EP2809945A1

EP2809945A1 - Device for heating a heat engine of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP2809945A1
Application number: EP13706606.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Damien Alfano; Pauline LARTIGUE; Thierry Cheng
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur SAS
Current assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur SAS
Priority date: 2012-02-03
Filing date: 2013-01-31
Publication date: 2014-12-10
Also published as: CN104169569A; FR2986575B1; FR2986575A1; US20150000624A1; KR20140123981A; US9528489B2; JP2015509164A; WO2013114046A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for heating the heat engine (7) of a vehicle, comprising: a reactor (3) in which a reagent that can cause an exothermic reaction with a reaction fluid is disposed, a circuit (5) for supplying reaction fluid to the reactor (3), a heat-exchange circuit (8) between the reactor (3) and the heat engine (7) of the vehicle, and a circuit (9) for regenerating the reagent.

Description

DEVICE FOR HEATING A THERMAL MOTOR OF A VEHICLE

The present invention relates to the heating of at least one component of a vehicle. The invention applies in particular, but not exclusively, to the heating of a heat engine when it is started, for example an internal combustion engine.

Heating the engine when it starts can reduce the

fuel consumption and / or pollutant emissions. This heat can also, in very cold conditions, be transmitted to the cabin to improve the comfort of the vehicle users.

Existing solutions for heating a heat engine when starting a vehicle are for example: the use of a pre-heating plug, the encapsulation of the engine, the enrichment of the air / fuel mixture to obtain faster a better performance of the engine, the use of external heating elements attached to the bottom of the engine block, the use of an immersion heater immersed in the engine block oil.

These different solutions are not really satisfactory in terms of

consumption and / or cost and / or life and / or efficiency of heat transfer to the engine.

Reagents, such as zeolite, are also known which can react in a highly exothermic manner with a reaction fluid and be subsequently regenerated.

An example of a device making it possible to use these reagents for heating components of a heat engine is disclosed in the application EP 1 391 238. According to this device, the transfer of the heat released by the exothermic reaction and the regeneration of the reagent are performed using the same circuit carrying the engine coolant. However, such a fluid is not adapted to withstand high temperatures and its pressure is too high, so that this device has disadvantages in terms of complexity and cost. In addition, there are significant risks of degrading the coolant.

Also known from the application EP 1 331 113 an air conditioning device of the passenger compartment of a vehicle, the device using zeolite. This device does not allow the engine to be heated by means of the exothermic reaction produced when the zeolite reacts with water.

There is a need to enable such reagents to be used for heating vehicle components, and in particular their heat engine. The purpose of the invention is to meet this need and it achieves this, according to one of its aspects, with the aid of a device for heating at least one component of a vehicle, in particular the heat engine of the vehicle. vehicle, comprising:

a reactor in which a reagent capable of causing a reaction

exothermic with a reaction fluid is arranged,

a reaction fluid supply circuit of the reactor,

a heat exchange circuit between the reactor and the vehicle component, and a regeneration circuit of the reagent,

the heat exchange circuit and the regeneration circuit being separate and each comprising a portion extending into the reactor.

The reactor can thus be qualified as a "three-fluid" reactor, receiving three fluids each having a distinct function, namely:

the reaction fluid reacts with the reagent,

the exchange fluid circulating between the reactor and the component to be heated in order to transfer the heat released by the reaction, and

the regeneration fluid regenerating the reagent and, where appropriate, the reaction fluid. The three circuits above can be distinct, that is to say do not present portions in common. Each of these circuits can thus be dedicated to the function or functions it has to fulfill.

The heat exchange circuit notably makes it possible to transfer the heat of the exothermic reaction to the component to be heated, in particular to the heat engine.

The device provides an architecture adapted to the release of heat by the reaction of the reagent, the transfer of this heat to the component to be heated and the regeneration of the reagent.

The reagent may be zeolite and the reaction fluid may be water. For the purpose of the present invention, "water" designates both pure water and a mixture of water and one or more other components in smaller proportions. An example of such a mixture is brine. The adsorption reaction of the water with the anhydrous zeolite is highly exothermic, the zeolite having in particular a storage capacity of 300 kWh per 1 kg of zeolite.

The zeolite may be in the form of beads stacked in the reactor.

