internal combustion engine

Abstract

Internal combustion engine (10), with a plurality of cylinders (11) forming at least one cylinder group (12), with an exhaust gas purification device (14) and an exhaust gas turbocharger (15), wherein the exhaust gas purification device (14) has a plurality of exhaust gas purification elements (20), each having at least one catalyst element (22) arranged in a canning (21) serving as a pressure vessel, wherein a wall thickness of the respective canning (21) is designed for an exhaust gas pressure of up to 10 bar, wherein the exhaust gas purification device (14) has an exhaust gas manifold (17), an exhaust gas feed pipe (18) and an exhaust gas discharge pipe (19), via which the exhaust gas can be guided in such a way that, starting from an exhaust gas outlet channel (25) of the respective cylinder (11), the exhaust gas can be fed to the exhaust gas manifold (17), and that, depending on a switching state of a switching unit (47), the exhaust gas, in a first switching state, starting from the exhaust gas manifold (17) into the Exhaust gas supply pipe (18),then in the direction of the exhaust gas purification elements (20), then into the exhaust gas discharge pipe (19) and then in the direction of the exhaust gas turbocharger (15) and, in a second switching state, bypassing the exhaust gas purification elements (20), from the exhaust gas manifold (17) directly in the direction of the exhaust gas turbocharger (15), wherein the pipes (17, 18, 19) have a plurality of pipe sections (17a, 18a, 19a) with compensators (26) arranged therebetween for compensating thermal expansions, and wherein compensators (28) cooperate with the exhaust gas purification elements (20) for compensating thermal expansions and for vibration compensation.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an internal combustion engine.

[0002] The present invention relates in particular to the field of so-called large engines or large internal combustion engines, whose cylinders have piston diameters of at least 140 mm, in particular of at least 175 mm. Such large internal combustion engines include, for example, marine engines.

[0003] DE 10 2016 205 327 A1 discloses an internal combustion engine with an exhaust aftertreatment system comprising an exhaust gas charging system. The exhaust aftertreatment system preferably has a high-pressure exhaust gas turbocharger and a low-pressure exhaust gas turbocharger, wherein thermal energy of the exhaust gas can be converted into mechanical energy in the exhaust gas turbochargers in order to compress charge air supplied to the internal combustion engine. The exhaust aftertreatment system further has an SCR exhaust gas purification system configured to purify exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine. The SCR exhaust gas purification system is preferably connected between a high-pressure turbine of the high-pressure exhaust gas turbocharger and a low-pressure turbine of the low-pressure exhaust gas turbocharger. Accordingly, DE 10 2016 205 327 A1 discloses the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] The subsequently published DE 10 2023 103 784 A1 also discloses an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas aftertreatment system having an exhaust gas charging system.

[0005] EP 2 527 611 A1 and JP 2016- 75 279 A disclose further prior art.

[0006] There is a need for an internal combustion engine that enables effective exhaust gas purification with a high conversion rate, a small installation space requirement, low mass and thus low thermal storage capacity and low vibration load in the area of ​​an exhaust gas purification device.

[0007] Based on this, the present invention seeks to create a novel internal combustion engine. This object is achieved by an internal combustion engine according to claim 1.

[0008] The internal combustion engine according to the invention has a plurality of cylinders configured to combust fuel, thereby generating exhaust gas. The cylinders form at least one cylinder group consisting of a plurality of cylinders arranged in series. The internal combustion engine according to the invention has an exhaust gas aftertreatment system comprising an exhaust gas purification device configured to purify the exhaust gas from the cylinders and at least one exhaust gas turbocharger configured to expand the exhaust gas from the cylinders and thereby generate energy.

[0009] The exhaust gas purification device of the internal combustion engine according to the invention has a plurality of exhaust gas purification elements, each of which has at least one catalyst element arranged in a canning serving as a pressure vessel, wherein a wall thickness of the canning is designed for an exhaust gas pressure of up to 4 bar or up to 5 bar or up to 6 bar.

