Exhaust system

Abstract

An exhaust system, especially of a motor vehicle has at least one heating device positioned in an area in which condensate accumulates, which is arranged within the exhaust system and in which condensate can accumulate depending on operating states and / or environmental parameters. The formation of condensate accumulation is reduced or prevented by the heating device and a condensate accumulation already formed is removed. As a consequence of the corrosive property of the condensate, the service life of the exhaust system is increased by the removal of such condensate accumulations or by preventing such accumulations from forming. At the same time, the freedom of designing the exhaust system concerning the location and position of the individual components is increased.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application DE 10 2010 007 013.0 filed Feb. 5, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention pertains to an exhaust system, especially of a motor vehicle.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Combustion water, which may lead to problems on the components of the exhaust system, for example, during wintertime operation, is formed during the combustion of fuels. Depending on the composition of the fuel, a volume of combustion water may be released by the combustion, which is comparable to the volume of fuel consumed. This combustion water generated is usually blown off as vapor together with the hot exhaust gases via the exhaust system during the normal medium-load operation of the motor vehicle. However, the temperature may drop below the dew point and liquid combustion water may precip...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention is based on the general idea of equipping an exhaust system, especially of a motor vehicle, with a heating means and of positioning at least one heating device of the heating means in an area in which accumulation of condensate is possible, wherein the area in which the accumulation of condensate is possible is arranged within the exhaust system and wherein accumulation of condensate can develop in this area, in which the accumulation of condensate is possible, depending on operating states of the motor vehicle and / or environmental parameters of the exhaust system, wherein the heating device is positioned such that accumulated condensate can be heated and / or evaporated at least by such a heating device. By warming or heating such an area of the exhaust system, in which accumulation of condensate is possible, the vapor pressure ratio between the accumulated condensate and exhaust gas can be shifted in favor of the exhaust gas, so that, on the one hand, less combustion water will separate from the exhaust gas and, on the other hand, condensed water already separated can be returned into the exhaust gas by evaporation. Thus, the formation of condensate can be reduced or prevented and the effect of the condensate on the exhaust system, which is a damaging effect because of corrosion, can be reduced or eliminated by arranging one or more heating devices in the respective critical areas of the exhaust system. This advantageously leads to a prolongation of the service life of the entire exhaust system.

Problems solved by technology

This advantageously leads to a prolongation of the service life of the entire exhaust system.

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