# US 8,739,520 B2 · Air-cooled exhaust gas heat exchanger, in particular exhaust gas cooler for motor vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,520 B2 - Document ID: US8739520B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/664,719 - Filed: 2005-10-05 - Published: 2007-11-15 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2004-10-07 - Assignees: Behr GmbH & Co. - Applicants: Jörg Digele; Peter Geskes; Klaus Irmler; Frank Von Lützau - Inventors: Jörg Digele; Peter Geskes; Klaus Irmler; Frank Von Lützau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739520B2 ## CPC - F02B 29/0418: {the intake air cooler having a bypass or multiple flow paths within the heat exchanger to vary the effective heat transfer surface} - F01N 3/05: by means of air, e.g. by mixing exhaust with air (silencers working by addition of air to exhaust F01N1/14; arrangements for the supply of additional air for the thermal or catalytic conversion of noxious components of exhaust F01N3/30) - F02B 29/0431: {Details or means to guide the ambient air to the heat exchanger, e.g. having a fan, flaps, a bypass or a special location in the engine compartment} - F02B 29/0475: {the intake air cooler being combined with another device, e.g. heater, valve, compressor, filter or EGR cooler, or being assembled on a special engine location} - F02M 26/24: with two or more coolers - F02M 26/25: with coolers having bypasses - F28D 1/0443: {Combination of units extending one beside or one above the other (F28D1/0452 takes precedence)} - F28D 1/0461: {Combination of different types of heat exchanger, e.g. radiator combined with tube-and-shell heat exchanger; Arrangement of conduits for heat exchange between at least two media and for heat exchange between at least one medium and the large body of fluid} - F28D 1/05366: {Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators} - F28D 1/05383: {with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits (F28D1/05391 takes precedence)} - F28F 1/128: {Fins with openings, e.g. louvered fins} - F28F 27/02: for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels ({static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026}; arrangements of guide plates or guide vanes F28F9/22, F28F25/12) - F02B 37/00: Engines characterised by provision of pumps driven at least for part of the time by exhaust - F02M 26/05: High pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust system upstream of the turbine and reintroduced into the intake system downstream of the compressor - F02M 26/27: with air-cooled heat exchangers - F02M 26/28: with liquid-cooled heat exchangers - F02M 26/31: Air-cooled heat exchangers - F02M 26/35: with means for cleaning or treating the recirculated gases, e.g. catalysts, condensate traps, particle filters or heaters - F02M 26/50: Arrangements or methods for preventing or reducing deposits, corrosion or wear caused by impurities (arrangement or layout of EGR passages with means for cleaning or treating the recirculated gases F02M26/35; protection of EGR valves from damage F02M26/74) - F28D 21/0003: {the heat being recuperated from exhaust gases (F28D21/0014 takes precedence)} - F28D 2021/0082: {Charged air coolers} - F28F 2009/0287: {having passages for different heat exchange media} - F28F 2250/06: Derivation channels, e.g. bypass - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract The invention relates to an air-cooled exhaust gas heat exchanger, in particular exhaust gas cooler (1) for motor vehicles comprising channels (exhaust gas channels) which can be cross-flown by the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, between which ribs (4) for air cooling are arranged. According to the invention, the exhaust gas channels are embodied as tubes, in particular as flat tubes (3), which form the ribs (4) of a rib tube block (2) and the tube (3) has tube ends (3a) which are received in the collecting vessels (5) for the exhaust gas. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air-cooled exhaust gas heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, the exhaust gas heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of flat exhaust gas tubes configured to allow a flow of exhaust gas therethrough; a plurality of ambient air ducts arranged between the flat exhaust gas tubes and configured to allow a flow of ambient air therethrough; first and second collecting tanks configured to receive ends of the flat exhaust gas tubes; and at least one coolant duct arranged upstream of the plurality of flat exhaust gas tubes in a direction of the flow of ambient air; wherein each of the ambient air ducts comprises a plurality of fins, wherein the plurality of flat exhaust gas tubes and the plurality of fins of the ambient air ducts form a fin/tube block, and wherein each of the flat exhaust gas tubes comprises a plurality of turbulence inserts, soldered-in internal fins, or winglets. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flat exhaust gas tubes comprise steel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fins of the ambient air ducts comprise steel or a non-ferrous metal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fins of the ambient air ducts are corrugated fins and comprise gills. