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DE-202025108050-U1 - Exhaust gas heat recovery system

DE202025108050U1DE 202025108050 U1DE202025108050 U1DE 202025108050U1DE-202025108050-U1

Abstract

An exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) comprising the following: an exhaust housing (102) which defines an exhaust channel (104) and has a lower shell (106); a valve arrangement (112) which is arranged inside the exhaust housing (102) in the exhaust duct (104) and is designed to selectively allow the flow of exhaust gas (116) through the exhaust duct (104); characterized by the fact that: a collection chamber (108) associated with the exhaust housing (102) or the valve assembly (112), wherein the collection chamber (108) extends along the exhaust duct (104) and is positioned adjacent to or at a lowest gravity area of the lower shell (106), and wherein the collection chamber (108) is configured to collect condensate; and at least one drainage hole (110) arranged in the collection chamber (108).

Assignees

  • TENNECO GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251230
Priority Date
20251230

Claims (15)

  1. An exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) comprising: an exhaust gas housing (102) defining an exhaust gas duct (104) and having a lower shell (106); a valve arrangement (112) arranged within the exhaust gas housing (102) in the exhaust gas duct (104) and configured to selectively allow the flow of exhaust gas (116) through the exhaust gas duct (104); characterized in that: a collection chamber (108) associated with the exhaust gas housing (102) or the valve arrangement (112), wherein the collection chamber (108) extends along the exhaust gas duct (104) and is positioned adjacent to or at a lowest gravity area of the lower shell (106), and wherein the collection chamber (108) is configured to collect condensate; and at least one drain hole (110) arranged in the collection chamber (108).
  2. Exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) according to Claim 1 , wherein the collecting chamber (108) is formed in the lower shell (106) adjacent to the valve arrangement (112).
  3. Exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the collecting chamber (108) is defined by a first transverse edge (144) located upstream of the valve assembly (112) in the exhaust duct (104), a second transverse edge (146) located downstream of the valve assembly (112) in the exhaust duct (104), and a pair of side edges (148) extending between the first and second transverse edges (144, 146).
  4. Exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the valve arrangement (112) has a valve seat (114) which is fixedly connected to an inner surface (118) of the lower shell (106) in the exhaust gas duct (104), wherein the valve seat (114) has a seat width (W1); and the collection chamber (108) is positioned correspondingly to the valve seat (112), wherein the collection chamber (108) has a chamber width (W2) which is greater than the seat width (W1) of the valve seat (114), so that the collection chamber (108) is oriented towards both sides ten of the valve seat (114) extends to form a common collecting volume (120).
  5. Exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the collection chamber (108) is designed to receive the condensate accumulating on both sides of the valve arrangement (112).
  6. Exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower shell (106) has a plurality of stiffening ribs (122) formed on an inner surface (118) and configured to allow the condensate to move towards the collection chamber.
  7. Exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) according to Claim 6 , wherein one or more of the several stiffening ribs (122) are interrupted to form at least one fluid path (124) which is designed to direct the condensate to the collection chamber (108).
  8. Exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the collection chamber (108) is an embossed, outwardly facing pocket.
  9. Exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one drain hole (110) is a single drain hole (110) designed to drain the condensate collected in the collection chamber (108).
  10. Exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the exhaust gas housing (102) further comprises an upper shell (126) which is firmly connected to the lower shell (106), wherein the upper shell (126) and the lower shell (106) together form the exhaust gas duct (104), and wherein the valve arrangement (112) is connected to an inner surface (128) of the upper shell (126).
  11. Exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve arrangement (112) is arranged at a location corresponding to a largest cross-sectional area of the exhaust gas housing (102).
  12. Exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the exhaust gas housing (102) further comprises a housing inlet (130) designed to receive the exhaust gas (116) and a housing outlet (132) opposite the housing inlet (130), and wherein the exhaust gas channel (104) extends between the housing inlet (130) and the housing outlet (132).
  13. Exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a heat exchanger housing (134) which is fluidically connected to the exhaust gas housing (102) and extends along a first longitudinal axis (136), wherein the first longitudinal axis (136) is inclined obliquely to a second longitudinal axis (138) of the exhaust gas housing (102), which extends along the exhaust gas duct (104), such that condensate within the heat exchanger housing (134) flows from the heat exchanger housing (134) into the exhaust gas housing (102) and is further collected in the collection chamber (108).