The zeolite can be anhydrous before the reaction with the reaction fluid. The reagent regeneration circuit may form part of the engine exhaust line. In this case, the regeneration fluid flowing through the regeneration circuit is constituted by the exhaust gas.

The exhaust line may be devoid of a burner placed therein, in particular upstream of the reactor, such a burner for heating the exhaust gas.

The regeneration circuit may comprise in parallel with the portion extending in the reactor a portion bypassing the reactor.

The reaction fluid supply circuit may comprise a condenser and a pipe connecting the reactor to the condenser.

The reaction fluid supply circuit may further comprise a reservoir capable of storing the reaction fluid. This tank may be arranged at altitude with respect to the reactor so that the reaction fluid present in the reservoir in liquid form can flow by gravity into the reactor to cause its adsorption by the reagent.

The condenser may be disposed at an altitude with respect to the reservoir so that the reaction fluid in liquid form in the condenser can flow by gravity into the reservoir.

The portion of the reaction fluid supply circuit between the reservoir and the reactor can be traversed by the fluid in the liquid state when it is desired to cause the exothermic adsorption reaction and the portion of the fluid supply circuit. the condenser and the pipe can be traversed by the fluid when the latter is desorbed from the reagent during the regeneration of the latter. The fluid can then travel the pipe in the gaseous state, condense in the condenser and then gain the tank, especially by gravity. Such a circuit makes it possible to regenerate both the reagent and the reaction fluid, so that the latter will be able to react together again when it will subsequently be necessary to heat the component.

In addition, the heat produced by the condensation of the fluid in the condenser can be reused, for example to heat the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

The conduct taken by the reaction fluid in the gaseous state between the reactor and the condenser can extend in altitude from the reactor and be placed near a source of heat. This reduces the risk that the desorbed fluid of the zeolite and borrowing this pipe condenses and falls by gravity into the reactor before reaching the condenser.

The reagent can be received in a reactor compartment. This compartment can be unique.

The reservoir may contain a volume of reaction fluid, in particular water,

corresponding to 20% of the total mass in the anhydrous state of the zeolite in the compartment. This tank volume may be large enough to ensure a satisfactory exothermic reaction to heat the component.

The condenser can be sized to allow rapid regeneration of the zeolite, for example in less than twenty minutes.

In an exemplary implementation of the invention, the heat exchange circuit can be traversed by a single exchange fluid. This exchange fluid then takes heat from the reactor when the exothermic reaction takes place and transfers it to the component. When the component to be heated is the engine of the vehicle, the exchange fluid may be the fluid, in particular liquid, engine cooling.

In this example, a system for emptying the portion in the reactor of the heat exchange circuit can be added to prevent the exchange fluid, which may be the engine coolant, from being subjected to high temperatures in the reactor. the reactor during the regeneration of the reagent. These temperatures can indeed be of the order of 150 ° C or more, and the engine cooling fluids may not be suitable for such temperatures.

In another exemplary implementation of the invention, the heat exchange circuit may comprise two subcircuits separated by a heat exchanger. This is for example a heat exchanger type "stacked flat engine oil cooler".

In this example, a first exchange fluid can flow in a first sub-circuit between the vehicle component and said heat exchanger and a second exchange fluid can flow in a second sub-circuit between the reactor and said heat exchanger. Such a structure allows each sub-circuit to be traversed by a clean exchange fluid adapted to the environment in which it circulates.

The first sub-circuit is for example traversed by brine, especially when the component to be heated is the heat engine, and the second sub-circuit is for example traversed by a synthetic oil.

The second sub-circuit may further comprise a pump.

In the two examples of implementation above, the heat exchange circuit may comprise a portion bypassing the reactor and disposed in parallel with the portion in the reactor of said circuit and a valve may be arranged at the inlet of said bypassing portion the reactor. This is for example a three-way valve disposed at the bifurcation between said portions in parallel and can, depending on its state, to direct the exchange fluid in one and / or the other of the portions. parallel of said circuit or in any of these portions.

The reaction fluid supply circuit can communicate with the inside of the reactor via a valve, in particular a three-way valve. This valve may or may not allow the passage of the reaction fluid in the liquid state of the reservoir of the reagent supply circuit to the reactor and or not the passage of the reaction fluid in the gaseous state of the reactor to the conduit of said reactor circuit. 'food.

The regeneration circuit may further comprise a valve whose state allows or not the circulation of fluid through the portion bypassing the reactor. If necessary, the access of the regeneration fluid to the portion of the regeneration circuit disposed in the reactor can be conditioned in the state of another valve of the regeneration circuit.

The heat exchange circuit between the component and the reactor may comprise a valve upstream of its portion in the reactor, the state of this valve controlling the flow of exchange fluid in said portion.

When it is desired to react the reaction fluid and the reagent to obtain the exothermic reaction, the valve of the supply circuit can be controlled to have a state permitting the gravitational passage of the reaction fluid from the reservoir to the reactor and preventing the access of this fluid to the condenser via the pipe. The state of the exchange circuit valve controlling the inlet of the exchange fluid in the portion of said circuit in the reactor can be controlled according to the amount of exchange fluid that is to be heated in the reactor, by example depending on the number of components of the vehicle to be heated and / or the nature thereof.

The regeneration circuit valve controlling the flow of regeneration fluid in the portion bypassing the reactor can be opened or closed when the reaction

exothermic occurs. When this valve is open, it can be completely open or not.

When attempting to regenerate the reagent, the feed circuit valve may be controlled to allow passage of the gaseous reaction fluid in the conduit and then into the condenser and to prevent a direct passage of this reaction fluid to the reaction medium. the gaseous state in the reservoir from the reactor. The valve of the heat exchange circuit controlling the passage of exchange fluid in the portion in the reactor can then be not closed. For example, when only one exchange fluid circulates in the heat exchange circuit, this valve can be closed to avoid degrading the fluid. However, when this portion in the reactor is traversed by the second exchange fluid, this valve can be opened to allow the circulation of this fluid and prevent it from heating locally.

The valve of the regeneration circuit controlling the regeneration fluid passage in the portion bypassing the reactor can be closed. In some cases, the latter valve may be fully or partially open during the regeneration of the reagent to limit the temperature in the reactor.

When the reaction fluid is stored in the tank, the valve of the circuit

The feed can be controlled so that the fluid can not leave the tank and the above valves of the heat exchange circuit and the regeneration circuit can be opened.

In the reactor, the portion of the heat exchange circuit may be in the form of a plurality of second pipes, said portion of the exchange circuit possibly comprising layers of second pipes, and the portion of the regeneration circuit may be in the form of a plurality of first conduits.

The first and second conduits may extend substantially parallel in the reactor.

The reagent receiving compartment may be formed by the interstices between said conduits passing through the reactor.

The invention further relates, in another of its aspects, to a method of heating at least one component of a vehicle using the device defined above, in which:

the reactant is supplied with reaction fluid into the reactor so as to cause an exothermic reaction in the reactor, and

the heat generated by said reaction is transferred to the component by means of the heat exchange circuit.

The method may include the step of regenerating the reagent by circulating regeneration fluid in the regeneration circuit, including exhaust gas.

The component may be at least one of the engine of the vehicle, of the gearbox, of a de-icing system and of an air-conditioning and / or heating system of the passenger compartment, of a system for wiping window (s) of the vehicle or a battery of the vehicle. The method can be implemented when starting the heat engine, in particular to heat the latter.

Alternatively, the method may be implemented prior to starting the engine, the latter then not necessarily a heat engine. The implementation of the method can be performed in response to a set point imposed by the user of the vehicle or be automatic, for example after detection of an action by the user, such as the

unlocking the vehicle doors, inserting the ignition key or opening a vehicle door, for example.

The method then allows a pre-conditioning of certain components of the vehicle. This pre-conditioning can be used to defrost windows of the vehicle or to heat the oil of the gearbox, for example. This pre-conditioning can also or alternatively allow to heat the oil or water in the engine and / or the cabin of the vehicle and / or the product for wiping window (s) of the vehicle.

Some or all of the above-mentioned features relating to the heater apply to the above heating method.

The invention further relates, in another of its aspects, to a device for heating at least one component of a vehicle, comprising:

a reactor in which a reagent capable of causing a reaction

exothermic with a reaction fluid is arranged,

a reaction fluid supply circuit for the reactor,

a heat exchange circuit between the reactor and the vehicle component, and a reactant regeneration circuit, said circuit comprising in parallel a portion passing through the reactor and a portion bypassing the reactor.