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fins of the ambient air ducts are webbed fins. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flat exhaust gas tubes are arranged in a plurality of rows. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second collecting tanks for the exhaust gas comprise stainless steel or plastic. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fins of the ambient air ducts have a fin density in a range from 20 to 80 fins/dm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of flat exhaust gas tubes has a hydraulic diameter dh which is in a range of 2≦dh ≦20. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fin/tube block has a depth T, measured in a direction of the flow of ambient air, in a range of 20≦T≦100 mm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the fin/tube block has a height H and the length L, and a ratio of height H to length L is in a range of 0.1≦H/L≦0.8. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bypass duct for the exhaust gas. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bypass duct for the exhaust gas, wherein the exhaust gas heat exchanger has a pressure drop ΔPAk and the bypass duct has a pressure drop ΔPBy, wherein the exhaust gas heat exchanger and the bypass duct are configured such that, when the exhaust gas heat exchanger is open, a relationship ΔPBy >ΔPAk applies, and when the exhaust gas heat exchanger is partially or completely blocked, a relationship ΔPBy <ΔPAk applies. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bypass configured to be controlled externally as a function of a through flow cross section of the exhaust gas heat exchanger. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein a louver is arranged upstream of the exhaust gas heat exchanger in a direction of the flow of ambient air. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a condensate discharge located on an exhaust gas outlet side. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas heat exchanger comprises an integrated EGR valve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one coolant duct has a serpentine shape and comprises straight duct sections which are arranged parallel to the flat exhaust gas tubes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coolant duct is connected to a cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fin/tube block comprises first and second side parts. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 20, wherein each of the first and second side parts comprises a further flat tube which cannot be traversed by flow and is connected to an outermost fin layer. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of fins of the ambient air ducts has a fin height h, wherein the following dimensional range applies: 2≦h≦10 mm. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 22, wherein the fin height h=5 mm. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of flat exhaust gas tubes has a tube height b, wherein the following dimensional range applies: 2≦b≦10 mm. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 24, wherein the tube height b=4.5 mm. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 24, wherein a ratio of the tube height b to a height h of at least one of the plurality of fins of the ambient air ducts is in a range 0.5≦b/h≦1.5. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas heat exchanger is a component of a cooling module, the cooling module comprising a coolant cooler, a condenser, a charge air cooler, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 27, wherein the exhaust gas heat exchanger and the charge air cooler are arranged one above the other in the cooling module. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bypass configured to be controlled by a differential pressure between an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet on the exhaust gas heat exchanger. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 29, wherein the bypass comprises a differential pressure valve having an exhaust gas supply duct and an exhaust gas return duct which can be separated and bypassed by a valve closing member. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 30, wherein the exhaust gas supply duct is connected to the exhaust gas inlet of the exhaust gas heat exchanger, and the exhaust gas return duct is connected to the exhaust gas outlet of the exhaust gas heat exchanger. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 30, wherein the valve closing member is loaded by a closing spring. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an electric heater configured to heat the flat exhaust gas tubes. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 33, wherein the electric heater comprises heating filaments which are arranged in a heat-conducting fashion on an outside of the flat exhaust gas tubes. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a displaceable covering device comprising longitudinal slots. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 35, wherein the longitudinal slots are arranged parallel to the flat exhaust gas tubes. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 35, wherein the covering device comprises webs between the longitudinal slots, the webs being configured to selectively cover the fins of the ambient air ducts. