Energy collector system applicable to combustion engines

A heat exchanger applicable to an energy collector system applicable to internal combustion engines having an exhaust system including a catalytic converter and an outer element configured to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy, the heat exchanger comprising:

• an isolated tank having at least two apertures and defining an internal cavity, the catalytic converter being disposed inside of the internal cavity, the catalytic converter having an exhaust gas tube inlet entering the internal cavity through a first aperture and an exhaust gas outlet facing the interior of the internal cavity;
• a first helical tube having an inlet and an outlet, the first helical tube being coiled around the catalytic converter and in thermal contact therewith, the first helical tube inlet being connected to the exhaust gas outlet of the catalytic converter, inside the isolated tank, the first helical tube outlet exiting the isolated tank through a second aperture and being further connected to the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine to release the exhaust gases to the atmosphere;
• and
• a second helical tube having an inlet and an outlet, the second first helical tube being coiled around the catalytic converter and in thermal contact therewith, intercalated between the first helical tube, the second helical tube inlet passing through a third aperture to the outside of the isolated tank and being connected to a gas exhaust of the outer element configured to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy, the second helical tube outlet passing through a fourth aperture to the outside of the isolated tank and being connected to a gas inlet of the outer element configured to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy,
• wherein the isolated tank contains a phase change material in which the catalytic converter, the first helical tube, and the second helical tube are completely immersed, the phase change material being heated by the catalytic converter and by the first helical tube conducting the hot exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, and
• the gas circulating through the second helical tube is heated at least by the catalytic converter and by the phase change material, the heated gas exiting through the gas outlet to be used by the outer element configured to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy.