Exhaust system

Abstract

An exhaust system, especially of a motor vehicle has at least one heating device positioned in an area in which condensate accumulates, which is arranged within the exhaust system and in which condensate can accumulate depending on operating states and/or environmental parameters. The formation of condensate accumulation is reduced or prevented by the heating device and a condensate accumulation already formed is removed. As a consequence of the corrosive property of the condensate, the service life of the exhaust system is increased by the removal of such condensate accumulations or by preventing such accumulations from forming. At the same time, the freedom of designing the exhaust system concerning the location and position of the individual components is increased.

1 . An exhaust system comprising:
 an exhaust system area in which condensate accumulates and in which accumulation of condensate may take place depending on operating states and/or environmental parameters;   a heating means with a heating device positioned in the area in which condensate accumulates, wherein the heating device heats and/or evaporates accumulated condensate.   
     
     
         2 . An exhaust system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the heating device has at least one heat-conducting element transmitting heat from an area of the exhaust system with a temperature higher than the temperature of the area in which condensate accumulates to said area in which condensate accumulates. 
     
     
         3 . An exhaust system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the heating device is an electrically heatable heating device. 
     
     
         4 . An exhaust system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the heating device includes a Peltier element. 
     
     
         5 . An exhaust system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said heating device includes a memory element equipped with a temperature-dependent shape memory, the memory element assuming at least two different geometric states depending on the temperature of at least the memory element. 
     
     
         6 . An exhaust system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the heating device is arranged inside and/or outside at the exhaust system and/or such that the heating device passes through at least one wall of the exhaust system. 
     
     
         7 . An exhaust system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one heating device is arranged in a flow path through which exhaust gas flows and/or in a secondary area of the exhaust system, through which no exhaust gas flows. 
     
     
         8 . An exhaust system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust system has an insulation arranged on the outside and/or on the inside in at least one area in which condensate accumulates. 
     
     
         9 . An exhaust system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust system has a splash guard arranged on the outside of the area in which condensate accumulates. 
     
     
         10 . An exhaust system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one heating device is designed such that it is controlled as a function of at least one operating state and at least one environmental parameter.