Exhaust system component having a combination of a heat exchanger and a catalytic converter, motor vehicle having the component and method of operating the component

Abstract

A component of an exhaust gas system for an internal combustion engine includes at least one housing with an inlet and an outlet for an exhaust gas and at least one inflow and one outflow for a medium. The component has a heat exchanger around which the exhaust gas can flow. The heat exchanger has a first thermal mass and a catalytic converter body through which the exhaust gas can flow. The catalytic converter body has a second thermal mass. A motor vehicle having a component and a method for operating a component, are also provided.

1 . A component of an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, the component comprising:
 at least one housing having an inlet and an outlet for an exhaust gas and at least one inflow and one outflow for a medium; and   a heat exchanger around which the exhaust gas can flow, said heat exchanger having at least one first flow path for the medium, said heat exchanger having a first thermal mass and a catalytic converter body through which the exhaust gas can flow, said catalytic converter body having a second thermal mass;   said heat exchanger and said catalytic converter body being disposed together in said housing.   
     
     
         2 . The component according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said housing has an inner wall, a central axis, a first end side and a second end side disposed along said central axis;   said inlet is disposed at said first end side and said outlet is disposed at said second end side;   said catalytic converter body is disposed along said central axis and has an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface extending parallel to said central axis;   said inner circumferential surface is fluidically connected directly to said inlet, permitting the exhaust gas to flow radially through said catalytic converter body from said inner circumferential surface to said outer circumferential surface;   said at least one first flow path at least partially surrounds said catalytic converter body at said outer circumferential surface; and   an annular channel is disposed at said inner wall of said housing, said annular channel is fluidically connected to said outer circumferential surface of said catalytic converter body and directly to said outlet, and said annular channel at least partially surrounds said catalytic converter body and said at least one first flow path.   
     
     
         3 . The component according to  claim 1 , which further comprises at least one second flow path at least partially penetrating said catalytic converter body. 
     
     
         4 . The component according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said heat exchanger has at least a first stage and a second stage;   said at least one first flow path is disposed outside said catalytic converter body and is associated with said first stage; and   said at least one second flow path, at least partially penetrating said catalytic converter body, is associated with said second stage of said heat exchanger.   
     
     
         5 . The component according to  claim 3 , wherein said catalytic converter body has compensation elements, disposed opposite said at least one second flow path of said heat exchanger, for permitting said catalytic converter body to expand in radial direction. 
     
     
         6 . The component according to  claim 1 , wherein said catalytic converter body has compensation elements for permitting said catalytic converter body to expand in axial direction. 
     
     
         7 . The component according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said catalytic converter body has first compensation elements, disposed opposite said at least one second flow path of said heat exchanger, for permitting said catalytic converter body to expand in radial direction; and   said catalytic converter body has second compensation elements for permitting said catalytic converter body to expand in axial direction.   
     
     
         8 . The component according to  claim 3 , which further comprises a catalytically active coating disposed on at least one of said at least one first flow path or said at least one second flow path. 
     
     
         9 . A motor vehicle, comprising a component according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A method for operating a component, the method comprising the following steps:
 providing a component according to  claim 1 ; and   heating said catalytic converter body, at least at certain times, by using said heat exchanger as a heating element.