Internal combustion engine having at least one catalyst unit

Abstract

An internal combustion engine having at least one catalytic converter unit for cleaning the exhaust gases produced during the operation of the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes at least one catalytic converter body which is arranged upstream of an exhaust gas heat exchanger in an exhaust gas flow path, especially an exhaust gas recirculation line.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An internal combustion engine, comprising:
 an exhaust gas recirculation line;   an exhaust gas heat exchanger;   a catalytic converter unit configured to clean exhaust gases produced during operation of the internal combustion engine, the catalytic converter unit having a plurality of catalytic converter bodies arranged upstream of the exhaust gas heat exchanger in the an exhaust gas recirculation line and through which the exhaust gas flows,   wherein the plurality of catalytic converter bodies are arranged in parallel.   
     
     
         23 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein each one of the catalytic converter bodies comprises a catalytic converter carrier with catalytic converter material arranged within a catalytic converter cover. 
     
     
         24 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein the catalytic converter bodies are arranged in a substantially force-free manner in the exhaust gas flow path. 
     
     
         25 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein the catalytic converter bodies each comprise face areas which are respectively arranged in a common plane. 
     
     
         26 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein the catalytic converter bodies are arranged in the catalytic converter unit in at least one row. 
     
     
         27 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the catalytic converter bodies comprise longitudinal axes; and   the longitudinal axes of a first and every further at least one row form substantially parallel extending planes with respect to each other.   
     
     
         28 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein the cross-section of the catalytic converter unit is polygonal. 
     
     
         29 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein the cross-section of the catalytic converter unit is rectangular. 
     
     
         30 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein the cross-section of the catalytic converter unit is triangular. 
     
     
         31 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein the cross-section of the catalytic converter unit is rotationally symmetrical. 
     
     
         32 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein the catalytic converter bodies are arranged in a catalytic converter housing. 
     
     
         33 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein the catalytic converter bodies abut each other substantially tangentially. 
     
     
         34 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein a plane of the longitudinal axes of the catalytic converter bodies forms a predetermined angle with the longitudinal axis of the exhaust gas heat exchanger. 
     
     
         35 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 34 , wherein the predetermined angle is approximately 90°. 
     
     
         36 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein a plane of the longitudinal axes of the catalytic converter bodies forms a predetermined angle with the longitudinal axis of the exhaust gas recirculation line. 
     
     
         37 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 36 , wherein the predetermined angle is approximately 90°. 
     
     
         38 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the catalytic converter unit is arranged in a deflection region of the exhaust gas flow path; and   the deflection region is arranged as a 180° deflection.   
     
     
         39 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the catalytic converter unit is partially arranged in the exhaust gas recirculation line and partially arranged in an intake port of the exhaust gas heat exchanger; and   the intake port comprises a diffuser section (and a catalytic converter receiving section.   
     
     
         40 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 39 , wherein the catalytic converter unit is arranged at least predominantly in the exhaust gas recirculation line. 
     
     
         41 . The internal combustion engine of  claim 39 , wherein the catalytic converter unit is arranged at least predominantly in the exhaust gas heat exchanger.