[0010] The exhaust gas purification device of the internal combustion engine according to the invention further comprises an exhaust manifold extending along the at least one cylinder group, an exhaust gas supply pipe extending along the at least one cylinder group, and at least one exhaust gas discharge pipe extending along the at least one cylinder group, via which the exhaust gas can be conducted in such a way that, starting from an exhaust gas outlet channel of the respective cylinder, the exhaust gas of the respective cylinder can be supplied to the exhaust manifold, and that, depending on a switching state of a switching unit, the exhaust gas can be conducted in a first switching state of the switching unit, starting from the exhaust manifold into the exhaust gas supply pipe, via the exhaust gas supply pipe in the direction of the exhaust gas purification elements, after flowing through the exhaust gas purification elements into the exhaust gas discharge pipe, and via the exhaust gas discharge pipe in the direction of the at least one exhaust gas turbocharger,and in a second switching state of the switching unit, bypassing the exhaust gas purification elements, the exhaust manifold can be guided directly in the direction of the at least one exhaust gas turbocharger.

[0011] The exhaust manifold, the exhaust gas supply pipe and the exhaust gas discharge pipe of the exhaust gas purification device of the internal combustion engine according to the invention each have a plurality of pipe sections with compensators arranged between the pipe sections to compensate for thermal expansion.

[0012] Further compensators cooperate with the exhaust gas purification elements of the exhaust gas purification device of the internal combustion engine according to the invention to compensate for thermal expansion and vibration compensation.

[0013] The internal combustion engine according to the invention enables effective exhaust gas purification with a high conversion rate, a low installation space requirement, low mass and thus low thermal storage capacity, and low vibration load in the area of ​​the exhaust gas purification device. The exhaust gas purification elements, which are installed directly adjacent to the cylinders of the internal combustion engine in the area of ​​the exhaust manifold extending along the respective cylinder group, the exhaust gas supply pipe extending along the respective cylinder group, and the exhaust gas discharge pipe extending along the respective cylinder group, are traversed by the exhaust gas at a high temperature and pressure level upstream of at least one exhaust gas turbocharger, at a nearly constant flow rate with virtually no pressure pulsation.The cannings of the exhaust gas purification elements, which are designed for an exhaust gas pressure of up to 4 bar, up to 5 bar, up to 6 bar, or up to 10 bar, act directly as pressure vessels and eliminate the need for separate pressure vessels to accommodate the exhaust gas purification elements. This is important for reducing the mass and thus the thermal storage capacity in the area of ​​the exhaust gas purification system in order to ensure favorable transient operating behavior of the internal combustion engine. Thermal expansion and mechanical vibrations in the area of ​​the exhaust gas purification system can be compensated for via the compensators. Ultimately, the combination of the above features enables effective exhaust gas purification with a high conversion rate, low installation space requirements, low mass and thus low thermal storage capacity, and low vibration load in the area of ​​an exhaust gas purification system.

[0014] Preferably, exhaust gas flows through the exhaust gas purification elements, namely the catalyst elements thereof, in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the exhaust manifold, the exhaust gas supply pipe, and the exhaust gas discharge pipe. This allows the exhaust gas purification elements to be arranged between the exhaust gas supply pipe and the exhaust gas discharge pipe with minimal installation space requirements. Furthermore, this allows flow through the catalyst elements at high temperature and pressure levels, as well as at a nearly constant flow velocity and virtually without pressure pulsation. These features also serve to provide effective exhaust gas purification with a high conversion rate, minimal installation space requirements, low mass, and low vibration load in the area of ​​the exhaust gas purification device.

