Heat Exchanger for Internal Combustion Engines

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger for internal combustion engines, which comprises a first, elongate flow channel for the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine to pass through a secured flow channel, adjacent to the first flow channel, for the exhaust gases to pass through, and a pipe separate from the second flow chamber, for a medium, especially a cooling agent, to pass through, whereby heat can be exchanged between the exhaust gas of the second flow channel and the medium in the pipe and beat can be exhausted at least to a substained degree between the exhaust gas in the first flow channel and the medium in the pipe. The heat exchanger also comprises a valve channel with an adjustable valve element the distribution of the exhaust gases to the best flow channel and the second flow channel being adjustable by a position of the valve element. The aim of the invention is to provide a heat exchange which repairs little space and which can be produced at low cost. For this purpose, the valve channel comprises a valve channel housing which can be assembled from a first housing element and at least one second housing element.

1 . A heat exchanger for internal combustion engines, comprising 
 a first, elongated flow channel for the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine to pass through,    a second flow channel, arranged adjacent to the first flow channel, for the exhaust gases to pass through,    a conduit, separate from the second flow channel, for a medium, in particular a coolant, to pass through,    wherein heat energy can be exchanged between the exhaust gas of the second flow channel and the medium of the conduit, and wherein heat energy at least cannot be exchanged to a substantial degree between the exhaust gas in the first flow channel and the medium in the conduit, and    a valve channel with an adjustable valve element, wherein a distribution of the exhaust gases to the first flow channel and the second flow channel can be set by a position of the valve element,    wherein the valve channel comprises a valve channel housing which can be assembled from a first housing part and at least one second housing part.    
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve element is accommodated between the first housing part and the second housing part.  
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve element is movably mounted on at least one of the two housing parts.  
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing parts are fixedly connected to one another, in particular by welding.  
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the housing parts is designed as a formed part, in particular a deep-drawn part.  
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the valve element is movably mounted on at least one of the two housing parts.  
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger for internal combustion engines, in particular as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising 
 a first, elongated flow channel for the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine to pass through,    a second flow channel, arranged adjacent to the first flow channel, for the exhaust gases to pass through,    a conduit, separate from the second flow channel, for a medium, in particular a coolant, to pass through,    wherein heat energy can be exchanged between the exhaust gas of the first flow channel and the medium of the conduit, and wherein heat energy at least cannot be exchanged to a substantial degree between the exhaust gas in the second flow channel and the medium in the conduit, and    a valve channel with an adjustable valve element wherein a distribution of the exhaust gases to the first flow channel and the second flow channel can be set by a position of the valve element,    wherein an entry-side flow axis (SV) of the valve channel has a different direction from a flow axis (SK 1 ) of the first flow channel.    
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the valve channel is arranged upstream of the flow channels and an inlet channel is arranged upstream of the valve channel in the direction of flow of the exhaust gases.  
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein a flow axis (SE) of the inlet channel has a different direction from the flow axis (SV) of the valve channel and from the flow axes (SK 1 , SK 2 ) of the flow channels.  
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein an angle (W 2 ) between the flow axis of the valve channel and the flow axis (SE) of the inlet channel is greater than 30 degrees.  
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an average flow length of one of the flow channels is greater than an average flow length of the valve channel by at least a factor of two.  
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an average flow length of one of the flow channels is greater than an average flow length of the valve channel by at least a factor of 2.5.  
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an angle (W 1 ) between the flow axis (SV) of the valve channel and the flow axis (SK 1 ) of the first flow channel is greater than 30 degrees.  
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an angle (W 1 ) between the flow axis (SV) of the valve channel and the flow axis (SK 1 ) of the first flow channel is greater than 40 degrees.  
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an angle between the flow axis (SV) of the valve channel and the flow axis (SK 1 ) of the first flow channel is less than 60 degrees.  
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve element has just one adjustable flap element.  
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the flap element is accommodated on a shaft which can be rotated in a powered manner.  
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the valve channel has a dividing wall adjoining the flap element at least sections of the valve channel being divided into two valve channel halves by the dividing wall.  
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second flow channel is arranged throughout essentially parallel to the first flow channel.  
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first flow channel and the second flow channel are accommodated in a common housing.  
     
     
         21 . A heat exchanger for internal combustion engines, in particular as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising 
 a first, elongated flow channel for the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine to pass through,    a second flow channel, arranged adjacent to the first flow channel, for the exhaust gases to pass through,    a conduit, separate from the second flow channel, for a medium, in particular a coolant, to pass through,    wherein heat energy can be exchanged between the exhaust gas of the second flow channel and the medium of the conduit, and wherein heat energy at least cannot be exchanged to a substantial degree between the exhaust gas in the first flow channel and the medium in the conduit, and    a valve channel with an adjustable valve element wherein a distribution of the exhaust gases to the first flow channel and the second flow channel can be set by a position of the valve element,    wherein the valve channel has a shaped portion the valve element being essentially in planar contact with the shaped portion at least in an end position.    
     
     
         22 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the valve channel has an essentially circular cross section.  
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shaped portion can be formed by deforming a wall of the valve channel, in particular by pressing or embossing.  
     
     
         24 . A heat exchanger for internal combustion engines, in particular as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising 
 a first, elongated flow channel for the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine to pass through,    a second flow channel, arranged adjacent to the first flow channel, for the exhaust gases to pass through,    a conduit, separate from the second flow channel, for a medium, in particular a coolant, to pass through    wherein heat energy can be exchanged between the exhaust gas of the second flow channel and the medium of the conduit, and wherein heat energy at least cannot be exchanged to a substantial degree between the exhaust gas in the first flow channel and the medium in the conduit, and    a valve channel with an adjustable valve element, wherein a distribution of the exhaust gases to the first flow channel and the second flow channel can be set by a position of the valve element,    wherein the second flow channel has a double wall.    
     
     
         25 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the second flow channel comprises an inner tube which is accommodated in a housing an outer surface of the inner tube being at a distance from the housing.  
     
     
         26 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the inner tube comprises spacers, by means of which the distance of the inner tube from the housing can be fixed.  
     
     
         27 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the spacers comprise a plurality of studs arranged on the outer surface of the inner tube.  
     
     
         28 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube is directly connected to a baffle plate, the baffle plate being arranged in the valve channel.  
     
     
         29 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein a valve flap is movably arranged on the baffle plate.  
     
     
         30 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve channel is directly connected to the housing.  
     
     
         31 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve element is rotatably mounted on the valve channel at only one bearing point.  
     
     
         32 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve element is rotatably mounted on the valve channel at two spaced-apart bearing points.