Abstract: Hot exhaust gases from individual cylinders of a diesel engine are cooled and partially cleansed in respective selected heat exchangers. The cooled and partially cleansed exhaust gases discharged from the plurality of heat exchangers are combined and then passed to a single electrostaic precipitation device for further cleansing. When it becomes necessary to regenerate one or more of the heat exchangers, only a single heat exchanger is transferred to a regeneration mode of operation. At this time, all of the other heat exchangers continue to operate in the partial cleansing mode. During the regeneration of the one heat exchanger, the exhaust gases therefrom continue to be mixed with the exhaust gases of the remainder of the heat exchangers. All of the exhaust gases from a given cylinder of the engine always pass through only a single of the heat exchangers.

Abstract: The efficiency of heat exchangers for cooling exhaust gases from internal combustion engines of stationary plants for the operation of heat pumps or for the combined generation of current and heat, and for the cleaning of the heat exchangers is increased. The heat exchanger, after a liquid secondary heat transfer medium is emptied therefrom, or with the circulation of a gaseous secondary heat transfer medium cut off, is periodically heated by the hot exhaust gases to a temperature which is sufficient for the automatic cleaning of the heat exchanger surfaces.