[0015] The wall thickness of the cannings is preferably between 1.5 mm and 6 mm, more preferably between 1.5 mm and 5 mm or between 1.5 mm and 4 mm or between 1.5 mm and 3 mm or between 1.5 mm and 2 mm or between 2 mm and 5 mm or between 2 mm and 4 mm or between 2 mm and 3 mm or between 3 mm and 5 mm or between 3 mm and 4 mm. These wall thicknesses of the cannings are preferred so that the cannings can serve directly as pressure vessels at an exhaust gas pressure of up to 4 bar or up to 5 bar or up to 6 bar or up to 10 bar, thus eliminating the need for separate pressure vessels. This is particularly advantageous for keeping the installation space required, mass and thermal storage capacity in the area of ​​the exhaust gas purification device to a minimum, thus enabling effective exhaust gas purification and good transient operating behavior.

[0016] Preferably, several, preferably two or three, exhaust gas purification elements are arranged in series one behind the other, and along the at least one cylinder group, several such series arrangements of exhaust gas purification elements are arranged parallel to one another between the exhaust gas supply pipe and the exhaust gas discharge pipe. Baffles are arranged upstream or downstream of the exhaust gas purification elements to even out the exhaust gas flow over the exhaust gas purification elements along the at least one cylinder group. This also serves to ensure effective exhaust gas purification with minimal installation space requirements.

[0017] Preferred developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail, without being limited thereto, with reference to the drawings. Herein: Fig. 1: a front view of a section of an internal combustion engine in R-design in the area of ​​an exhaust gas purification device of the internal combustion engine; Fig. 2 a partial top view in direction II of the internal combustion engine of the Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a front view of a section of a V-shaped internal combustion engine in the area of ​​an exhaust gas purification device of the internal combustion engine; Fig. 4 a partial top view in direction IV of the internal combustion engine of the Fig. 2; Fig. 5 a side view of the exhaust gas purification device of the internal combustion engine of Fig. 3, Fig. 4; Fig. 6 a detail of the exhaust gas purification system of the internal combustion engines of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 with several variants; Fig. 7 another variant for Fig. 6; Fig. 8 another variant for Fig. 6; Fig. 9 a detail of the Fig. 6 in cutting direction IX-IX; Fig. 10 an alternative to the detail of the Fig. 9; Fig. 11 an alternative to the detail of the Fig. 6 with several variants; Fig. 12 another variant for Fig. 11.

[0018] Fig. 1, Fig. 2 show different views of an embodiment of an internal combustion engine 10 according to the invention, which has a plurality of cylinders 11 arranged in a row next to one another and forming a single cylinder group 12. The internal combustion engine 10 of the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 is an internal combustion engine in R-design.

[0019] It should be noted at this point that the cylinders 11 of the internal combustion engine 10 can also be arranged to form two cylinder groups 12, each consisting of several cylinders 11 positioned in series. In this case, the cylinders 11 of the two cylinder groups 12 are aligned in a V-arrangement with respect to one another. Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 shows details of a V-shaped internal combustion engine 10 according to the invention. The number of cylinders 11 and the number of cylinder groups 12 can be arbitrary.

[0020] The internal combustion engine 10 has an exhaust gas aftertreatment system 13, wherein the exhaust gas aftertreatment system 13 has an exhaust gas purification device 14 and furthermore at least one exhaust gas turbocharger 15. The at least one exhaust gas turbocharger 15 is configured to expand the exhaust gas from the cylinders 11, which has been purified in the exhaust gas purification device 14, in order to recover mechanical energy and use it to compress charge air supplied to the cylinders 11. The respective exhaust gas turbocharger 15 has a turbine 16 for expanding the purified exhaust gas and a compressor (not shown) for compressing the charge air. A silencer (not shown) can be positioned upstream of the compressor.

