Clausius-Rankine cycle

Abstract

In a Clausius-Rankine cycle, in particular for mobile applications, comprising a pump for circulating a liquid working fluid in the Clausius-Rankine cycle and pressurizing the working fluid, a heating device for vaporizing the pressurized liquid working fluid and an expansion device for generating mechanical driving power by expanding the hot, compressed vaporized working fluid, a condenser device for condensing the hot, expanded vaporized working fluid is provided to form again liquid working fluid and the condenser device includes integrated therein a collection volume for collecting and storing liquid working fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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, and   a 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, and   a 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 ).