Heat Recovery System

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heat recovery system comprising a device which allows the connection between the elements of said system, such as a heat exchanger and an actuator controlling a valve of the present system. Said actuator is in turn configured such that its operation depends on the behavior of a substance due to the action of the temperature of a fluid, for example the liquid coolant used in the heat exchanger of the system, which is arranged in an exhaust duct of an internal combustion engine. Additionally, the invention also relates to a method of assembly of a system having these features.

1 . A system ( 4 ) comprising:
 an exhaust duct ( 8 ),   a heat exchanger ( 6 ) for the exchange of heat between a hot gas coming from the exhaust duct ( 8 ) and a liquid coolant, comprising at least one fluid connection ( 6 . 1 ) for entry/exit of the liquid coolant,   a valve actuated through a shaft ( 5 ) for opening or closing the passage of hot gas through the heat exchanger ( 6 ),   an actuator ( 7 ) comprising a drive rod ( 7 . 2 ) actuated by a substance the specific volume of which changes in the event of changes in temperature, the actuator ( 7 ) further comprising:
 an inlet/outlet port ( 7 . 1 ) for the entry/exit of a fluid; 
 an internal chamber ( 7 . 4 ) in fluid communication with the inlet/outlet port ( 7 . 1 ) and in thermal communication with the substance such that in operating mode, the substance is in thermal communication with the fluid entering the internal chamber ( 7 . 4 ) through the inlet/outlet port ( 7 . 1 ); 
   a metal fluid coupling device ( 1 ), attached at a first fluid inlet/outlet ( 1 . 1 ) by means of welding to the at least one fluid connection ( 6 . 1 ) of the heat exchanger ( 6 ) and at a second fluid outlet/inlet ( 1 . 2 ) to the inlet/outlet port ( 7 . 1 ) of the actuator ( 7 ) such that a fluid connection is established between the inlet/outlet port ( 7 . 1 ) of the actuator ( 7 ) and the fluid connection ( 6 . 1 ) of the heat exchanger ( 6 ) through the fluid coupling device ( 1 ), and   
       wherein the drive rod ( 7 . 2 ) of the actuator ( 7 ) is connected with the shaft ( 5 ) of the valve for the actuation thereof according to the temperature of the liquid coolant. 
     
     
         2 . The system ( 4 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the metallic fluid coupling device ( 1 ) is made of stamped metal sheet. 
     
     
         3 . The system ( 4 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the metallic fluid coupling device ( 1 ) is a structural element which supports the actuator ( 7 ). 
     
     
         4 . The system ( 4 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the metallic fluid coupling device ( 1 ) comprises a plurality of parts. 
     
     
         5 . The system ( 4 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the metallic fluid coupling device ( 1 ) comprises:
 a first part ( 2 ) comprising:
 a first support region ( 2 . 2 ); 
 a first inner space ( 2 . 1 ) with a first opening ( 2 . 1 . 1 ) wherein the first opening ( 2 . 1 . 1 ) is peripherally demarcated by the first support region ( 2 . 2 ); 
 the first fluid inlet/outlet ( 1 . 1 ) of the metallic fluid coupling device ( 1 ); 
   a second part ( 3 ) comprising:
 a second support region ( 3 . 2 ); 
 a second inner space ( 3 . 1 ) with a second opening ( 3 . 1 . 1 ) wherein the second opening ( 3 . 1 . 1 ) is peripherally demarcated by the second support region ( 3 . 2 ); 
 the second fluid outlet/inlet ( 1 . 2 ) of the metallic fluid coupling device ( 1 ); 
   
       wherein:
 the first support region ( 2 . 2 ) and second support region ( 3 . 2 ) are attached, 
 the first fluid inlet/outlet ( 1 . 1 ) is in fluid communication with the second inner space ( 3 . 1 ), 
 the second fluid outlet/inlet ( 1 . 2 ) is in fluid communication with the first inner space ( 2 . 1 ), and 
 the first inner space ( 2 . 1 ) and second inner space ( 3 . 1 ) are in fluid communication through the first opening ( 2 . 1 . 1 ) and second opening ( 3 . 1 . 1 ). 
 
