Internal combustion engine with ventilation system for a crankcase

An engine system comprising:

• a crankcase of an engine having a blow-by gas passing therethrough;
• a source of a boost air;
• an aftercooler;
• a jacket containing a water;
• an oil separating apparatus in fluid communication with the boost air and the blow-by gas and having a coalescing filter to separate oil from the blow-by gas;
• and
• a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the boost air, wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the jacket to receive the water, wherein the water is passed in a heat transfer relationship with the boost air in the heat exchanger to achieve a desired temperature range for the boost air passing to the oil separating apparatus;
• and
• either the source of the boost air is downstream of the aftercooler, and the water is passed in the heat transfer relationship with the boost air in the heat exchanger to warm the boost air to achieve the desired temperature range for the boost air passing to the oil separating apparatus or the source of the boost air is upstream of the aftercooler, and the water is passed in the heat transfer relationship with the boost air in the heat exchanger to cool the boost air to achieve the desired temperature range for the boost air passing to the oil separating apparatus.

A method of maintaining a blow-by gas from a crankcase of an engine within a desired temperature range when passing through an oil separating apparatus, the method comprising:

• passing the blow-by gas from the crankcase to the oil separating apparatus;
• supplying a water from a jacket to a heat exchanger, wherein within the heat exchanger the water is in a heat transfer relationship with a boost air passing through the heat exchanger and heats or cools the boost air to a desired temperature range;
• passing the boost air at the desired temperature range to the oil separating apparatus;
• separating oil from the blow-by gas with the oil separating apparatus;
• passing the blow-by gas after leaving the oil separating apparatus to a charged air system;
• and
• returning the water to the jacket after passing through the heat exchanger.