Patent Application - Clausius-Rankine cycle > Claims

1. A Clausius-Rankine cycle, in particular for mobile applications, preferably in motor vehicles, comprising: a pump (2) for pumping a liquid working fluid in a Clausius-Rankine circuit (1) and for pressurizing the working fluid,a heating device (3) in communication with the pump (2) for receiving the pressurized working fluid and for vaporizing the pressurized working fluid,an expansion device (4) connected to the heating device for expanding the vaporized pressurized working fluid for generating mechanical drive power,a condenser device (5) including a housing (12) in communication with the expansion device (4) for condensing the hot, expanded working fluid so as to form a condensate that can be fed to the pump (2) as liquid working fluid, anda collection volume (13) for collecting and storing liquid working fluid which collection volume (13) is integrated into a housing (12) of the condenser device (5).
- 2. The Clausius-Rankine cycle according to claim 1, wherein the housing (12) includes a condenser volume (14) which is open towards the collection volume (13), and in which a heat exchanger (9) is arranged through which a cooling fluid is conducted.
- 3. The Clausius-Rankine cycle according to claim 1, wherein the collection volume (13) forms at least 30% of a total volume of the housing (12).
- 4. The Clausius-Rankine cycle according to claim 1, wherein the condenser device (5) is connected to a cooling cycle (8) in which a cooling fluid circulates.
- 5. The Clausius-Rankine cycle according to claim 1, wherein a control device (15) for adjusting the amount of the working fluid circulating in the Clausius-Rankine cycle is provided in dependence on the momentary operating state of the Clausius-Rankine cycle (1).
  - 6. The Clausius-Rankine cycle according to claim 5, wherein the control device (15) is designed in such a manner that it adjusts the amount of the working fluid circulating in the Clausius-Rankine cycle by changing the condensing performance of the condenser device (5).
  - 7. The Clausius-Rankine cycle according to claim 5, wherein the control device (15) is designed in such a manner that it adjusts the condensing performance of the condenser device (5) by changing the amount of the cooling fluid flowing through the heat exchanger (9).
    - 8. The Clausius-Rankine cycle according to claim 7, wherein the control device (15) cooperates with a control valve (17) for adjusting the cooling fluid amount flowing through the heat exchanger (9) of the condenser device (5).
      - 9. The Clausius-Rankine cycle according to claim 8, wherein the control valve (17) is arranged in at least one of the cooling cycle (8) and to the condenser device (5), wherein the control valve (17) is in particular in the housing (12) of the condenser device (5).
  - 10. The Clausius-Rankine cycle according to claim 5, wherein the control device (15) adjusts the amount of the working fluid circulating in the Clausius-Rankine cycle (1) in the sense of a regulation or in the sense of a control.
11. A Motor vehicle with a Clausius-Rankine cycle comprising a pump (2) for pumping a liquid working fluid in a Clausius-Rankine circuit (1) and for pressurizing the working fluid,a heating device (3) in communication with the pump (2) for receiving the pressurized working fluid and for vaporizing the pressurized working fluid,an expansion device (4) connected to the heating device for expanding the vaporized pressurized working fluid for generating mechanical drive power,a condenser device (5) including a housing (12) in communication with the expansion device (4) for condensing the hot, expanded working fluid so as to form a condensate that can be fed to the pump (2) as liquid working fluid, anda collection volume (13) for collecting and storing liquid working fluid which collection volume (13) is integrated into a housing (12) of the condenser device (5).