Combustion Air and Exhaust Gas Arrangement of an Internal Combustion Engine

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for supplying an internal combustion engine ( 1 ), particularly of a motor vehicle, with a stream of combustion air ( 2 ) and for removing a stream of exhaust gas ( 3 ) from the internal combustion engine ( 1 ). The arrangement comprises a fresh air channel ( 4 ) for conveying the stream of combustion air ( 2 ), an exhaust channel ( 5 ) for conveying the stream of exhaust gas ( 3 ), an exhaust gas turbocharger ( 6 ) comprising a condenser ( 7 ) disposed in the fresh air channel ( 4 ) and comprising a turbine ( 8 ) disposed in the exhaust gas channel ( 5 ), a swirl generator ( 9 ) connected directly upstream of the condenser ( 7 ) for the stream of combustion air ( 2 ) arriving in the condenser ( 7 ), and a low-pressure exhaust gas return ( 10 ) comprising a return channel ( 11 ) emptying into the fresh air channel ( 4 ) upstream of the condenser ( 7 ) for conveying an exhaust gas return stream ( 12 ). The swirl generator ( 9 ) is designed as a centrifugal separator ( 13 ) for condensate forming in the exhaust gas return stream ( 12 ).

1 . Arrangement for supplying an internal combustion engine ( 1 ), in particular a motor vehicle, with a combustion air stream ( 2 ) and for discharging an exhaust gas stream ( 3 ) from the internal combustion engine ( 1 ), comprising
 a fresh air passage ( 4 ) for guiding the combustion air stream ( 2 ),   an exhaust gas passage ( 5 ) for guiding the exhaust gas stream ( 3 ),   an exhaust gas turbocharger ( 6 ) with a compressor ( 7 ) arranged in the fresh air passage ( 4 ) and with a turbine ( 8 ) arranged in the exhaust gas passage ( 5 ),   a swirl generator ( 9 ) arranged immediately upstream of the compressor ( 7 ) for the combustion air stream entering the compressor ( 7 ),   as well as a low-pressure exhaust gas return ( 10 ) with a return passage ( 11 ) opening upstream of the compressor ( 7 ) into the fresh air passage ( 4 ) for guiding an exhaust gas return stream ( 12 ),   characterized in that the swirl generator ( 9 ) is embodied as a centrifugal separator ( 15 ) for condensate forming in the exhaust gas return stream ( 12 ) or for particles.   
     
     
         2 . Arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that an introduction of the exhaust gas return stream ( 12 ) into the swirl generator ( 9 ) is provided substantially tangentially in the rotational direction of the swirl generator ( 9 ). 
     
     
         3 . Arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that an introduction of the exhaust gas return stream ( 12 ) into the swirl generator ( 9 ) is provided with an axial directional component at an acute angle to the main flow direction ( 14 ) of the swirl generator ( 9 ). 
     
     
         4 . Arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a circumferential section ( 15 ) of the swirl generator ( 9 ) is provided with a radial outwardly positioned discharge groove ( 16 ) for separated condensate. 
     
     
         5 . Arrangement according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the discharge groove ( 16 ) in the circumferential direction of the swirl generator ( 9 ) extends about at least 180 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . Arrangement according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the cross-section of the discharge groove ( 16 ) increases in the rotational direction of the swirl generator ( 9 ). 
     
     
         7 . Arrangement according to  claim 4 , characterized in that a condensate discharge passage ( 19 ) relative to the rotational direction of the swirl generator ( 9 ) extends away from the discharge groove in a terminal area ( 20 ) of the discharge groove ( 16 ). 
     
     
         8 . Arrangement according to  claim 4 , characterized in that on at least one longitudinal edge ( 17 ) of the discharge groove ( 16 ) a particularly radial outwardly slanted sealing lip ( 18 ) is arranged. 
     
     
         9 . Arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the swirl generator ( 9 ) has a central, substantially straight extending main air passage ( 21 ) and a swirl air passage ( 22 ) that opens with a tangential directional component into the main air passage ( 21 ), wherein the return passage ( 11 ) is guided into the swirl air passage ( 22 ). 
     
     
         10 . Arrangement according to  claim 1 , characterized in that upstream of the swirl generator ( 9 ) a heat exchanger ( 23 ) that cools the exhaust gas return stream ( 12 ) is arranged in the return passage ( 11 ). 
     
     
         11 . Arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein the discharge groove ( 16 ) in the circumferential direction of the swirl generator ( 9 ) extends approximately 270 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . Arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein
 an introduction of the exhaust gas return stream ( 12 ) into the swirl generator ( 9 ) is provided with an axial directional component-at an acute angle to the main flow direction ( 14 ) of the swirl generator ( 9 );   wherein a circumferential section ( 15 ) of the swirl generator ( 9 ) is provided with a radial outwardly positioned discharge groove ( 16 ) for separated condensate; and   wherein the discharge groove ( 16 ) in the circumferential direction of the swirl generator ( 9 ) extends about at least 180 degrees.   
     
     
         13 . Arrangement according to  claim 12 , wherein the discharge groove ( 16 ) in the circumferential direction of the swirl generator ( 9 ) extends approximately 270 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . Arrangement according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the cross-section of the discharge groove ( 16 ) increases in the rotational direction of the swirl generator ( 9 );   wherein a condensate discharge passage ( 19 ) relative to the rotational direction of the swirl generator ( 9 ) extends away from the discharge groove in a terminal area ( 20 ) of the discharge groove ( 16 ); and   wherein on at least one longitudinal edge ( 17 ) of the discharge groove ( 16 ) a particularly radial outwardly slanted sealing lip ( 18 ) is arranged.   
     
     
         15 . Arrangement according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the swirl generator ( 9 ) has a central, substantially straight extending main air passage ( 21 ) and a swirl air passage ( 22 ) that opens with a tangential directional component into the main air passage ( 21 ); and   wherein the return passage ( 11 ) is guided into the swirl air passage ( 22 ).   
     
     
         16 . Arrangement according to  claim 15 , wherein upstream of the swirl generator ( 9 ) a heat exchanger ( 23 ) that cools the exhaust gas return stream ( 12 ) is arranged in the return passage ( 11 ).