Some or all of the above-mentioned features relating to the method apply to the above device.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of a nonlimiting example of implementation thereof and on examining the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 schematically represents a vehicle in which a device according to an exemplary implementation of the invention is integrated,

FIG. 2 schematically represents a device according to a first example of implementation of the invention,

FIG. 3 represents a detail of the device of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 schematically represents a device according to a second exemplary implementation of the invention,

FIG. 5 represents a detail of the device of FIG. 4,

Figure 6 shows an end of an example reactor.

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 1 in which a heating device 2 is integrated according to an embodiment of the invention. The device 2 comprises a reactor 3 in which is disposed a reagent, a reactor fluid supply circuit 3 of the reactor 3, this fluid reacts with the reagent exothermically, a heat exchange circuit 8 between the reactor 3 and a component 7 of the vehicle 1 to be heated and a regeneration circuit 9 of the reagent in the reactor 3.

In the examples described below, the reagent is zeolite and the reaction fluid is brine. Still in the examples described, the regeneration circuit 9 is traversed by a regeneration fluid formed by the exhaust gas, so that the regeneration circuit 9 forms part of the exhaust line of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle . The invention is however not limited to these examples.

In the example that will be described, the component 7 of the vehicle is an internal combustion engine of the vehicle. The device 2 is then used to heat the engine 7 when it starts.

In variants not described, the device 2 can be used to heat one or more components of the vehicle at other times than when starting the engine. The device 2 may, for example, heat one or more components before starting the engine, making a pre-conditioning of this or these components 7.

This pre-conditioning can result from an order given by the user of the vehicle before it starts the vehicle, for example pressing a trigger button of the device 2. As a variant, the pre-conditioning results from a generated order

automatically, for example because of the detection of entry into the vehicle of a user, including the insertion of the ignition key, the unlocking of the doors or the opening of a door.

In the case of such pre-conditioning, the device 2 can thus transfer, prior to starting the engine, heat to a window defrosting system, for example the windshield of the vehicle 1, to the gearbox. of vehicles, particularly for heat the oil thereof, or the cabin of the vehicle, for the comfort of the vehicle user (s) 1.

Two examples of devices 2 according to the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS.

The reactor 3 is in the example described in the form of a cylinder of longitudinal axis X and of circular section, perpendicular to this axis X. The reactor 3 may comprise an enclosure inside which the fluid conveyed by each circuit 5, 8 and 9 can access.

A compartment in the chamber of the reactor 3 receives the reagent which is in the described example of the zeolite. The compartment contains, for example, some kg of zeolite, in particular 2 kg of zeolite, and this zeolite is in the example described in the form of balls stacked in the compartment.

The reaction fluid supply circuit 5 comprises, in the example described, a fluid reservoir 13 and a condenser 14. The circuit 5 is disposed at an altitude relative to the reactor 3 in the example under consideration, being above the reactor 3 or at an angle to it.

The reaction fluid supply circuit 5 may communicate with the

compartment via an access 12 inside the enclosure. Between this access 12 and the circuit 5 can be arranged a three-way valve 16.

One of the channels of this valve 16 can communicate with a pipe 17 connected to the condenser 14, another channel of the valve 16 can communicate with a pipe 19 connected to the tank 13 and the third channel of the valve 16 can communicate with the access 12.

The pipe 17 may extend vertically and may or may not be disposed along a hot source of the vehicle.

The condenser 14 and the reservoir 13 may be sized according to the volume of reaction fluid that it is desired to react with the zeolite. The condenser may also be sized to have a condensing power compatible with a given zeolite regeneration time, for example less than 20 minutes.

The reservoir 13 has for example a capacity to receive a quantity of liquid corresponding in mass to 20% of the anhydrous zeolite contained in the reactor 3.

As will be seen later, the reaction fluid 5, which is in the described example of the brine, circulates in the gaseous state in the pipe 17 and in the liquid state in the pipe 19. The heat exchange circuit 8 between the reactor 3 and the component 7 comprises in the example described a portion extending in the reactor 3. This portion extends for example between two diametrically opposite ports in the chamber, one of the ports 20 forming an inlet of said portion in the reactor while the other of the ports 20 forms an outlet of said portion.

