Device and method for operating an internal combustion engine, computer program, computer program product

A method for operating an internal combustion engine with at least one throttle in an exhaust line or exhaust return line, the method comprising the steps of

• driving at least one heat engine situated in the internal combustion engine by a quantity of heat produced by the internal combustion engine;
• and
• in a first non-heating operating mode of the internal combustion engine presetting a first setpoint value,
• detecting a first operating parameter that characterizes a temperature or heat quantity of the internal combustion engine,
• determining a first triggering value for triggering of the at least one throttle as a function of the first setpoint value and the first operating parameter,
• triggering the at least one throttle in accordance with the first triggering value, and
• driving the at least one heat engine by a resulting quantity of heat.