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No, BMW isn't developing a German-engineered carpet cleaner, but rather a new technology that will no doubt give renewed credence to the idea that the internal combustion engine is long from dead. Called Turbosteamer, the new system actually uses principals derived from the steam engine to recycle hot exhaust gasses that would otherwise be wasted to power a drive assist system for the main motor.

The gist is this – 80 percent of the heat energy from exhaust gasses is used to heat fluid and form steam that is then conducted directly into an expansion unit linked to the crankshaft of the engine. Yeah, OK, I didn't follow that either, but the net result is a 15% increase in efficiency and a bump of 14 horsepower and 15 lb-ft of torque in BMW's 1.8L four-cylinder engine. We'll get Eric the AutoMK Engineer out here later to provide a more expert analysis of the new technology.

BMW is designing the system to be small enough to fit on any of its current production vehicles and hopes to have the system production ready in ten years.

This quote from the company's press release says it all about BMW's philosophy towards efficiency: "a reduction in consumption amounting to a few percentage points over the entire model range exerts higher overall effects on the general population than high percentage points for a niche model." Amen, brutha.

More pics and an explanation of the Turbosteamer in BMW's own words after the jump…

[Source – BMW]

MORE EFFICIENCY INSTEAD OF POWER LOSS

12/07/2005


BMW Group Research and Engineering has combined heat and power to improve performance and efficiency in a car for the first time

Enhancing efficiency by up to 15 percent feasible through the principle of the steam engine

Using an innovative concept, BMW Group Research and Engineering has succeeded in harnessing the biggest and as yet untapped source of energy in the car: Heat. Combining an innovative drive assist with a 1.8 liter BMW four-cylinder engine on the test rig reduced consumption by up to 15 percent while generating nearly 14 additional horsepower. At the same time, up to 15 lb-ft more torque was measured. This increased power and efficiency comes free of charge. The reason is that the energy is derived exclusively from the waste heat present in the exhaust gases and cooling system and doesn? cost you a single drop of fuel. The research project meets all the conditions espoused by the philosophy of BMW Efficient Dynamics ?lower emissions and consumption combined with more dynamic driving and performance.

Up to fifteen percent greater overall efficiency for the gas engine.

The Turbosteamer ?as the project is known ?is based on the principle of the steam engine: Fluid is heated to form steam in two circuits and this is used to power the engine. The primary energy supplier is the high-temperature circuit which uses exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine as an energy source via heat exchangers. More than 80 percent of the heat energy contained in the exhaust gases is recycled using this technology. The steam is then conducted directly into an expansion unit linked to the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. Most of the remaining residual heat is absorbed by the cooling circuit of the engine, which acts as the second energy supply for the Turbosteamer. This innovative drive assist verifiably increases the efficiency of the combined drive system by up to 15 percent. ?he Turbosteamer reinforces our confidence that the internal combustion engine is undoubtedly a technology fit for the future,?comments Professor Burkhard G?el, Member of the Board of Management responsible for development and purchasing at BMW AG.

Adequate space in today? vehicle concepts.

The development of this new drive assist has reached the phase involving comprehensive tests on the test rig. The components for this drive system have been designed so that they are capable of being installed in existing model series. Tests have been carried out on a number of sample packages to ensure that a car such as the BMW 3 Series provides adequate space. The engine compartment of a four-cylinder model offers enough space to allow the expansion units to be accommodated.

System ready for volume production within ten years

Ongoing development of the concept is focusing initially on making the components simpler and smaller. The long-term development goal is to have a system capable of volume production within ten years.

The big picture: project BMW Efficient Dynamics.

BMW Group Research and Engineering has demonstrated the medium-term perspectives of the project BMW Efficient Dynamics. ?his project resolves the apparent contradiction between consumption and emission reductions on the one hand and performance and agility on the other,?is how Professor Burkhard G?el summarizes the core concept of the programme. The BMW Group is committed to the principle that a reduction in consumption amounting to a few percentage points over the entire model range exerts higher overall effects on the general population than high percentage points for a niche model. BMW is focusing on making the latest technologies for reduced consumption accessible to as many people as possible.