As shown in FIG. 6, the ports 20 may be provided at a longitudinal end of the reactor 3. At this longitudinal end, the inside of the enclosure may be divided into three regions by two walls 23 and 24. extending parallel to the axis X of the reactor. The first wall 23 externally surrounds a first region 26 communicating with the access 20 forming the outlet of the exchange fluid of the reactor 3. The second wall 24, radially external to the first wall 23, defines internally a third region 27 communicating with the access 20 forming the inlet of the exchange fluid in the reactor 3.

Between the walls 23 and 24, a second region 28 exists. This second region does not communicate with any of the ports 20 and may be devoid of exchange fluid.

The first region 26 forms in the example of Figure 6 an outlet collector of the exchange fluid while the third region 27 forms an inlet manifold of the fluid. A plurality of webs comprising second conduits may extend along the reactor 3 from holes opening into the third region 27 to holes 31 opening into the first region 26, these webs having the shape of a coil.

A valve 32 may be arranged upstream of the access 20 connected to the inlet manifold 27, the state of this valve 32 deciding the circulation of the exchange fluid in the reactor 3. In the example shown in the figures 3 and 5, this valve 32 also makes it possible to direct or not the exchange fluid in a portion 40 of the heat exchange circuit 8 bypassing the reactor 3. This portion 40 may further comprise a non-return valve 39 to near the place where the portion in the reactor and the portion 40 bypassing the reactor 3 meet.

The reaction fluid entering the port 20 upstream of the inlet manifold 27 may have a temperature related to the outside temperature. In the examples developed subsequently, the temperature upstream of the inlet manifold 27 of the reaction fluid will be respectively -7 ° C., 0 ° C. or 20 ° C., but these values are not limiting. The exchange fluid passing through the access 20 downstream of the outlet manifold 26 may have a temperature of the order of 110 ° C when the exothermic reaction occurs in the reactor 3.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the exchange circuit 8 extends to component 7 to be heated.

The regeneration circuit 9 comprises in the example considered two parallel portions 33 and 34. The portion 33 passes through the reactor 3 while the portion 34 bypasses the latter (this portion being called "bypass" in English).

A valve 36 is disposed in the portion 34 in the example shown and, depending on the position of this valve 36, the exhaust gases bypass the reactor 3 or not.

The portion 33 can pass through the reactor 3 between two accesses to the enclosure

longitudinally opposite. Between these two ports 35, the portion 33 is for example divided into a plurality of first pipes passing through the reactor 3 along its longitudinal axis X.

These first pipes can pass through the inlet manifold 27 or the outlet manifold 26 described with reference to FIG. 6.

The reagent may be disposed in the interstices of the enclosure formed between the pipes of the heat exchange circuit 8 and the pipes of the regeneration circuit 9 therethrough, these interstices then forming the reactor compartment.

In the example of Figures 2 and 3, the heat exchange circuit 8 is traversed end to end by the same exchange fluid. In the example described, the component 7 being the heat engine of the vehicle 1, the exchange fluid can be the engine coolant. The exchange circuit 8 may in this case contain a not shown draining system. This emptying system prevents the exchange fluid to come into contact with the exhaust gas during the regeneration of the zeolite, as will be explained later. By way of example, when the cooling fluid is engine coolant such as brine, this fluid is not adapted to sustain higher or even much higher temperatures at 130 ° C. However, the exhaust gas flowing through the portion 33 of the regeneration circuit 9 can bring the temperature in the reactor 3 to a value greater than 130 ° C. The emptying system avoids degrading the exchange fluid that would be present in the reactor at that time.

The valve 32 may be a three-way valve and, depending on its state, allow the exchange fluid to gain the reactor 3 or to gain the portion 40 of the heat exchange circuit 8 bypassing the reactor 3. When it is not or that little need to heat the fluid flowing in the heat exchange circuit 8, the valve 32 may have a state in which all or part of the exchange fluid avoids the reactor 3, circulating in the portion 40 of the heat exchange circuit 8.

The device which will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 differs from that just described in that the exchange circuit 8 is divided into two sub-circuits 41 and 42, each being traversed by a fluid exchange.

The two sub-circuits 41 and 42 each pass through the same heat exchanger 43.

The first circuit 41 circulates a first exchange fluid between the exchanger 43 and the engine 7 while the second circuit 42 circulates a second exchange fluid between the exchanger 43 and the reactor 1. A transfer of heat between the second exchange fluid and the first exchange fluid takes place in the heat exchanger 43.

