Vaporizer for Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Vaporizer

Abstract

The invention relates a fuel vaporizer for a motor vehicle operated with liquefied petroleum gas. The vaporizer has a vaporization space, which has an inlet for liquid fuel and an outlet for vaporized fuel, and a second space, which together with the vaporization space forms a heat exchanger and forms an inlet for cooling water from an internal combustion engine and an outlet. The inlet and the outlet of the second space are connected via a line bypassing the second space. A switching valve is disposed at the inlet of the second space so as to introduce a cooling water flow selectively into the second space or the line. The vaporizer also has an electric heater for heating the second space.

1 . A fuel vaporizer for a motor vehicle operated with liquefied petroleum gas, comprising:
 a vaporization space having an inlet for liquid fuel and an outlet for vaporized fuel;   a second space, in combination with the vaporization space, forming a heat exchanger and having an inlet for cooling water from an internal combustion engine and an outlet, the inlet and the outlet of the second space being connected via a line bypassing the second space;   a switching valve disposed at the inlet of the second space, for introducing a cooling water flow selectively into the second space or the line; and   an electric heater for heating the second space.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel vaporizer according to  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of a cooling water flow supplied to the switching valve. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel vaporizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet of the second space and the line are connected by a further switching valve. 
     
     
         4 . A fuel vaporizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater contains a ceramic PTC element. 
     
     
         5 . A fuel vaporizer according to  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature present in the second space. 
     
     
         6 . A fuel vaporizer according to  claim 2  further comprising a control unit connected to the temperature sensor for actuating the switching valve in order to conduct a cooling water flow through the second space when the cooling water temperature, measured by the temperature sensor, exceeds a predefined threshold value. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel vaporizer according to  claim 6 , wherein the control unit is operative for shutting off the electric heater when the switching valve is brought into a switching state in which a cooling water flow is conducted through the second chamber.