초록 ▼

A device for exhaust gas heat utilization in internal combustion engines of motor vehicles includes an exhaust gas line which in sections includes a first exhaust gas flow duct and a second exhaust gas flow duct connected in parallel. A valve flap is movable between a closed position and an open pos

A device for exhaust gas heat utilization in internal combustion engines of motor vehicles includes an exhaust gas line which in sections includes a first exhaust gas flow duct and a second exhaust gas flow duct connected in parallel. A valve flap is movable between a closed position and an open position, which can selectively close or at least partly clear a flow cross-section of the first or second exhaust gas flow duct. At least one thermoelectric generator module is thermally coupled with the second exhaust gas flow duct and with a cooling circuit. The device also includes an expansion material actuator for temperature-dependent actuation of the valve flap.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A device for exhaust gas heat utilization in internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, comprising: an exhaust gas line which in sections includes a first exhaust gas flow duct and a second exhaust gas flow duct connected in parallel,a valve flap movable between a closed position and an open

1. A device for exhaust gas heat utilization in internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, comprising: an exhaust gas line which in sections includes a first exhaust gas flow duct and a second exhaust gas flow duct connected in parallel,a valve flap movable between a closed position and an open position, which can selectively close or at least partly clear a flow cross-section of the first exhaust gas flow duct,at least one thermoelectric generator module which is thermally coupled with the second exhaust gas flow duct and with a cooling circuit,an expansion material actuator for temperature-dependent actuation of the valve flap,a spring element that urges the valve flap into a closed position,wherein upon exceedance of a predeterminable temperature limit at the expansion material actuator, the expansion material actuator urges the valve flap into an open position, and wherein a temperature-sensitive material of the expansion material actuator is surrounded by the exhaust gas stream, and wherein the temperature-sensitive material increasingly expands with rising temperature of the exhaust gas stream. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second exhaust gas flow duct has an annular cross-section which surrounds the first exhaust gas flow duct. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein on a radial outer wall of the second exhaust gas flow duct a plurality of thermoelectric generator modules are arranged. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein in a region of the at least one thermoelectric generator module, the cooling circuit has an annular cross-section which extends around an outside of the thermoelectric generator module. 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the expansion material actuator is a purely mechanically operating actuator. 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the expansion material actuator is thermally coupled with an exhaust gas stream and thus acted upon by an exhaust gas temperature. 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the expansion material actuator is thermally coupled with the cooling circuit and thus acted upon by a coolant temperature. 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein a temperature-sensitive material of the expansion material actuator is surrounded by a coolant, and wherein the temperature-sensitive material increasingly expands with rising temperature of the coolant. 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the expansion material actuator includes a drive element with a space filled with temperature-sensitive material, and wherein the temperature-sensitive material increasingly expands with rising temperature and displaces a wall which is coupled with the valve flap, in order to move the valve flap. 10. The device according to claim 9, including a spring element that urges the valve flap into a closed position, wherein the spring element and the drive element are connected in series. 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling circuit includes a liquid or gaseous coolant. 12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the expansion material actuator is a wax actuator. 13. The device according to claim 1, wherein a flow resistance of the first exhaust gas flow duct is smaller than a flow resistance of the second exhaust gas flow duct, and wherein the valve flap can selectively close or at least partly clear a flow cross-section of the first exhaust gas flow duct. 14. A device for exhaust gas heat utilization in internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, comprising: an exhaust gas line which in sections includes a first exhaust gas flow duct and a second exhaust gas flow duct connected in parallel,a valve flap movable between a closed position and an open position, which can selectively close or at least partly clear a flow cross-section of the first or second exhaust gas flow duct,at least one thermoelectric generator module which is thermally coupled with the second exhaust gas flow duct and with a cooling circuit, andan expansion material actuator for temperature-dependent actuation of the valve flap, and wherein the expansion material actuator is thermally coupled with an exhaust gas stream and thus acted upon by an exhaust gas temperature, and wherein a temperature-sensitive material of the expansion material actuator is surrounded by the exhaust gas stream, and wherein the temperature-sensitive material increasingly expands with rising temperature of the exhaust gas stream. 15. A device for exhaust gas heat utilization in internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, comprising: an exhaust gas line which in sections includes a first exhaust gas flow duct and a second exhaust gas flow duct connected in parallel, wherein the second exhaust gas flow duct has an annular cross-section which surrounds the first exhaust gas flow duct,a valve flap movable between a closed position and an open position, which can selectively close or at least partly clear a flow cross-section of the first or second exhaust gas flow duct,at least one thermoelectric generator module which is thermally coupled with the second exhaust gas flow duct and with a cooling circuit,an expansion material actuator for temperature-dependent actuation of the valve flap, and wherein a temperature-sensitive material of the expansion material actuator is surrounded by the exhaust gas stream, and wherein the temperature-sensitive material increasingly expands with rising temperature of the exhaust gas stream. 16. The device according to claim 15, including a spring element that urges the valve flap into a closed position. 17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the spring element is designed such that upon reaching a specified gas pressure acting on the valve flap the spring element is compressed, in order to allow a movement of the valve flap. 18. The device according to claim 15, wherein upon exceedance of a predeterminable temperature limit at the expansion material actuator, the expansion material actuator urges the valve flap into an open position. 19. The device according to claim 15, wherein the expansion material actuator is thermally coupled with an exhaust gas stream and thus acted upon by an exhaust gas temperature.