[0021] The exhaust gas purification device 13 of the internal combustion engine 10 has an exhaust manifold 17 extending along the at least one cylinder group 12, an exhaust gas supply pipe 18 extending along the at least one cylinder group 12 parallel to the exhaust manifold 17, and an exhaust gas discharge pipe 19 also extending along the at least one cylinder group 10 parallel to the exhaust manifold 12. Furthermore, the exhaust gas purification device 13 has a plurality of exhaust gas purification elements 20, each of which has at least one catalyst element 22 arranged in a canning 21.In the exemplary embodiment shown, row arrangements 23 comprising a plurality of exhaust gas purification elements 20 arranged one behind the other in series are arranged at a plurality of positions along the at least one cylinder group 12 between the exhaust gas supply pipe 18 and the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19, wherein the row arrangements 23 comprising the exhaust gas purification elements 20 arranged one behind the other in series are connected parallel to one another between the exhaust gas supply pipe 18 and the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19.

[0022] In the example of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the exhaust gas supply pipe 18 is connected to each of the series arrangements 23 comprising a plurality of exhaust gas purification elements 20 via a connecting elbow or overflow channel 24, so that the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas supply pipe 18 can be supplied to the exhaust gas purification elements 20, namely the series arrangements 23 each comprising a plurality of exhaust gas purification elements 20 connected in parallel. Furthermore, each of the series arrangements 23 comprising a plurality of exhaust gas purification elements 20 is connected to the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19 via a connecting elbow or overflow channel 24, so that the exhaust gas from the series arrangements 23 comprising a plurality of exhaust gas purification elements 20 can flow into the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19.

[0023] The exhaust gas flow through the exhaust manifold 17, the exhaust gas supply pipe 18 and the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19 is such that the exhaust gas of the respective cylinder 11 initially flows from an exhaust gas outlet channel 25 of the respective cylinder 11 into the exhaust manifold 17. The exhaust gas can be supplied in a first switching state to a switching unit 47, which for the embodiment of the Fig. 1 to 5 in Fig. 5, flow from the exhaust manifold 17 into the exhaust gas supply pipe 18, in order to flow via the exhaust gas supply pipe 18 and into Fig. 1, Fig. 2 the overflow channels 24 in the direction of the exhaust gas purification elements 20 of the series arrangements 23. After flowing through the exhaust gas purification elements 20 of the series arrangements 23, the exhaust gas can be directed into the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19 in order to flow via the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19 in the direction of the at least one exhaust gas turbocharger 15, namely the turbine 16 thereof. In a second switching state of the switching unit 47, the exhaust gas can be directed from the exhaust manifold 17 directly in the direction of the at least one exhaust gas turbocharger 15, bypassing the exhaust gas purification elements 23.

[0024] The exhaust manifold 17, the exhaust gas supply pipe 18, the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19 and the exhaust gas purification elements 20 are therefore installed in the immediate vicinity of the cylinders 11 on the internal combustion engine 10.

[0025] As already explained, the exhaust gas purification elements 20, which in the exemplary embodiment shown are grouped in series arrangements 23 connected in parallel to one another, each comprising a plurality of exhaust gas purification elements 20 connected in series, each have a canning 21 which, according to the invention, is designed for an exhaust gas pressure of up to 4 bar or up to 5 bar or up to 6 bar or up to 10 bar, so that the respective canning 21 acts directly as a pressure vessel for the exhaust gas purification elements 20, so that separate pressure vessels can be dispensed with.For this purpose, the cannings 21 preferably have a wall thickness of between 1.5 mm and 6 mm or between 1.5 mm and 5 mm or between 1.5 mm and 4 mm or between 1.5 mm and 3 mm or between 1.5 mm and 2 mm or between 2 mm and 6 mm or between 2 mm and 5 mm or between 2 mm and 4 mm or between 2 mm and 3 mm or between 3 mm and 6 mm or between 3 mm and 5 mm or between 3 mm and 4 mm or between 4 mm and 5 mm. This makes it possible to dispense with separate pressure vessels, which require a lot of installation space and are also heavy and therefore have a high thermal storage capacity. This can be used to improve, in particular, the transient operating behavior of the internal combustion engine when transferring it between different operating states and exhaust gas purification during transient operating behavior.

