Exhaust heat recovery system
US7178332B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 2005 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/12
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In an exhaust heat recovery system, electric power generation efficiency of a thermoelectric conversion element can be improved, and warming-up of a catalyst can be completed early, without using a complicated device. The exhaust heat recovery system according to the invention includes an exhaust pipe in which exhaust gas discharged from an internal combustion engine flows; a catalyst which purifies the exhaust gas; a heat recovery portion which is fitted to the exhaust pipe, and which recovers heat contained in the exhaust gas; a thermoelectric conversion element which generates electric power using thermoelectric conversion; and a heat pipe which connects the heat recovery portion to the thermoelectric conversion element, and which transfers the heat recovered in the heat recovery portion to the thermoelectric conversion element. An operation starting temperature of the heat pipe is set so as to be higher than an activation temperature of the catalyst.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.