Heat plays a massive role in automotive performance. Some things, like brake fluid and coolant, work best when they’re not overheated, while others, like tires, tend to work better the warmer they get. A recent patent from Ferrari suggests the automaker is working on a way to turn excess temperatures into forward momentum by harnessing exhaust temperatures and turning them into thrust by using a heat exchanger and nozzle. As if the Italian company’s cars weren’t already advanced enough, a future version of the F80 or 296 GTB could include literal jet engine tech.
Base Trim Engine
3.0-L V6 twin-turbo Plug-in Hybrid
Base Trim Transmission
8-Speed Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
868 hp
Base Trim Torque
557 lb-ft
Segment
Supercar
More Power, More Flexibility
The system, described in two patents that appeared in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 28, aims to solve two problems. In order for an internal combustion engine to run most efficiently, it needs to produce balanced temperatures within the intake, cylinders, and exhaust manifold to ensure complete combustion and a seamless transition between engine cycles. But if heat rises too much, it can introduce major problems in the exhaust system overall, wearing out catalytic converters and introducing thermal stress into the materials used to construct the tailpipes, mufflers, and supporting hardware.
Ferrari Exhaust Manifold Heat Exchanger DrawingFerrari / US Patent and Trademark Office
Reducing those temperatures would first improve longevity, reducing the heat-related shock that can show up in hard running on a warm day. It would also give mechanical engineers another variable to solve for, improving design flexibility and allowing the engine to run on different cycles for different driving situations. That’s why Ferrari applied for a patent for a novel heat exchanger for an exhaust system, comprised of a finned exhaust manifold that would slough excess temperatures more efficiently.
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Furthermore, the design includes a hollow conduit, through which would run ambient air taken from outside the vehicle. The hollow tube, which would route around or next to the finned exhaust manifold, absorbs some of the heat running through the engine, then harmlessly vents outside the car through the conduit’s own exhaust outlet.
Better Living Through Enthalpy
Basic chemistry teaches us that heat causes most things to expand, and armed with that knowledge, Ferrari engineers realized that the ambient air heat exchanger could also be used to improve vehicle performance. One of the patents fits the aforementioned conduit with a specialized nozzle on its exit, which would compress the heated air inside the hollow pathway and generate forward thrust as it emerges from the nozzle. And since it’s fitted to the heat-exchanging conduit rather than the exhaust, the added back pressure wouldn’t have an effect on engine performance.
Ferrari KC23 TaillightFerrari
The process is known as an enthalpy jump, which is when heat suddenly transfers from one component of a system to another component – although without raising the total heat involved in the entire process. In the Ferrari patent, air inside the hollow conduit absorbs heat from the finned exhaust manifold before making its way toward the exit nozzle, where it emerges as thrust. The same principle applies to jet engines, except the pressurized air also contains exhaust from the combustion process. In the theoretical Ferrari design, the pressure comes from the ambient air, heat-exchanging conduit alone.
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The principles behind the design aren’t limited to internal combustion cars, either. Electric vehicles, including Ferrari’s polarizing Luce, could use a similar conduit system to absorb heat from batteries and motors, allowing them to work more efficiently while also providing a little extra thrust from the back end. It’s a compelling idea in that it improves both engine (or battery) performance while also adding a little extra go-juice, compounding effects for an even more exciting driving experience.
2027 Ferrari 849 Testarossa Spider rear 3/4Ferrari
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters
Although patent and trademark filings don’t always presage actual technologies that show up in dealers, this one could be a pretty compelling addition to just about any kind of vehicle. The precision mechanical and aerodynamic engineering would comprise the bulk of the labor required, considering designers would have to ensure every component, from the finned manifold to the thrust-generating nozzle, works in harmony with another. But once that work is done, implementing such a system would be relatively simple, at least insofar as parts and packaging are concerned. Whether the design is actually feasible in the real world is likely in question, but theoretically, it’s a very exciting idea.
Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office
