Abstract: A method and a device for operating a waste heat utilization device for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The waste heat utilization device contains a waste heat utilization circuit in which a working medium circulates. A conveyor, an evaporator, an expansion machine, and a condenser are disposed in the waste heat utilization circuit. A basic adjustment of the waste heat utilization circuit is provided, which as a function of a heat input into the working medium adjusts the mass flow rate at the conveyor and/or the ratio between high pressure and low pressure at the expansion machine. In addition, a pilot control is provided which recognizes a change of the operating point of the internal combustion engine and, when the operating point is changed, controls the condensation output of the condenser in accordance with a mass distribution of the working medium in the waste heat utilization circuit optimized to the new operating point.

Abstract: A method and a device for operating a waste heat utilization device for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The waste heat utilization device contains a waste heat utilization circuit in which a working medium circulates. A conveyor, an evaporator, an expansion machine, and a condenser are disposed in the waste heat utilization circuit. A basic adjustment of the waste heat utilization circuit is provided, which as a function of a heat input into the working medium adjusts the mass flow rate at the conveyor and/or the ratio between high pressure and low pressure at the expansion machine. In addition, a pilot control is provided which recognizes a change of the operating point of the internal combustion engine and, when the operating point is changed, controls the condensation output of the condenser in accordance with a mass distribution of the working medium in the waste heat utilization circuit optimized to the new operating point.

Abstract: In a waste heat utilization arrangement for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle including a waste heat utilization circuit in which a working medium is circulated, a pumping device for pressurizing the working medium, an evaporator for vaporizing the working medium by waste heat of the internal combustion engine, an expansion machine for expanding the working medium while extracting mechanical energy therefrom and a condenser for condensing the working medium in a resting state, the waste heat utilization circuit is in communication with a pressure store capable of maintaining a pressure for setting and ensuring a predetermined adjustable minimum pressure of the working medium in the waste heat utilization circuit.

Abstract: A working medium circuit that includes a conveyor unit, a heat exchanger, an expansion unit, and a condenser, includes a device for recovering energy from a waste heat flow of an internal combustion engine in a vehicle. A Clausius-Rankine cycle is carried out within the working medium circuit, and the expansion unit includes an electrical generator or is coupled thereto. The electrical generator is a gap generator and a working medium of the working medium circuit flows through the electrical generator.

Abstract: In a method for recovering energy from the heat dissipated by an internal combustion engine and to an internal combustion engine wherein the pressure and temperature of a liquid working medium are increased from a lower process pressure and a first temperature to an upper process pressure at which the working fluid is heated to a second temperature whereby it is converted to a gaseous phase; the working medium is then expanded back to the lower process pressure whereby mechanical power is generated and the working medium is converted back to a liquid phase, the upper process pressure being adjusted in such a way that the working medium is expanded into the wet steam area close to the saturated steam limit.

Abstract: In a waste heat utilization arrangement for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle including a waste heat utilization circuit in which a working medium is circulated, a pumping device for pressurizing the working medium, an evaporator for vaporizing the working medium by waste heat of the internal combustion engine, an expansion machine for expanding the working medium while extracting mechanical energy therefrom and a condenser for condensing the working medium in a resting state, the waste heat utilization circuit is in communication with a pressure store capable of maintaining a pressure for setting and ensuring a predetermined adjustable minimum pressure of the working medium in the waste heat utilization circuit.

Abstract: In an axial piston expander for a waste heat recovery device of a motor vehicle, the expander having a shaft with an axis of rotation around which a number of cylinders are arranged parallel to, and distributed around, the axis of rotation, each cylinder including a piston connected to a coupling plate which is pivotally mounted on the shaft so as to provide for an adjustable piston stroke and the cylinders having high pressure inlets and low pressure outlets with valve devices for the control of the operating fluid flow through the cylinders, a stroke adjustment arrangement is provided by which the stroke of the pistons is adjustable via a regulation of the pressure in an operating chamber at the back side of the pistons, the waste heat recovery device being coupleable with the drive train of the internal combustion engine for the transfer of mechanical driving power.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine providing a hot exhaust gas flow which is used as heat source for a Clausius-Rankine cycle process, wherein a pump is provided in the cycle for pumping, pressurizing and circulating an operating fluid, the pumping operation is controlled by a controller depending on the exhaust gas mass flow through an evaporator and possibly also the exhaust gas temperature to vaporize the operating fluid and expanding the vapor under pressure in an expander while generating energy. The vapor is condensed in a condenser to form a condensate which is again returned to the pump.

Abstract: In a method for operating a waste heat utilization device comprising a working fluid which is liquefied after expansion in an expander by a condenser of the heat utilization device, by controlling an inflow cross-section to an expander of the waste heat utilization device a low pressure of the working fluid in the region of the condenser for adjusting the condensation temperature of the working fluid in the condenser, to provide for a heat transfer flow from the working fluid to the condenser environment sufficient to ensure the complete liquefication of the working fluid in the condenser.

Abstract: In an exhaust gas heat utilization device of a motor vehicle, comprising an exhaust gas heat utilization cycle in which an operating temperature of an operating fluid of the exhaust gas heat utilization cycle is controlled by adapting a mass flow of the operating fluid through a heat exchanger of the exhaust gas heat utilization cycle in such a way that a maximum permissible operating temperature, in particular the decomposition temperature, of the operating fluid is not exceeded.

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.

Abstract: A convertible motor vehicle with at least two vehicle seating rows and with at least two side doors is provided. A respectively associated door column is arranged in between the doors, and an active rollover protection system is provided in the region thereof. The door columns end upwards in the region of an associated waistline of the motor vehicle, and the rollover protection system is at least substantially arranged below the waistline of the motor vehicle in a retracted position.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine providing a hot exhaust gas flow which is used as heat source for a Clausius-Rankine cycle process, wherein a pump is provided in the cycle for pumping, pressurizing and circulating an operating fluid, the pumping operation is controlled by a controller depending on the exhaust gas mass flow through an evaporator and possibly also the exhaust gas temperature to vaporize the operating fluid and expanding the vapor under pressure in an expander while generating energy. The vapor is condensed in a condenser to form a condensate which is again returned to the pump.

Abstract: In a method for recovering energy from the heat dissipated by an internal combustion engine wherein the pressure and temperature of a liquid working medium are increased from a lower process pressure and a first temperature to an upper process pressure and a second temperature by a pump unit; the working medium is heated from the second temperature to a third temperature by transferring heat from a hot medium containing heat dissipated by the internal combustion engine to the working medium, which is thereby converted from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase; the working medium is then expanded to the lower process pressure whereby mechanical power is generated and the working medium is converted from a gaseous phase to a liquid phase and transferred back to the pump unit, the upper process pressure is adjusted in such a way that the working medium is expanded at least approximately to a predetermined saturated steam limit and to an internal combustion engine for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A convertible motor vehicle with at least two vehicle seating rows and with at least two side doors is provided. A respectively associated door column is arranged in between the doors, and an active rollover protection system is provided in the region thereof. The door columns end upwards in the region of an associated waistline of the motor vehicle, and the rollover protection system is at least substantially arranged below the waistline of the motor vehicle in a retracted position.

Abstract: A method for air conditioning a motor vehicle, in which, in a heating mode, the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle is heated via a passenger compartment heat exchanger (5) through heat pump operation of a refrigerating circuit (1). To prevent fogging of the windows of the motor vehicle from the outset, the temperature and humidity in the passenger compartment are recorded by measurement technology, and when the temperature is in a predefined range and the atmospheric humidity reaches a defined threshold, the mass flow of refrigerant in the circuit is throttled upstream of the passenger compartment heat exchanger (5), in such a manner that the moisture contained in the air stream passing the passenger compartment heat exchanger (5) is at least substantially condensed at the passenger compartment heat exchanger (5), and the moisture which has already condensed at the heat exchanger (5) remains at the heat exchanger (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for air conditioning a motor vehicle, in which, in a heating mode, the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle is heated via a passenger compartment heat exchanger (5) through heat pump operation of a refrigerating circuit (1) comprising a compressor (2), a condenser (3), a throttle valve (4) and the passenger compartment heat exchanger (5), with the temperature in the passenger compartment being recorded by measurement technology.

Abstract: In a needle valve (1) for a high-pressure gas conduit system consisting of two units (2, 3) which are joined and one of which encloses a stepping motor (8) and the other includes gas flow passages and a gas flow control bore (17), a valve needle (10) is supported in the housing unit so as to be movable by the stepping motor and extends into the gas flow control bore (17) in the other housing unit through a guide passage (18) provided with seals to prevent gas from flowing to the housing unit including the stepping motor (8) between a region of the guide bore (18) and a low pressure region of the needle valve (1) a compensation connection is provided for relief of pressure at the sealing region (43) of the guide bore (18). The needle valve is particularly suitable as an expansion valve in an automotive CO2 air conditioning system.

Abstract: In a piston for a compressor, the piston comprises a stem by which the piston may be guided in the housing in an axially displaceable manner, and a force introducing section where an outer drive force can be introduced into the piston. The piston head, the piston skirt and the force introducing section are successively arranged in the direction of the piston axis. The piston head, the piston skirt and the force introducing section are produced as a single element of graphite or a synthetic material, and the piston skirt comprises a solid strut structure and a guide section, the cross-sectional area of the strut structure being smaller than the surface of the piston head. The piston consists of a non-organic, non-metallic material having an average thermal expansion of less than 7×106/° C. in the temperature range of 0° C. to 200° C.

Abstract: A refrigerant circuit for a motor vehicle air-conditioning system has a refrigerant compressor, a cooler connected downstream of the refrigerant compressor, a restrictor for expanding the refrigerant, and an evaporator for transferring heat to the refrigerant. Pressure in the refrigerant circuit is measured firstly on the high-pressure side and secondly on the low-pressure side. An air-conditioning system can be driven directly or indirectly by the motor vehicle driving engine. The refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit is almost completely liquefied upstream of the restrictor, so that it is easy to determine the refrigerant mass flow. As a result, it becomes possible to determine the compressor torque which is consumed by the refrigerant circuit and to control the motor vehicle driving engine accordingly.