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 35, wherein the covering device is configured to be selectively displaced transversely with respect to the flat exhaust gas tubes. ### Claim 39 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exhaust gas heat exchanger and a charge air cooler are connected to one another to form a heat exchanger module. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 39, wherein at an outlet side of the flat exhaust gas tubes, the exhaust gas is conducted separately from charge air through or around an outlet-side charge air tank of the charge air cooler. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 40, wherein the exhaust gas is conducted in a separate duct located upstream of an outlet side collecting tank. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 41, wherein the separate duct is arranged inside or outside the outlet-side charge air tank. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 42, wherein the separate duct is formed by a partition in the outlet-side charge air tank. ### Claim 44 (depends on 41) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 41, wherein the separate duct comprises a tube or hose made from plastic, rubber or steel, or as a plastic blow-molded part. ### Claim 45 (depends on 40) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 40, further comprising a mixing zone located downstream of the charge air tank and configured to allow the exhaust gas and the charge air to mix within the mixing zone. ### Claim 46 (depends on 39) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 39, further comprising a venturi nozzle configured to suck the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas heat exchanger. ### Claim 47 (depends on 39) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 39, wherein the exhaust gas heat exchanger and the charge air cooler are integrated to form a common heat exchanger which can be traversed by a flow of charge air in a first direction and the flow of exhaust gas in the first direction and can be cooled by the flow of ambient air in a second direction. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 47, wherein the exhaust gas and the charge air are supplied to the common heat exchanger via a common inlet connecting piece or via separate inlet connecting pieces. ### Claim 49 (depends on 1) An arrangement for exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine with an intake line, an exhaust gas line, and an EGR line, wherein the arrangement comprises the exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The arrangement as claimed in claim 49, wherein an exhaust gas cooler is connected upstream of the exhaust gas heat exchanger in the EGR line, the exhaust gas cooler being configured to be cooled by a liquid coolant. ### Claim 51 (depends on 49) The arrangement as claimed in claim 49, wherein the exhaust gas heat exchanger is not arranged on a cooling module. ### Claim 52 (depends on 49) The arrangement as claimed in claim 49, wherein a separate fan for feeding cooling air is connected upstream or downstream of the exhaust gas heat exchanger. ### Claim 53 (depends on 1) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein an oxidation catalytic converter is connected upstream of the exhaust gas heat exchanger. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 53, wherein the oxidation catalytic converter is arranged inside or outside an inlet-side collecting tank for the exhaust gas. ### Claim 55 An air-cooled exhaust gas heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, the exhaust gas heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of flat exhaust gas tubes configured to allow a flow of exhaust gas therethrough; a plurality of ambient air ducts arranged between the flat exhaust gas tubes and configured to allow a flow of ambient air therethrough; and first and second exhaust gas collecting tanks that receive open ends of the flat exhaust gas tubes, the first and second exhaust gas collecting tanks being configured to allow the flow of exhaust gas from the first exhaust gas collecting tank to the second exhaust gas collecting tank through the plurality of flat exhaust gas tubes; wherein each of the ambient air ducts comprises a plurality of fins, wherein the plurality of flat exhaust gas tubes and the plurality of fins of the ambient air ducts form a fin/tube block, wherein each of the first and second exhaust gas collecting tanks comprises a flat tube plate with openings into which ends of the flat exhaust gas tubes are welded or soldered, edges of each of the openings being entirely surrounded by flat surfaces forming portions of the flat tube plate, and wherein the exhaust gas heat exchanger further comprises at least one coolant duct arranged upstream of the plurality of flat exhaust gas tubes in a direction of the flow of ambient air. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 55, wherein the at least one coolant duct has a serpentine shape and comprises straight duct sections which are arranged parallel to the flat exhaust gas tubes. ### Claim 57 (depends on 55) The exhaust gas heat exchanger as claimed in claim 55, wherein the coolant duct is connected to a cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine.