Patent US7520133B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7520133B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermodynamic engine
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
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Filing: 2005-06-20
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Granted: 2009-04-21
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Expires: 2025-06-20
Abstract
Abstract A thermodynamic engine converts the superheated steam of at least one working medium into kinetic energy using a decompression device. Said engine includes a low-temperature circuit, in which a first working medium is transported through a first heat exchanger and subsequently through the decompression device and a high-temperature circuit, in which a second working medium is transported through a second heat exchanger and subsequently through the decompression device. The first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are located in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, and the internal combustion engine a coolant circuit can be used to heat the working mediums in separate collection containers.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Hoetger
- 👤 Herbert Clemens
- 👤 Tobias Haas
- 👤 Gunnar Freitag
- 👤 Michael Preis
- 👤 Raymond Freymann
- 👤 Andreas Obieglo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:34
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02G; F02G5/00; F02G5/02; F01; F01K; F01K23/00; F01K23/02; F01K23/06; F01K23/065; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G5/04; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
Thermodynamic engine which converts thermal energy of a superheated vapor into kinetic energy in a decompression device, comprising: a low-temperature circuit in which a first working medium is transported by a first pump through a first heat exchanger and subsequently through the decompression device, and a high-temperature circuit in which a second working medium is transported by a second pump through a second heat exchanger and subsequently through the decompression device, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger being provided on an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine has a coolant circuit which regulates the temperature of the first working medium in a first collection container, the low-temperature circuit has an injection device which injects first working medium withdrawn from the low-temperature circuit back into the low-temperature circuit in the vicinity of the first heat exchanger, and the high-temperature circuit between the second heat exchanger and the decompression device has a heating device for the second working medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
Thermodynamic engine which converts thermal energy of a superheated vapor into kinetic energy in a decompression device, comprising: a low-temperature circuit in which a first working medium is transported by a first pump through a first heat exchanger and subsequently through the decompression device, and a high-temperature circuit in which a second working medium is transported by a second pump through a second heat exchanger and subsequently through the decompression device, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger being provided on an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine has a coolant circuit which regulates the temperature of the first working medium in a first collection container, the low-temperature circuit has an injection device which injects first working medium withdrawn from the low-temperature circuit back into the low-temperature circuit in the vicinity of the first heat exchanger, and the high-temperature circuit between the second heat exchanger and the decompression device has a heating device for the second working medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
Device according to claim 1 , wherein the first working medium in the first collection container is present in at least one of a gaseous and a liquid phase.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Device according to claim 2 , wherein the injection device injects the first working medium in the liquid phase back into the low-temperature circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Device according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the first working medium in the first collection container is regulated by the second working medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Device according to claim 1 , wherein the high-temperature circuit has a second collection container for the second working medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
Device according to claim 5 , wherein the temperature of the second working medium in the second collection container is regulated by the coolant circuit before being introduced into the second heat exchanger.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Device according to claim 1 , wherein the heating device is operated by at least one of electrical power and a fuel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Device according to claim 7 , wherein the fuel for the heating device is also provided for the internal combustion engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
Device according to claim 1 , wherein the heating device is situated radially around the exhaust gas system or is situated, at least in sections, directly on the exhaust gas system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
Device according to claim 9 , wherein the exhaust gas system has two catalytic cleaning devices, and the heating device is situated between one of the catalytic cleaning devices and downstream from the catalytic cleaning devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second heat exchangers are provided downstream from the catalytic cleaning devices in the direction of flow of an exhaust gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
Device according to claim 1 , wherein the volumetric flow of at least one of the first and second working medium passing through the decompression device can be regulated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
Device according to claim 1 , wherein the low-temperature circuit has a condenser situated downstream from the decompression device in the direction of transport of the working medium, and a third pump is provided in the low-temperature circuit between the condenser and the first collection container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
177 words
A thermodynamic engine, comprising: a low-temperature circuit, in which a first working medium is transported by a first pump through a first heat exchanger and subsequently through a decompression device which generates kinetic motion; and a high-temperature circuit, in which a second working medium is transported by a second pump through a second heat exchanger and subsequently through the decompression device, wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are arranged on an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine such that the heat exchangers receive exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine, a temperature of a portion of the first working medium in a first collection container may be regulated by an engine coolant circuit of the internal combustion engine, the low-temperature circuit has an injection device which injects first working medium withdrawn from the low-temperature circuit back into the low-temperature circuit in the vicinity of the first heat exchanger, and the high-temperature circuit has a heating device between the second heat exchanger and the decompression device for heating the second working medium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
177 words
A thermodynamic engine, comprising: a low-temperature circuit, in which a first working medium is transported by a first pump through a first heat exchanger and subsequently through a decompression device which generates kinetic motion; and a high-temperature circuit, in which a second working medium is transported by a second pump through a second heat exchanger and subsequently through the decompression device, wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are arranged on an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine such that the heat exchangers receive exhaust heat from the internal combustion engine, a temperature of a portion of the first working medium in a first collection container may be regulated by an engine coolant circuit of the internal combustion engine, the low-temperature circuit has an injection device which injects first working medium withdrawn from the low-temperature circuit back into the low-temperature circuit in the vicinity of the first heat exchanger, and the high-temperature circuit has a heating device between the second heat exchanger and the decompression device for heating the second working medium.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2012-04-20 | 2012-10-20 | 2013-04-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2016-04-20 | 2016-10-20 | 2017-04-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2020-04-20 | 2020-10-20 | 2021-04-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |