Exhaust system with heat accumulator

Abstract

An exhaust system for a combustion engine includes an exhaust pipe, and a heat accumulator housing in surrounding relationship to the exhaust pipe. Arranged in the heat accumulator housing are heat pipes to provide a heat transport of heat energy contained in exhaust gas. Heat energy thus withdrawn from the exhaust gas can be carried off via the heat pipes in the heat accumulator housing.

1 . An exhaust system for a combustion engine, said exhaust system comprising:
 an exhaust pipe;   a heat accumulator housing in surrounding relationship to the exhaust pipe; and   heat pipes arranged in the heat accumulator housing to provide a heat transport of heat energy contained in exhaust gas.   
     
     
         2 . The exhaust system of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust pipe is completely encircled by the heat accumulator housing. 
     
     
         3 . The exhaust system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat accumulator housing is made of a zeolite. 
     
     
         4 . The exhaust system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat accumulator housing contains a heat storage medium. 
     
     
         5 . The exhaust system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat storage medium is made of a material that includes zeolite. 
     
     
         6 . The exhaust system of  claim 3 , wherein the heat pipes are arranged in the zeolite. 
     
     
         7 . The exhaust system of  claim 3 , wherein the heat pipes are completely enclosed by the zeolite. 
     
     
         8 . The exhaust system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipes are arranged in parallel relationship to an exhaust-gas flow direction. 
     
     
         9 . The exhaust system of  claim 1 , wherein several of the heat pipes extend in parallel relationship within the heat accumulator housing and are united in an end zone of the heat accumulator housing. 
     
     
         10 . The exhaust system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipes have an I-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The exhaust system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipes are configured to form a closed circuit for circulation of a medium. 
     
     
         12 . The exhaust system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipes are integrated in a open-loop control or closed-loop control. 
     
     
         13 . The exhaust system of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermal insulation formed on an outer surface area of the heat accumulator housing. 
     
     
         14 . The exhaust system of  claim 12 , wherein the thermal insulation is a metal coating. 
     
     
         15 . The exhaust system of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve arranged on the heat accumulator housing for controlling a thermodynamic state in the heat accumulator housing. 
     
     
         16 . The exhaust system of  claim 15 , wherein the valve is configured as a pressure relief valve. 
     
     
         17 . The exhaust system of  claim 15 , wherein the valve is integrated in an open-loop control or closed-loop control.