Method and apparatus for recovering heat and converting it into mechanical power in a drive system for motor vehicles

US9051851B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MAN Truck &Bus AG · DE

Inventors

• Gottfried Raab · Ansfelden, AT
• Josef Klammer · Steyr, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 22, 2012
• Grant date: Jun 9, 2015
• Expiry date: Dec 10, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T10/12
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method and an apparatus recover heat and convert the heat into mechanical power in a drive system for motor vehicles. A working medium carried in a working medium circuit is evaporated by an evaporator integrated into the working medium circuit by waste heat from an internal combustion engine. The vapor generated is fed to an expansion machine coupled to the internal combustion engine, and the exhaust vapor from the expansion machine is then converted back into the liquid phase in at least one condenser. Accordingly at least one valve, which can be subjected to control by a control device, and a vapor accumulator are integrated into the working medium circuit downstream of the evaporator such that the vapor generated is fed into the vapor accumulator. The vapor stored in the vapor accumulator is fed back at least in part into the working medium circuit to drive the expansion machine.