[0026] The exhaust manifold 17, the exhaust supply pipe 18, and the exhaust discharge pipe 19 each have a plurality of pipe sections 17a, 18a, and 19a, respectively, between which compensators 26 are arranged to compensate for thermal expansion. Compensators 27 are also arranged between the exhaust outlet duct 25 of the respective cylinder 11 and the exhaust manifold 17 to compensate for thermal expansion. At least one compensator 28 is also used in the area of ​​the series arrangements 23 of series-connected exhaust gas purification elements 20. Fig. 6, which shows several different design variants in one illustration, a compensator 28 is arranged at each end of the exhaust gas purification elements 20 arranged in series. This compensator serves to compensate for thermal expansion and mechanical vibrations. A compensator 28 can also be present at only one end of such a series arrangement 23, namely either at the flow inlet end or at the flow outlet end of the respective series arrangement 23.

[0027] According to Fig. 6, the exhaust gas purification elements 20 of a series arrangement 23 are surrounded by a thermal insulation 29. This thermal insulation 29 can, as Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, be formed by half-shells 29a, which interlock at their adjacent ends and in Fig. 9 are connected to each other via a tension lock 30.

[0028] In the upper half of the Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the compensators 28 in which they are formed as an integral part of the canning 20. The compensators 28 of the upper half of the Fig. 6 are therefore designed as a one-piece extension of the respective canning 21 and engage via a flange connection 31 on an adjoining exhaust gas-carrying assembly. This adjoining exhaust gas-carrying assembly can be a section of the overflow channels 24. In the upper half of the Fig. 6, a flange 32 of the respective compensator 28 abuts a flange 33 of the overflow channel 24, these flanges 32, 33 according to Fig. 6 are connected via a V-shaped or U-shaped band clamp 34.

[0029] In the lower half of the Fig. 6, a compensator 28 is shown on the left side, which is designed as a separate assembly and is connected via a flange connection 31, on the one hand, between the compensator 28 and the canning 21 of the adjacent exhaust gas purification element 20, and on the other hand, between the compensator 28 and the adjacent section of the overflow channel 24. Such a separate compensator 28 can be reused when exhaust gas purification elements 20 need to be replaced.

[0030] On the right side of the lower half of the Fig. 6 shows that at one end of the series arrangement 23 of the exhaust gas purification elements 20 connected in series, a compensator 28 is omitted, wherein a flange connection 31 is then formed directly between the canning 21 of the respective exhaust gas purification element 20 and the adjacent section of the overflow channel 24.

[0031] In Fig. 6, no further compensator 28 is arranged between the cannings 21 of the series-connected exhaust gas purification elements 20. Rather, the cannings 21 of the series-connected exhaust gas purification elements 20 directly abut one another and are in Fig. 6 are directly connected to each other via a roll weld seam 35. Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 show alternatives to the roll weld seam 35 of the Fig. 6, in order to connect the cannings 21 of exhaust gas purification elements 20 connected in series and directly adjacent to one another. Fig. 7 outwardly bent sections of the cannings 21 are arranged between clamping jaws 36, which can be pressed together via a screw connection in order to ultimately connect the cannings 21 of the directly adjacent exhaust gas purification elements 20. In Fig. 8, adjacent ends of the cannings 21 are inserted into one another in sections, so that one of the cannings 21 is widened at its end relative to the adjacent canning 21 in order to insert the adjacent ends of the cannings 21 into one another and then to connect them to one another preferably via a weld seam 37.

[0032] Fig. 6 further shows that orifices 38 can be arranged upstream and / or downstream of the series arrangements 23 of series-connected exhaust gas purification elements 20 in order to adjust the flow cross-section through the series arrangements 23 of exhaust gas purification elements 20. Thus, along the longitudinal extent of a cylinder group 12 of cylinders 11 arranged in series, along which several series arrangements 28 are connected in parallel, the exhaust gas flow can be evened out via the parallel series arrangements 23 in order to make the exhaust gas purification even more efficient.

