Heat recovery device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016010531-A1
Application number	US-201414771897-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 27, 2014
Priority date	Mar 1, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heat recovery device particularly suitable for internal combustion engines, and more particularly suitable for engines incorporating a WHRS (waste heat recovery system). The device of the invention relates to the occasional recovery of heat from the exhaust gases where the invention carries out this function such that the main conduit where the exhaust gases circulate is not affected by a noticeable increase in heat loss due to the incorporation of said device. It provides a heat exchanger ( 3.6 ) and a bypass flap valve ( 3.8 ) upstream for selectively diverting the exhaust gases to the main exhaust conduit ( 1 ) or to the heat exchanger ( 3.6 ).

First claim

1 . A heat recovery device suitable for being installed on an exhaust gas passage conduit ( 1 ) in a motorized vehicle extending along a longitudinal direction X-X′, according to a section S, and having two openings ( 1 . 1 , 1 . 2 ) in its wall, where said device comprises:
a heat exchanger ( 3 ) in turn comprising:
a core ( 3 . 6 ) formed by one or more exchange conduits located inside a shell ( 3 . 5 ) intended for housing a coolant fluid, preferably a coolant liquid, where said shell ( 3 . 5 ) has at least one inlet ( 3 . 5 . 1 ) and one outlet ( 3 . 5 . 2 ) for the passage of the coolant fluid to remove the heat transferred from the gas to said coolant fluid,
a first coupling body ( 3 . 1 ) having a seating ( 3 . 1 . 1 ) suitable for being coupled to an opening ( 1 . 1 ) of the exhaust conduit ( 1 ) providing fluidic communication between the inside of the exhaust conduit ( 1 ) through said opening ( 1 . 1 ) with the inside of the exchange conduit or conduits of the core ( 3 . 6 ) of the heat exchanger,
a second coupling body ( 3 . 2 ) having a seating ( 3 . 2 . 1 ) suitable for being coupled to an opening ( 1 . 2 ) of the exhaust conduit ( 1 ) different from the opening ( 1 . 1 ) to which the first coupling body ( 3 . 1 ) is coupled, providing fluidic communication between the inside of the exchange conduit or conduits of the core ( 3 . 6 ) of the heat exchanger through said opening ( 1 . 2 ) with the inside of the exhaust conduit ( 1 ),
the first coupling body ( 3 . 1 ) and the second coupling body ( 3 . 2 ) are in fluidic communication with the inside of the exchange conduit or conduits of the core ( 3 . 6 ) at opposite ends of said exchange conduit or conduits,

a bypass valve in turn having two end positions, a first end position for closing the exhaust conduit ( 1 ) to divert the passage of gas coming from the exhaust conduit ( 1 ) through the heat exchanger; and a second end position for opening the exhaust conduit ( 1 ) preventing the passage of gas coming from the exhaust conduit ( 1 ) through the heat exchanger;

characterized in that:
the bypass valve is arranged in the first body ( 3 . 1 ) and comprises a flap ( 3 . 8 ) pivoting with respect to a geometric axis Y-Y′,
the axis of rotation Y-Y′ of the flap ( 3 . 8 ) is arranged essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X-X′ of the exhaust conduit ( 1 ); and said geometric axis of rotation Y-Y′ is spaced from the same longitudinal axis X-X′ such that it is located outside the section S of the exhaust conduit ( 1 ),
the first coupling body ( 3 . 1 ) has a seating ( 3 . 1 . 2 ) for the flap ( 3 . 8 ) where the flap ( 3 . 8 ) rests closing the passage from the exhaust conduit ( 1 ) to the heat exchanger when the bypass valve is in the second end position; and where this seating ( 3 . 1 . 2 ) for the flap ( 3 . 8 ) is configured such that said flap ( 3 . 8 ) in this second end position is located outside the section S of the exhaust conduit ( 1 ),
the flap ( 3 . 8 ) is configured to block the exhaust conduit ( 1 ) preventing the passage of gas therethrough and diverting it to the heat exchanger through the opening ( 1 . 1 ) on which the first coupling body ( 3 . 1 ) is coupled when the valve is in its first end position; and where in the blocking position the flap ( 3 . 8 ) establishes support with the inner surface of the exhaust conduit ( 1 ).