In the example under consideration, the first exchange fluid is engine coolant, for example glycol water, and the second exchange fluid is a synthetic oil, for example of the Jarytherm ^R type marketed by the company. Total ^R. This oil in fact withstands the high temperatures that can be reached in the reactor 3 when the exhaust gas flows through it.

Still in the example considered, the second sub-circuit 42 comprises a pump 45 promoting the circulation of the second exchange fluid, so as to prevent the second exchange fluid from stagnating in the reactor, which could lead to a local blistering of this second exchange fluid.

An example of a cycle of use of the device 2 which has just been described with reference to any one of FIGS. 1 to 6 will now be described, this cycle comprising, according to this example, an exothermic reaction step between the zeolite and the water, a regeneration step of the zeolite and water and a resting step.

When it is desired to react together the zeolite and water, the valve 12 is brought into a state in which only the transfer of the liquid water contained in the reservoir 13 to the reactor 3 is possible. During this step, the state of the valve 32 can be controlled to allow the passage of a predefined quantity of exchange fluid, or second exchange fluid if appropriate, in the reactor 3.

The valve 36 can be:

closed, in which case the exhaust gases present in the exhaust line pass through the reactor. This can reduce the duration of the next step of zeolite regeneration since the temperature rises faster in the reactor 3 and therefore less water will be adsorbed by the zeolite. Thus, there will be less water to desorb at the next regeneration step which will then be shorter.

open, to reduce the losses, in which case the exhaust gases present in the exhaust line are shared between the portions 33 and 34.

During this step, the water passes by gravity from the tank 13 into the reactor 3 where it is adsorbed by the anhydrous zeolite. Due to the specific capacity of the zeolite (of the order of 300 kWh per kg of zeolite), a strongly exothermic reaction occurs in the reactor 3. This step can last about 2 minutes and a power of about 15 kW can be released by the reaction during this time.

During this step, the condenser 14 can see its pressure decrease while the water leaving the condenser via the pipe 19 may have a low temperature, for example of the order of -7 ° C, 0 ° C or 20 ° C, according to the outside temperature. Still during this step, the temperature in the reactor 3 may be of the order of 150 ° C while the pressure in the reactor 3 increases as the reaction. The fluid leaving the portion of the exchange circuit 8 can have a temperature of about 110 ° C while its inlet temperature of this portion can be -7 ° C, 0 ° C or 20 ° C.

The exchange fluid at the outlet of the reactor 3, where appropriate the second exchange fluid, then travels through the exchange circuit 8 to the engine 7, where appropriate, transfers its heat to the first exchange fluid flowing through. 7. The heat is then transmitted to the engine 7 which is thus heated.

At the end of this step, all the water initially contained in the reservoir 13 may have been adsorbed by the zeolite.

When it is desired to regenerate the zeolite and water, the valves 12, 32 and 36 of the device 2 can be controlled as follows. The valve 12 has a state allowing the communication between the reactor 3 and the pipe 17 connected to the condenser 14 and the absence of communication between the reactor 3 and the pipe 19 connected to the tank 13. The valve 32 may have a state preventing the crossing by the exchange fluid of the reactor 3. If necessary, this fluid is discharged through the emptying system. If necessary, the valve 32 can allow the circulation of exchange fluid in the portion 40 bypassing the reactor 3 during regeneration. The valve 36 can be closed, so that the exhaust gases run exclusively through the portion 33 in the reactor 3. In a variant, the valve 36 can be opened in order to avoid generating a too high temperature in the reactor 3.

During this step, the exhaust gases increase the temperature in the reactor 3. The pressure increases and the water is desorbed from the pores of the zeolite in which it was following the previous step. The desorbed water in the vapor state can then gain the pipe 17 in which it rises to the condenser 14 in which it condenses and then flows into the reservoir 13 in which it accumulates. This regeneration step can take about 20 minutes. The condensation of the water generates heat that can be used to heat the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1.

During this regeneration step, the desorbed water may have a temperature of about 110 ° C., the temperature of the water condensed in the condenser may be 40 ° C., the total pressure in the condenser 14 may be around 70 mbar, the partial pressure in water can be about 70 mbar, the temperature in the reactor 3 can be about 250 ° C, the total pressure in the reactor 3 can be about 70 mbar and the partial pressure in water can be about 70 mbar.