[0033] While Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shows an internal combustion engine 10 in R-construction, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 Details of an internal combustion engine 10 in V-construction. With regard to the details essential to the invention, the internal combustion engine of the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 with the internal combustion engine of the Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, so that the same reference numbers are used for the same assemblies to avoid unnecessary repetition.

[0034] Also in the embodiment of the Fig. 3 to 5, the exhaust manifold 12, the exhaust gas supply pipe 18 and the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19, which are each composed of several pipe segments 17a, 18a and 19a with compensators 26 arranged between the pipe segments, extend along the cylinder groups 12, i.e. in the immediate vicinity of the cylinder groups 12, wherein the exhaust gas purification elements 20, which in turn form series arrangements 23, and wherein several such series arrangements 23 are connected in parallel along the longitudinal extent of the pipes 17, 18 and 19. The series arrangement 23 of the Fig. 6 can be used in both the internal combustion engine and Fig. 1, Fig. 2 as well as the internal combustion engine of the Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 can be used.

[0035] The examples of the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 to 5 differ essentially only in the relative position of the tubes 17, 18 and 19 to each other. While in the embodiment of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the exhaust manifold 17 and the exhaust gas supply pipe 18 are arranged parallel to each other one above the other and the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19 is positioned parallel to the same laterally offset, in the embodiment of the Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 all three pipes, i.e. the exhaust manifold 17, the exhaust supply pipe 18 and the exhaust discharge pipe 19, are positioned one above the other running parallel to each other.

[0036] Therefore, in the example embodiment, the Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 the overflow channel 24 starting from the series arrangements 23 of exhaust gas purification elements 20 into the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19 is also curved, whereas in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 this overflow channel 24 runs in a straight line between the row arrangements 23 of exhaust gas purification elements 20 and the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19.

[0037] For the embodiment of the Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 also shows the switching unit 47, which influences the flow through the pipes 17, 18 and 19, i.e. through the exhaust manifold 17, the exhaust gas supply pipe 18 and the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19. This switching unit 47 is in Fig. 5 designed as a pivoting flap, which in Fig. 5 is shown in switching states I and II.

[0038] Then, when the switching unit assumes switching state I, the exhaust gas flows from the exhaust manifold 17 into the exhaust gas supply pipe 18, from there via the exhaust gas purification elements 20 of the series arrangements 23 and then into the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19, in order to flow from the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19 in the direction of the turbocharger 15. However, if Fig. 5 the switching unit 47 switches to state II, exhaust gas flows from the exhaust manifold 17 directly towards the exhaust turbocharger 15.

[0039] Fig. 11, Fig. 12 show modifications of series arrangements 23 of exhaust gas purification elements 20 arranged in series, wherein in Fig. 11, Fig. 12 the insulation 29, which is located in Fig. 6 radially outwardly connects to the series-connected exhaust gas purification elements 20, is not shown. In Fig. 11 again shows several variants for the connection of the compensation elements 28 to the cannings 21 of immediately adjacent exhaust gas purification elements 20 as well as for the connection of the compensators 28 arranged on different sides of the series arrangements 23.

[0040] In the upper half of the Fig. 11, a compensator 28 is shown on the left side, which is designed as a separate assembly and is pushed onto the canning 21 with a section 28a, wherein a sealing element 39 is arranged between the section 28a of the compensation element 28 pushed onto the canning 21 and the canning 21. In the alternative of Fig. 12, two sealing elements 39 are arranged between the section of the compensator 28 pushed onto the canning and the canning 21.

[0041] In the lower half of the Fig. 11, an element 40 is welded to the section 28a of the compensator 28, which is pushed onto the canning 21 of the adjacent exhaust gas purification element 20, which element rests against a flanged section 21a of the canning 21 of the adjacent exhaust gas purification element 20. Fig. 11 shows a weld seam 41 between the section 28a of the compensator 28 and the welded element 40, which rests on the flanged section 21a of the canning 21.

