Hi, I know many have thought about this, and I'd like to see some updated ideas.
I have a short 16 passenger shuttle bus with a Trtiton V10 and the whole floor gets very hot due to the exhaust. It's an incredible amount of energy I just cannot bear to let go to waste.
I'm imagining copper tubing wrapped around the exhaust pipe, similar to this:
I found a product that uses some of these ideas:
https://polarpower.com/products/gene...eat-exchanger/
Their brochure has more details and raises some relevant safety concerns, such as introducing water to an empty, hot system (boom)
https://www.polarpower.com/wp-conten...anger_0115.pdf
I am aware of using the coolant for this, and I even have one of those rear heaters that draw from the coolant system, but I just can't believe that it would be as efficient.
I imagine a cold water tank that maintains to the coil system, which thermosiphons to an insulated hot tank. The hot tank would have a protected pressure release valve.
Curious if the hot and cold tanks would naturally balance?
There is one serious con to this plan, now that I think about it. Drawing heat away from the exhaust might slow exhaust gases, putting more resistance on the exhaust stroke of the cylinders, leading to more engine inefficiency, more emissions, more gas.
Let me know your thoughts!