2 . The device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the flap ( 3 . 8 ) has a clearance with movement according to the direction defined by the axis of rotation Y-Y′ of the flap ( 3 . 8 ) to allow the suitable seating of said flap ( 3 . 8 ) inside the exhaust conduit ( 1 ).

3 . The device according to claim 2 , characterized in that the flap ( 3 . 8 ) is integral with a shaft ( 3 . 9 ) pivoting about the axis of rotation Y-Y′ and it is this shaft ( 3 . 9 ) that is provided with the clearance.

4 . The device according to claim 3 , characterized in that:
the shaft ( 3 . 9 ) has an intermediate fixing ring ( 3 . 13 ) with which it is integral, the first coupling body ( 3 . 1 ) comprises two seatings ( 3 . 11 , 3 . 15 ) facing one another, according to direction Y-Y′ of the axis of rotation of the shaft ( 3 . 9 ), the intermediate fixing ring ( 3 . 13 ) is located between one seating ( 3 . 11 ) and another seating ( 3 . 15 ) and is movable according to this same longitudinal direction Y-Y′ as a result of the movement clearance; and there are first elastic means ( 3 . 12 ) between the first seating ( 3 . 11 ) and the intermediate fixing ring ( 3 . 13 ), there are second elastic means ( 3 . 14 ) between the intermediate fixing ring ( 3 . 13 ) and the second seating ( 3 . 15 ),
where the first elastic means ( 3 . 12 ) and the second elastic means ( 3 . 14 ) are compressed establishing on the fixing ring ( 3 . 13 ) integral with the shaft ( 3 . 9 ) a balanced position located between the end positions of the clearance.

5 . The device according to claim 3 or 4 , characterized in that the shaft ( 3 . 9 ) has a lever ( 3 . 16 ) on which the arm ( 4 . 7 . 1 ) of an actuator ( 4 . 7 ) acts for the operation of the flap ( 3 . 8 ).

6 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end of the flap ( 3 . 8 ) has a support rib ( 3 . 8 . 3 ) to favor a point support with the inside of the exhaust conduit ( 1 ) preventing becoming locked in place.

7 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the section S of the conduit is circular.

8 . The device according to claim 7 , characterized in that the flap ( 3 . 8 ) has a configuration of the support sector ( 3 . 8 . 2 ) located at the end opposite the end where it pivots about the axis Y-Y′ according to an elliptical contour.

9 . The device according to claim 8 , characterized in that the flap ( 3 . 8 ) has a configuration of the sides ( 3 . 8 . 4 ) having a straight sector with a separation from one another smaller than the width of the conduit ( 1 ) to prevent becoming locked in place on said side.

10 . The device according to any of claims 6 to 9 , characterized in that the length of the flap ( 3 . 8 ) between its end and the axis of rotation Y-Y′ is such that in the first end position resting inside the exhaust conduit ( 1 ) its position is oblique according to the longitudinal direction X-X′.

11 . A heat recuperator comprising:
a device according to any of claims 1 to 10 and an exhaust conduit ( 1 ) or sector thereof, where the exhaust conduit ( 1 ) has two openings ( 1 . 1 , 1 . 2 ) in its wall in which the device is coupled through the first coupling body ( 3 . 1 ) and the second coupling body ( 3 . 2 ).

12 . The heat recuperator according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a compressible conduit sector ( 2 ), preferably configured in the form of a bellows, is arranged between the first opening ( 1 . 1 ) and the second opening ( 1 . 2 ) to compensate for expansion differences.

13 . The heat recuperator according to claim 11 or 12 , characterized in that the first opening ( 1 . 1 ) on which the first coupling body ( 3 . 1 ) is coupled reaches the midplane contained in the longitudinal axis X-X′ of the exhaust conduit ( 1 ) on either side without exceeding it.

14 . The heat recuperator according to claim 13 , characterized in that a sector of the edge of the opening ( 1 . 1 ) is configured to support part of the flap ( 3 . 8 ) when it is in the first end position.

Assignees

• Borgwarner Inc
• Borgwarner Emissions Systems Spain Slu

Inventors

• Domínguez Xoan Xosé Hermida
• Tabarés Iago González

Classifications

• F01N5/02 Primary

  the devices using heat · CPC title

• F01N2240/02

  a heat exchanger · CPC title

• F01N3/043

  without contact between liquid and exhaust gases · CPC title

• F01N2240/36

  an exhaust flap · CPC title

• Y02T10/12

  Improving ICE efficiencies · CPC title