     
     
         6 . The system ( 4 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the attachment of the first support region ( 2 . 2 ) and second support region ( 3 . 2 ) is configured as follows:
 before the attachment, the first support region ( 2 . 2 ) and second support region ( 3 . 2 ) establish a sliding support with one support region ( 2 . 2 ) on top of the other support region ( 3 . 2 ), such that the first inner space ( 2 . 1 ) is in fluid communication with the second inner space ( 3 . 1 ); and   after the attachment between the first support region ( 2 . 2 ) and second support region ( 3 . 2 ), the attachment establishes the leak-tight closure of the space generated by the attachment of the first inner space ( 2 . 1 ) and second inner space ( 2 . 1 ) and the fluid communication between the first fluid inlet/outlet ( 1 . 1 ) and second fluid outlet/inlet ( 1 . 2 ).   
     
     
         7 . The system ( 4 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the first support region ( 2 . 2 ) and second support region ( 3 . 2 ) of the metallic coupling device ( 1 ) are flat. 
     
     
         8 . The system ( 4 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the first inner space ( 2 . 1 ) of the first part ( 2 ) is concave, the second inner space ( 3 . 2 ) of the second part ( 3 ) is concave, and after the attachment of the first support region ( 2 . 2 ) and second support region ( 3 . 2 ) of the metallic fluid coupling device ( 1 ), the concavity of the first inner space ( 2 . 1 ) is opposite the concavity of the second inner space ( 3 . 2 ). 
     
     
         9 . The system ( 4 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the attachment between the first part ( 2 ) and second part ( 3 ) of the metallic fluid coupling device ( 1 ) is made by welding. 
     
     
         10 . The system ( 4 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the space generated by the attachment of the first inner space ( 2 . 1 ) and second inner space ( 3 . 1 ) for fluid communication between the first fluid inlet/outlet ( 1 . 1 ) and second fluid outlet/inlet ( 1 . 2 ) of the metallic fluid coupling device ( 1 ) is configured according to a zigzag-type conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The system ( 4 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the inlet/outlet port ( 7 . 1 ) of the actuator ( 7 ) is fluidically connected with the second fluid outlet/inlet ( 1 . 2 ) of the second part ( 3 ) of the metallic fluid coupling device ( 1 ), and wherein the first fluid inlet/outlet ( 1 . 1 ) of the first part ( 2 ) of the metallic fluid coupling device ( 1 ) is furthermore fluidically connected with the fluid connection ( 6 . 1 ) of the heat exchanger ( 6 ). 
     
     
         12 . A method of assembly of a system ( 4 ) according to  claim 1 , which method comprises carrying out the following steps a) to d) in any order:
 a) building the heat exchanger ( 6 ) with the fluid connection ( 6 . 1 ) for the liquid coolant, the exhaust duct ( 8 ), and the valve actuated through a shaft ( 5 ) for opening or closing the passage of hot gas;   b) building the actuator ( 7 ) with the drive rod ( 7 . 2 ) and the inlet/outlet port ( 7 . 1 );   c) attaching the fluid connection ( 6 . 1 ) of the heat exchanger ( 6 ) with the metallic fluid coupling device ( 1 ) by means of welding;   d) attaching the inlet/outlet port ( 7 . 1 ) of the actuator ( 7 ) with the fluid coupling device ( 1 ) by means of welding.   
     
     
         13 . The method of assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein
 step c) comprises attaching the fluid connection ( 6 . 1 ) of the heat exchanger ( 6 ) with the second part ( 3 ) of the metallic coupling device ( 1 ) by means of welding, and   step d) comprises attaching the inlet/outlet port ( 7 . 1 ) of the actuator ( 7 ) with the first part ( 2 ) of the metallic coupling device ( 1 ) by means of welding, and   wherein the following steps are carried out sequentially after step d):   e) placing the assembly formed by the heat exchanger ( 6 ) and the second part ( 3 ) with respect to the second assembly formed by the actuator ( 7 ) and the first part ( 2 ) such that the first support region ( 2 . 2 ) of the first part ( 2 ) and the second support region ( 3 . 2 ) of the second part ( 3 ) are in sliding contact,   f) attaching the first part ( 2 ) of the metallic fluid coupling device ( 1 ) and the second part ( 3 ) of the device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the attachments are established by means of brazing.