  14. Exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) according to Claim 13 , wherein the heat exchanger housing (134) further comprises: a first heat exchanger bypass opening (140) which is fluidly connected to the exhaust housing (102) and is designed to receive the exhaust gas (116) from the exhaust housing (102) upstream of the valve arrangement (112) in the exhaust duct (104); and a second heat exchanger bypass opening (142) which is fluidly connected to the exhaust housing (102) downstream of the valve arrangement (112) in the exhaust duct (104); wherein the second heat exchanger bypass opening (142) is positioned higher in relation to the exhaust housing (102) than the first heat exchanger bypass opening (140), so that the condensate in the heat exchanger housing (134) flows from the heat exchanger housing (134) through the first heat exchanger bypass opening (140) into the exhaust housing (102) and is further collected in the collection chamber (108).
  15. Exhaust gas heat recovery system (100) according to Claim 14 , wherein: the collection chamber (108) is formed in the lower shell (106); the lower shell (106) has the shape of a trough, so that the collection chamber (108) is arranged at the lowest gravity-dependent area of the trough; and the condensate taken up from the heat exchanger housing (134) enters the lower shell (106) of the exhaust gas housing (102), flows towards the lowest gravity-dependent area of the trough and enters the collection chamber (108).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA The present invention relates generally to an exhaust gas heat recovery system. BACKGROUND Exhaust gas heat recovery (EGHR) systems are commonly used in conjunction with internal combustion engines to improve vehicle fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. These systems typically feature an exhaust housing that forms an exhaust channel for directing hot exhaust gas. Often, a valve assembly is located within the exhaust channel to selectively control the exhaust gas flow through a heat exchanger core fluidically connected to the exhaust housing, thereby regulating the amount of recovered heat. Generally, engine exhaust contains water vapor as a combustion byproduct. As the exhaust gas flows through the EGHR system, the gas temperature within the heat exchanger core decreases. At certain engine operating points and ambient temperatures, water vapor can condense in parts of the EGHR system that have a volume or shape with geometric low points, leading to internal corrosion that can reduce the service life of EGHR system components. SUMMARY According to one aspect of the present invention, an exhaust gas heat recovery system is provided. The exhaust gas heat recovery system comprises an exhaust housing that defines an exhaust duct and has a lower shell. The exhaust gas heat recovery system further comprises a valve arrangement located within the exhaust housing in the exhaust duct and configured to selectively allow the flow of exhaust gas through the exhaust duct. The exhaust gas heat recovery system further comprises a collection chamber connected to the exhaust housing or the valve arrangement. The collection chamber extends along the exhaust duct and is located adjacent to or at a lowest gravity area of the lower shell. The collection chamber is configured to collect condensate. The exhaust gas heat recovery system further comprises at least one drain opening located in the collection chamber. The exhaust gas heat recovery system of this disclosure comprises the exhaust housing, which defines the exhaust duct. The exhaust gas heat recovery system further comprises the collection chamber, which is connected to the exhaust housing or the valve assembly. Since the collection chamber is located adjacent to or on a region of the lower shell where gravity is strongest, the collection chamber can capture the condensate that accumulates in the exhaust housing. The exhaust gas heat recovery system further comprises at least one drain opening located in the collection chamber. The at least one drain opening allows the condensate collected in the collection chamber to drain from the exhaust housing. This can prevent uncontrolled accumulation of condensate within the exhaust gas heat recovery system and thereby directly improve the durability and long-term reliability of the exhaust gas heat recovery system by mitigating corrosion and potential ice damage. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the collection chamber is formed in the lower shell next to the valve assembly. Forming the collection chamber directly in the lower shell can simplify the design of the exhaust gas heat recovery system and eliminate the need to manufacture or attach separate components, thereby reducing the number of parts and the manufacturing costs of the exhaust gas heat recovery system. This can also lead to a more robust, unified design with fewer potential points of failure. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the collection chamber is defined by a first transverse edge located upstream of the valve assembly in the exhaust duct, a second transverse edge located downstream of the valve assembly in the exhaust duct, and a pair of side edges extending between the first and second transverse edges. This ensures that the collection chamber is optimally positioned and dimensioned to collect the condensate from both sides of the valve assembly, thereby maximizing its drainage efficiency. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the valve assembly has a valve seat that is fixedly connected to an inner surface of the lower shell in the exhaust duct. The valve seat has a seat width. The collection chamber is arranged correspondingly to the valve seat. The collection chamber has a chamber width that is greater than the seat width of the valve seat, so that the collection chamber extends to both sides of the valve seat to form a common collection volume. Since the collection chamber is wider than the valve seat With a tilsitz (valve seat), a single, continuous collection volume is created that extends beneath both sides of the valve seat. The condensate can flow and merge into a common pool, i.e., the common collection volume, from which it can then drain away through the drain opening. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the collection chamber is configured to receive the condensate that accumulates on both sides of the valve assembly. Thus, the condensate accumulating on b