Internal combustion engine having a hermetically sealed heat exchanger tube system

Claim 1

Internal combustion engine with an engine block forming a heat source, a radiator forming a heat sink, a system of coolant lines and spaces in the engine block, and at least two coolant transport lines connecting the system of coolant lines and spaces of the engine block with the radiator, wherein the radiator is placed above the system of coolant lines and spaces, wherein the system of coolant lines and spaces together with the transport lines rise from a lowest point of the overall system to the radiator, wherein the radiator, the system of coolant lines and spaces of the engine block and the coolant transport lines are formed as a partially evacuated, hermetically sealed heat exchanger tube system filled with only a small amount of liquid coolant relative to the volume of the tube system, wherein the system of coolant lines and spaces of the engine block forms a uniform lower part of the heat exchanger tube system, wherein said coolant transport lines comprises a feeding channel allowing only upward-flowing steam and a return channel essentially parallel to the feeding channel that allows only a downward-flowing liquid, wherein said radiator incorporates a branch of the heat exchanger tube system that connects the feeding channel and the return channel, wherein a control means for controlling steam/liquid flow in the heat exchanger tube system is provided, and wherein said control means comprises a control element placed in the return channel.