Exhaust heat recovery system for compartment heating
US4781242A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 9, 1987 |
| Grant date | Nov 1, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/12
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An exhaust gas heat exchanger for transferring heat from the exhaust gases of an engine to its liquid coolant, thereby increasing the rate of heating of the coolant. The heat exchanger according to this invention provides a regulated rate of heat transfer despite changes in the temperature of the exhaust gases. The exchanger includes a heat pipe with an evaporator and condenser portion. The evaporator portion is exposed to exhaust gases; thus heating the working fluid in the heat pipe, and the condenser portion is in thermal communication with an engine coolant heater. In order to accommodate a broad range of exhaust gas temperature, the heat exchanger includes means for storing the working fluid such that the quantity of the working fluid transferring heat from the evaporator to the condenser portions can be varied. This system enables substantially all of the working fluid in a liquid phase to be removed from the evaporator (i.e. a complete drying out) when the temperature of the evaporator approaches the upper limit of its operating range.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.