vehicle component such as, but not limited to, a vehicle engine, a radiator, an axle oil heat exchanger, an engine oil heat exchanger, a cabin heater. 
     Variation 27 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-26 wherein the vehicle comprises a tractor trailer comprising a tractor and a trailer. 
     Variation 28 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-27 wherein the system or method is used to recover heat from a vehicle. 
     Variation 29 may include a product, system or method as set forth in of Variation 28 wherein the vehicle includes at least one of a bicycle, a motor vehicle, a spacecraft, a watercraft, an aircraft, or a train. 
     Variation 30 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-29 wherein the heat exchanger is a heat exchanger type including, but not limited to an electric heating, a double pipe, a shell and tube, a plate heat, a plate and shell, an adiabatic wheel, a plate fin heat, a pillow plate, or a fluid heat exchanger. 
     Variation 31 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-30 wherein the expander comprises a turbine comprising at least one of a steam turbine, a gas turbine, a transonic turbine, a contra-rotating turbine, a statorless turbine, a shrouded turbine, a ceramic turbine, a shroudless turbine, a bladless turbine, impulse turbine, reaction turbine, axial turbine, radial turbine, a water turbine (including Pelton, Francis, Kaplan, Turgo, or Cross-flow), a pressure compound turbine, combinations thereof, or may be another type. 
     Variation 32 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-31 wherein the heat exchanger comprises a boiler. 
     Variation 33 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-32 wherein the radiator is included in the system inside or connected to the fluid circuit to further provide heat transfer to or from the fluid. 
     Variation 34 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-33 wherein the power generation component comprises an armature which may generate electric current to be collected by an electric collection component. 
     Variation 35 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-34 wherein the power generation component rotates at speeds from about 0 to about 80,000 RPM, and produces power in the range of 1 to 40 kilowatts. 
     Variation 36 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-35 wherein the electrical power produced by the generator is used to provide power to at least one of, vehicle electrical systems, the air conditioning system, a motor used to provide power to the power train, vehicle battery system, vehicle powertrain, or vehicle crank train. 
     Variation 37 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-36 wherein the condenser comprises at least one of an electric heating, a double pipe, a shell and tube, a plate heat, a plate and shell, an adiabatic wheel, a plate fin heat, a pillow plate, air cooled condenser, air or water heat exchanger with a water condenser, or a fluid heat exchanger. 
     Variation 38 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-37, wherein the power generation component comprises a dynamo or an alternator. 
     Variation 39 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-37, wherein the fluid circuit comprises at least one controller which controls operation of at least one of the turbine, heat exchanger, valve, condenser, pump, or power generation component based on a number of variations comprising at least one of fluid temperature, fluid pressure, power generation component output, or pump flowrate. 
     Variation 40 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-39 wherein condenser comprises a ram air or second fluid inlet  138  which is large maximize the amount of the ram air or second fluid captured and directed across the condenser. 
     Variation 41 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-40 wherein condenser comprises a ram air or second fluid outlet which is large to facilitate free flow of air through the condenser. 
     Variation 42 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-41 wherein the condenser comprises a shape comprising at least one rectangular, polygonal, cube, sphere, hemisphere, cuboid, cylinder, cone, dodecahedron, octahedron, pyramid, or prism. 
     Variation 43 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-42, wherein pump is at least one of a rotary positive displacement pump, a reciprocating positive displacement pump, a gear pump, a screw pump, a progressing cavity pump, a roots-type pump, a peristaltic pump, a plunger pump, a rope pump, a impeller pump, a hydraulic ram pump, a radial-flow pump, an axial-flow pump, a mixed-flow pump, an eductor-jet pump, a steam pump, a gravity pump, or a valveless pump. 
     Variation 44 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-43, wherein the fluid circuit comprises at least one of a high pressure pump or a low pressure pump. 
     Variation 45 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-44 wherein the valve is at least one of a ball valve, a butterfly valve, a ceramic disc valve, a check valve, a choke valve, a diaphragm valve, a gate valve, a globe valve, a knife valve, a needle valve, a pinch valve, a piston valve, a plug valve, a poppet valve, a spool valve, a thermal expansion valve, a pressure reducing valve, a sampling valve, or a safety valve. 
     Variation 46 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-45 wherein the valve is included in the fluid circuit between the pump and the heat exchanger, and may be configured to selectively redirect at least some fluid to a high pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system associated with the engine. 
     Variation 47 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-46 wherein at least one of the top surface, bottom surface, front surface, back surface, or side surface of the vehicle, tractor, or trailer comprises a grill or louvered area that is aligned with a ram air inlet of the condenser. 
     Variation 48 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-47, wherein system is supplied with exhaust gas from a turbine section of an exhaust gas turbocharger, or an exhaust gas aftertreatment system. 
     Variation 49 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-48, wherein system is designed to fit within or adjacent to at least one existing component of a vehicle comprising at least one of an exhaust system, exhaust gas turbocharger, exhaust gas after treatment system, radiator, or engine. 
     Variation 50 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-50, wherein system is mounted under the vehicle chassis. 
     Variation 51 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-50, wherein the attachment comprises a part including, but not limited to, bolt, slot, edge, recess, fastener, buckle, button, cable tie, clamp, clip, clutch, flange, frog, grommet, latch, nail, peg, pin, hook and loop fastener, rivet, screw anchor, snap fastener, staple, stitch, strap, threaded fastener, tie, toggle bolt, zipper, or wedge anchor. 
     Variation 52 may include a product, system or method as set forth in any of Variations 1-51, wherein the attachment may attach at least one of the system or condenser to the vehicle through a mechanical coupling including a process of welding (including arc welding, gas metal arc welding, shielded metal arc welding, bolting, or may be another type), or through use of an adhesive (such as, but not limited to, a metal epoxy, resin, silicone, polyurethane, polysifide, cyanoacrylate, UV-cure, or may be another type). 
     The above description of select variations within the scope of the invention is merely illustrative in nature and, thus, variations or variants thereof are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.