In first variant, during this regeneration step, the desorbed water may have a temperature of about 110 ° C., the temperature of the water condensed in the condenser 14 may be 20 ° C., the total pressure in the condenser 14 is about 30 mbar, the partial water pressure can be about 30 mbar, the temperature in the reactor 3 can be about 250 ° C, the total pressure in the reactor 3 can be about 30 mbar and the partial pressure in water can be about 30 mbar.

In the second variant, during this regeneration step, the desorbed water may have a temperature of about 110 ° C., the temperature of the water condensed in the condenser 14 may be 10 ° C., the total pressure in the condenser 14 is about 10 mbar, the partial water pressure can be about 10 mbar, the temperature in the reactor 3 can be about 250 ° C, the total pressure in the reactor 3 can be about 10 mbar and the partial pressure in water can be about 10 mbar.

At the end of this regeneration step, the device 2 is at rest. At rest, the valves 12, 32 and 36 of the device may have the following state.

The valve 12 prevents any communication between the reaction fluid supply circuit 5 and the reactor 3. The valve 32 allows the circulation of the exchange fluid, the case the second exchange fluid, in the reactor 3. The valve 36 is open, allowing all or part of the exhaust gas to bypass the reactor 3.

During this resting step, the temperature of the water in the condenser can drop to about 20 ° C., the total pressure in the condenser 14 and the partial pressure of water in the condenser can be reduced to 20 mbar, the temperature in the reactor 3 may be about 20 ° C, the total pressure in the reactor 3 and the partial pressure of water in the reactor may be less than 0.1 mbar.

According to the first variant above, during this resting step, the water temperature in the condenser may drop to about 0 ° C, the total pressure in the condenser 14 and the partial pressure of water in the condenser may drop at 8 mbar, the temperature in the reactor 3 may be about 0 ° C, the total pressure in the reactor 3 and the partial pressure of water in the reactor may be less than 0.1 mbar.

According to the second variant above, during this resting step, the temperature of the water in the condenser can drop to about -7 ° C., the total pressure in the condenser 14 and the partial pressure of water in the condenser can down to 2 mbar, the temperature in the reactor 3 may be about -7 ° C, the total pressure in the reactor 3 and the partial pressure of water in the reactor may be less than 0.1 mbar.

The invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described.

Claims

claims

A device (2) for heating the heat engine (7) of a vehicle, comprising:

a reactor (3) in which a reagent capable of causing an exothermic reaction with a reaction fluid is arranged,

a reaction fluid supply circuit (5) for the reactor (3),

a circuit (8) for exchanging heat between the reactor (3) and the engine (7) of the vehicle, this circuit (8) for transferring the heat of the exothermic reaction to the engine (7), and

a circuit (9) for regenerating the reagent,

the heat exchange circuit (8) and the reagent regeneration circuit (9) being separate and each comprising a portion extending into the reactor (3).

2. Device according to claim 1, the reagent being zeolite and the reaction fluid being water.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, the reactant regeneration circuit (9) forming part of the exhaust line of the engine.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the circuit (9) for regenerating the reagent comprising in parallel with the portion (33) extending in the reactor (3) a portion (34) bypassing the reactor ( 3).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the circuit (8) of heat exchange being traversed by a single exchange fluid.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the circuit (8) for heat exchange comprising two sub-circuits (41, 42) separated by a heat exchanger (43), a first exchange fluid flowing in a first sub-circuit (41) between the component (7) and said heat exchanger (43) and a second exchange fluid circulating in a second sub-circuit (42) between the reactor (3) and said heat exchanger ( 43).

7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, the one or one of the exchange fluids being the engine coolant.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, the circuit (5) for supplying reaction fluid is dedicated to the supply of reaction fluid of the reagent in the reactor.

9. A method of heating the heat engine (7) of a vehicle (1) using the device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the reactant is supplied with reaction fluid to the reactor (3) so as to cause an exothermic reaction in the reactor (3), and

the heat released by said reaction is transferred to the heat engine (7) by means of the heat exchange circuit (8).

10. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the reactant is regenerated after the exothermic reaction by circulating regeneration fluid in the regeneration circuit (9), including exhaust gas.

11. The method of claim 9 or 10, being implemented to heat the engine (7) of the vehicle (1), when the latter starts.

12. The method of claim 9 or 10, being implemented to heat the heat engine (7) before it starts.