[0042] On the right side of the Fig. 11, the compensator 28 abuts the canning 21, in the upper right area of ​​the Fig. 11 plan the front side of the canning 21 and in the lower right area of ​​the Fig. 11 on an angled projection 21b of the canning 21.

[0043] The compensators 28 arranged on different sides of the series arrangement 23 can be arranged according to Fig. 11 can be connected to one another either via a tie rod 42 or alternatively via a spring element 43 in order to pull or push the compensators 28 in a gas-tight manner against the cannings 21 of the adjacent exhaust gas purification elements 20.

[0044] Furthermore, Fig.11 shows a variant in which a compensator 28 is attached to a canning 21 of the adjacent exhaust gas purification element 20 via a bayonet connection 44, wherein a pin 45 formed on the canning 21 engages in a corresponding groove 46 of the compensator 28. In this way, the compensator 28 can also be attached in a gas-tight manner to the canning 21 of the corresponding exhaust gas purification element 20.

[0045] In the internal combustion engine 10 according to the invention, which has at least one cylinder group 12 comprising a plurality of cylinders 11 arranged in series, the exhaust manifold 17, the exhaust gas supply pipe 18, and the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19 each extend parallel along the at least one cylinder group 12 directly adjacent to the cylinders 11, wherein a plurality of row arrangements 23 of series-connected exhaust gas purification elements 20 are connected in parallel to one another between the exhaust gas supply pipe 18 and the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19 in the longitudinal direction thereof and thus in the longitudinal direction of the at least one cylinder group 12. The exhaust gas purification elements 20, namely the catalyst elements 22 thereof, have exhaust gas flowing through them in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the exhaust manifold 17, the exhaust gas supply pipe 18, and the exhaust gas discharge pipe 19.

[0046] The cannings 21 of the exhaust gas purification elements 20 serve directly as pressure vessels and are designed for an exhaust gas pressure of up to 4 bar, up to 5 bar, or up to 6 bar, so that separate pressure vessels for accommodating the exhaust gas purification elements 20 are not necessary. This saves installation space and mass, enabling efficient exhaust gas purification. Due to its low mass, the exhaust gas purification device 14 of the internal combustion engine 10 has a low thermal storage capacity, ensuring advantageous transient operating behavior of the internal combustion engine 10. Thermal recesses and mechanical vibrations can be advantageously compensated for via the compensators 26 and 28. List of reference symbols 10 internal combustion engine 11 cylinders 12 cylinder group 13 Exhaust aftertreatment system 14 Exhaust gas purification system 15 exhaust gas turbochargers 16 turbines 17 Exhaust manifold 17a raw section 18 Exhaust gas supply pipe 18a raw section 19 Exhaust pipe 19a raw section 20 exhaust gas purification element 21 Canning Section 21a 21b projection 22 catalyst element 23 row arrangements 24 overflow channel 25 Exhaust outlet duct 26 Compensator 27 Compensator 28 Compensator Section 28a 29 Insulation 29a Half shell 30 tension lock 31 Flange connection 32 flange 33 flange 34 band clamp 35 Roll weld seam 36 clamping jaw 37 Weld seam 38 aperture 39 Sealing element 40 elements 41 Weld seam 42 tie rods 43 Spring element 44 bayonet connection 45 pin 46 grooves 47 Switching unit 48 hose clamp

Claims

[1] Internal combustion engine (10), with a plurality of cylinders (11) which are arranged to burn fuel, producing exhaust gas, the cylinders (11) forming at least one cylinder group (12) comprising a plurality of cylinders (11) arranged in series, with an exhaust gas aftertreatment system (13) which comprises an exhaust gas purification device (14) which is designed to purify the exhaust gas from the cylinders (11), and which comprises at least one exhaust gas turbocharger (15) which is designed to expand the exhaust gas from the cylinders (11) and thereby recover energy, characterized by , that the exhaust gas purification device (14) has a plurality of exhaust gas purification elements (20), each of which has at least one catalyst element (22) arranged in a canning (21) serving as a pressure vessel, wherein a wall thickness of the respective canning (21) is designed for an exhaust gas pressure of up to 4 bar or up to 5 bar or up to 6 bar or up to 10 bar, the exhaust gas purification device (14) has an exhaust gas manifold (17) extending along the at least one cylinder group (12), an exhaust gas supply pipe (18) extending along the at least one cylinder group (12) and an exhaust gas discharge pipe (19) extending along the at least one cylinder group (12), via which the exhaust gas can be conducted in such a way, that starting from an exhaust gas outlet channel (25) of the respective cylinder (11), the exhaust gas from the cylinder can be fed to the exhaust manifold (17), and that depending on a switching state of a switching unit (47) the exhaust gas, in a first switching state of the switching unit (47), can be conducted from the exhaust manifold (17) into the exhaust gas supply pipe (18), via the exhaust gas supply pipe (18) in the direction of the exhaust gas purification elements (20), after flowing through the exhaust gas purification elements (20) into the exhaust gas discharge pipe (19) and via the exhaust gas discharge pipe (19) in the direction of the at least one exhaust gas turbocharger (15), the exhaust gas can be guided in a second switching state of the switching unit (47) directly from the exhaust manifold (17) towards the at least one exhaust gas turbocharger (15), bypassing the exhaust gas purification elements (20), the exhaust manifold (17), the exhaust gas supply pipe (18) and the exhaust gas discharge pipe (19) each have a plurality of pipe sections (17a, 18a, 19a) with compensators (26) arranged between the pipe sections (17a, 18a, 19a) for compensating thermal expansion, Compensators (28) interact with the exhaust gas purification elements (20) to compensate for thermal expansion and vibration compensation. [2] Internal combustion engine (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that the exhaust gas purification elements (20), namely the catalyst elements (22) thereof, are flowed through by exhaust gas in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the exhaust gas manifold (17), the exhaust gas supply pipe (18) and the exhaust gas discharge pipe (19). [3] Internal combustion engine (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the wall thickness of the cannings (21) is between 1.5 mm and 6 mm. [4] Internal combustion engine (10) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by that orifices (38) are arranged upstream or downstream of the exhaust gas purification elements (20) in order to even out the exhaust gas flow via the exhaust gas purification elements (20) along the at least one cylinder group (12). [5] Internal combustion engine (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by in that a plurality of exhaust gas purification elements (20) are connected in series one behind the other and along the at least one cylinder group (12) a plurality of such series arrangements (23) of exhaust gas purification elements (20) are connected parallel to one another between the exhaust gas supply pipe (18) and the exhaust gas discharge pipe (19). [6] Internal combustion engine (10) according to claim 5, characterized by that in the area of ​​each row arrangement (23) of exhaust gas purification elements (20), the cannings (21) of directly adjacent exhaust gas purification elements (20) are connected to one another. [7] Internal combustion engine (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by that in the region of each series arrangement (23) of exhaust gas purification elements (20) upstream and / or downstream of the exhaust gas purification elements (20) a compensator (28) is arranged in each case for compensating for thermal expansion and for vibration compensation. [8] Internal combustion engine (10) according to claim 7, characterized by that the respective compensator (28) for compensating thermal expansion and vibration compensation is an integral part of the respective canning (21). [9] Internal combustion engine (10) according to claim 7, characterized by that the respective compensator (28) for compensating thermal expansion and vibration compensation is designed as a separate assembly which is connected to the canning (21) of the adjacent exhaust gas purification element (20) or to a further compensator (28) of the respective series arrangement (23). [10] Internal combustion engine (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the switching unit (47) has a flap which either releases a direct exhaust gas flow from the exhaust manifold (17) to the exhaust gas turbocharger (15) or blocks a direct exhaust gas flow from the exhaust manifold (17) to the exhaust gas turbocharger (15).

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