Device for recovering heat energy in a supercharged internal-combustion engine

Claim 1

Thermodynamic apparatus operating on a Rankine cycle for recovering heat energy from a supercharged liquid cooled internal combustion engine, the apparatus including a closed circuit for a working fluid and means for preheating, pressurizing, vaporizing, superheating, expanding, condensing and recirculating the working fluid in the closed circuit, the preheating means comprising a first heat exchanger traversed by the heated cooling liquid from the engine and a second heat exchanger traversed by the air issuing from a supercharging compressor, the pressurizing means comprising a feed pump, the vaporizing and superheating means comprising a third heat exchanger traversed by the engine exhaust gas, the expanding means comprising a turbine, the condensing means comprising a condensor, and the recirculating means comprising a condensate pump, connected together by said closed working fluid circuit, wherein the three heat exchangers are mounted in series, the condensate pump is located between the condenser and the first heat exchanger, and the feed pump is located between the second heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger.