Energy recovery device with a waste heat recovery cycle

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for energy recovery for a motor vehicle.

[0002] A waste heat recovery (WHR) system in a motor vehicle can use combustion exhaust gases as a heat source and convert them into mechanical energy in an expander. A working fluid from the waste heat recovery system can be completely condensed in a subsequent condenser (heat sink). The efficiency of the waste heat recovery system can depend on the temperature potential of the heat sink.

[0003] DE 10 2016 215 836 A1 relates to a device for energy recovery in a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine integrated into a cooling circuit, wherein a first coolant pump and a cooler are arranged in the cooling circuit. The device further comprises a waste heat recovery system with an evaporator, an expander, a condenser, and a pump. The cooling circuit can have a main branch and a secondary branch, wherein the condenser of the waste heat recovery system is integrated into the secondary branch. A latent heat storage device is arranged upstream of the condenser in the cooling circuit.

[0004] AT 507 096 B1 discloses a drive unit with a cooling circuit and a separate heat recovery circuit. A condenser of the heat recovery circuit is integrated into a second partial cooling circuit downstream of a main charge air cooler and a charge air intercooler for cooling purposes.

[0005] WO 2018 / 226141 A1 discloses a cooling system with a first circuit for cooling an internal combustion engine and a second circuit for cooling a condenser in a WHR system. The first cooling circuit comprises a first radiator. The second circuit comprises a second radiator. The second circuit further comprises a second radiator bypass line that carries coolant past the second radiator.

[0006] EP 3 064 733 A1 discloses an engine cooling system with a Rankine cycle, wherein a part of the inlet-side cooling water of a radiator is used as a heating source for a first evaporator and a part of the outlet-side cooling water of a subcooler is used as a cooling source for a first condenser.

[0007] WO 2016 / 089276 A1 discloses a cooling system comprising a first cooling circuit with a first cooler, in which a circulating coolant is cooled to a first temperature. The cooling system further comprises a second cooling circuit with a second cooler, in which a circulating coolant is cooled to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The cooling system further comprises a third cooling circuit with a third cooler, in which the coolant is cooled to a third temperature that is lower than the second temperature.

[0008] WO 2011 / 149409 A1 discloses a radiator assembly for a vehicle powered by a turbocharged internal combustion engine. The vehicle comprises a radiator assembly with a first cooling circuit, having a first radiator configured to cool a circulating coolant. The radiator assembly comprises a second cooling circuit with a second radiator configured to cool a circulating coolant to a lower temperature than the temperature to which the coolant is cooled in the first radiator. The radiator assembly comprises a third cooling circuit with a third radiator configured to cool a circulating coolant to a lower temperature than the temperature to which the coolant is cooled in the second radiator.

[0009] The invention is based on the object of creating an alternative and / or improved device for energy recovery.

[0010] The problem is solved by the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous further developments are specified in the dependent claims and the description.

[0011] One aspect of the present invention relates to an energy recovery device for a motor vehicle. The device comprises a waste heat source and a waste heat utilization circuit, preferably a Clausius-Rankine waste heat utilization circuit, which is designed to convert waste heat from the waste heat source into mechanical work. The device comprises a cooling circuit that has a coolant pump and a first cooler and in which a component to be cooled, preferably a drive device (e.g., internal combustion engine and / or EGR cooler and / or fuel cell and / or traction battery and / or electric motor and / or power electronics), is integrated.The device has a cooling section branch branching off from the cooling circuit, wherein the cooling section branch has a second cooler and directly downstream of the second cooler a heat exchanger which is connected in a heat-transferring manner to a working medium of the waste heat utilization circuit for cooling the working medium.

[0012] The device advantageously enables the efficiency of the waste heat recovery circuit to be increased by significantly reducing the temperature of the heat sink (e.g., condenser) at the heat exchanger. By increasing the efficiency of the waste heat recovery circuit, the overall efficiency of the motor vehicle's powertrain can be increased. The device achieves a particularly low temperature level at the heat sink because it includes a separate second cooler and the heat exchanger is located directly downstream of the second cooler.

[0013] Preferably, no further heat exchanger is arranged downstream of the second cooler and upstream of the heat exchanger in the cooling section branch.

[0014] Preferably, the second cooler and the heat exchanger are the only heat exchangers of the cooling section branch.

[0015] In particular, a partial flow can be diverted from the cooling circuit into the cooling section branch. The diverted partial flow can be cooled in the second cooler. The cooled partial flow can directly cool the working fluid of the waste heat recovery circuit by means of the heat exchanger, preferably to condense the working fluid.

[0016] The second cooler is expediently designed only for cooling, ie not, for example, as a latent heat storage device.

[0017] In one embodiment, the first cooler and / or second cooler is air-cooled, preferably ambient air-cooled, airstream-cooled and / or fan-cooled.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the first cooler and the second cooler are arranged adjacent to one another. This can, for example, enable joint air cooling of the first and second coolers and / or be expedient for space reasons.

[0019] In a further embodiment, the first cooler and the second cooler are hydraulically and / or thermally separated from each other by a partition wall. The partition wall can enable the coolers to be arranged directly adjacent to each other, e.g., in a shared cooling module or a shared cooler box. This can, in turn, enable, for example, shared air cooling of the first and second coolers and / or be expedient for space reasons.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the first cooler and the second cooler are structurally contained in the same cooling module, and / or the first cooler and the second cooler are accommodated in a common cooler box. This allows, for example, short line paths between the first cooler and the second cooler. Furthermore, shared air cooling of the first and second coolers can be enabled, for example, and / or this may be expedient for space reasons.

[0021] In one embodiment, the first cooler is a high-temperature cooler, which is preferably designed (or operated) to cool a coolant from approximately 110°C to approximately 100°C during normal operation.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the second cooler is a low-temperature cooler, which is preferably designed to cool a coolant during normal operation to a temperature range between 5 K and 50 K, preferably up to 25 K, above an ambient temperature of the second cooler (or to be operated in such a way). The second cooler can thus cool the coolant of the partial flow to significantly below a temperature at the outlet of the first cooler, so that the temperature of the heat sink of the waste heat recovery circuit can advantageously be particularly low.

[0023] In one embodiment, the cooling section branch branches off from the cooling circuit (e.g., directly) downstream of the coolant pump and / or (e.g., directly) upstream of the component to be cooled. According to the invention, the cooling section branch branches off from the cooling circuit in a (e.g., shared) cooler box of the first cooler, and preferably of the second cooler.

[0024] In a further embodiment, the cooling section branch has a preferably closable bypass on the first cooler or in a (e.g., shared) cooler box of the first cooler and / or the second cooler. The bypass can preferably connect the first cooler directly to the second cooler. The bypass can, for example, be routed internally or externally of the cooler box.

[0025] In a further embodiment, the cooling section branch opens into the cooling circuit, preferably directly downstream of the first cooler and / or directly upstream of the coolant pump.

[0026] In one embodiment, the cooling section branch and the waste heat utilization circuit are hydraulically separated from each other, and / or the working medium of the waste heat utilization circuit is cooled, for example, indirectly via the heat exchanger by the coolant that has flowed through the first cooler and the second cooler.

[0027] In a further embodiment, the cooling section branch has a flow limiting device for limiting and / or adjusting a partial flow through the cooling section branch.

[0028] In a further development, the flow limiting device comprises an orifice and / or a valve device, preferably comprising a pressure relief valve, a control valve, a regulating valve and / or a shut-off valve.

[0029] In a further development, the flow limiting device is arranged in a line of the cooling section branch, or the flow limiting device is arranged in a (e.g. common) cooler box of the first cooler and / or the second cooler, or the flow limiting device is arranged in a bypass that connects the first cooler (e.g. directly) to the second cooler.

[0030] In one embodiment, the cooling section branch further comprises a further coolant pump, which is preferably controllable independently of the coolant pump of the cooling circuit (e.g., to maintain an equal flow rate of coolant through the cooling section branch).

[0031] In a further embodiment, the waste heat utilization circuit comprises a condenser, a working fluid pump, an evaporator and / or an expansion machine.

[0032] In a further embodiment, the waste heat source is a fuel cell and / or an internal combustion engine.

[0033] A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a motor vehicle, preferably a commercial vehicle (e.g., truck or bus), comprising the energy recovery device as disclosed herein. Preferably, the first radiator and the second radiator can be arranged in a front end of the motor vehicle, and / or the first radiator and the second radiator are arranged adjacent to one another, preferably directly, with respect to a transverse axis of the motor vehicle.

[0034] The integration in the front end and the arrangement next to each other with respect to the transverse axis can be particularly advantageous for reasons of installation space.

[0035] It is also possible to use the device as disclosed herein for passenger cars, large engines, off-road vehicles, stationary equipment or engines, marine engines, etc.

[0036] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a cooling device is disclosed. The device includes a first cooler and a second cooler arranged adjacent to one another.

[0037] The device can be used, for example, for a waste heat recovery system as disclosed herein. However, it is also possible to use the device differently, e.g., for cooling various components of a motor vehicle (e.g., a commercial vehicle), preferably an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a combustion engine vehicle.

[0038] It is possible for the first cooler to be integrated into a first cooling circuit and / or for the second cooler to be integrated into a second cooling circuit. It is also possible for the second cooler to be integrated into a secondary branch of a cooling circuit of the first cooler.

[0039] Preferably, the first cooler and the second cooler can be hydraulically and / or thermally separated from each other by a partition wall.

[0040] Preferably, the first cooler and the second cooler can be structurally included in the same cooling module.

[0041] For example, the first cooler and the second cooler can be accommodated in a common cooler box.

[0042] It is possible that the first cooler and / or second cooler is air-cooled, preferably ambient air-cooled, airstream-cooled and / or fan-cooled.

[0043] Preferably, the first cooler and the second cooler can be operated at different or the same temperature levels.

[0044] For example, the first cooler and / or the second cooler may be a high-temperature, medium-temperature or low-temperature cooler.

[0045] It is possible for a cooling section branch of a cooling circuit in the first cooler or in a cooler box of the first cooler, and preferably of the second cooler, to branch off preferably to the second cooler.

[0046] In a further development, the cooling section branch can have a preferably closable bypass on the first cooler or in a cooler box of the first cooler and / or the second cooler, wherein the bypass preferably connects the first cooler directly to the second cooler.

[0047] It is also possible for the cooling section branch to have a flow limiting device for limiting and / or adjusting a partial flow through the cooling section branch.

[0048] Preferably, the flow limiting device may comprise an orifice and / or a valve device, preferably comprising a pressure relief valve, a control valve, a regulating valve and / or a shut-off valve.

[0049] For example, the flow-limiting device can be arranged in a cooler box of the first cooler and / or the second cooler. Alternatively, the flow-limiting device can be arranged, for example, in a bypass that directly connects the first cooler to the second cooler.

[0050] Preferably, the first radiator and the second radiator can be arranged in a front end of a motor vehicle (e.g. commercial vehicle) and / or arranged next to each other, preferably directly, with respect to a transverse axis of a motor vehicle (e.g. commercial vehicle).

[0051] The above-described preferred embodiments and features of the invention can be combined with one another as desired. Further details and advantages of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Figure 1 is a schematic view of an energy recovery device for a motor vehicle, which represents an example not according to the invention. Figure 2 a schematic front view of a cooler device of the exemplary device according to Figure 1 Figure 3 is a schematic view of an energy recovery device for a motor vehicle, which represents an example not according to the invention. Figure 4 a schematic front view of a cooler device of the exemplary device according to Figure 3 ; Figure 5 is a schematic view of an energy recovery device for a motor vehicle according to the invention and Figure 6 a schematic front view of a cooler device of the exemplary device according to Figure 5 .

[0052] The embodiments shown in the figures correspond at least partially, so that similar or identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals and for their explanation reference is also made to the description of the other embodiments or figures in order to avoid repetition.

[0053] With reference to the Figures 1 and 2 A first embodiment is shown. Figure 1 shows a device 10 for energy recovery for a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle can preferably be a commercial vehicle, in particular a truck or a bus. Figure 2 shows a first cooler 34 and a second cooler 46 of the device 10.

[0054] The device 10 comprises a waste heat recovery circuit 12, a cooling circuit 14, and a cooling section branch 16. The waste heat recovery circuit 12 can preferably be implemented as a Clausius-Rankine waste heat recovery circuit (e.g., as a clockwise wet steam cycle), as described herein. However, it is also possible for the waste heat recovery circuit 12 to be configured in a different way, for example, as a Joule-Brayton waste heat recovery circuit.

[0055] The waste heat recovery circuit 12 is designed to convert waste heat from a waste heat source 28 into mechanical work. A working fluid pump 20, an evaporator 22, an expansion machine 24, and a condenser 26 are arranged in the waste heat recovery circuit 12. A working fluid circulates in the waste heat recovery circuit 12. The working fluid flows successively through the working fluid pump 20, the evaporator 22, the expansion machine 24, and the condenser 26.

[0056] The working medium pump 20 conveys the working medium of the waste heat utilization circuit 12 through the waste heat utilization circuit 12. Preferably, the working medium pump 20 is arranged directly downstream of the condenser 26 and / or directly upstream of the evaporator 22.

[0057] The evaporator 22 evaporates the working fluid. The evaporator 22 is thermally connected to a waste heat source 28 for transferring the waste heat from the waste heat source 28 to the working fluid. The waste heat source 28 can be, for example, an exhaust gas waste heat source, for example, a combustion exhaust gas waste heat source or a fuel cell exhaust gas waste heat source. Preferably, the evaporator 22 is arranged directly downstream of the working fluid pump 20 and / or directly upstream of the expansion machine 24.

[0058] In the expansion machine 24, the evaporated working fluid is expanded. The expanding working fluid drives the expansion machine 24 to output mechanical work. For example, the working fluid can be expanded to drive a turbine wheel or a piston of the expansion machine 24. The mechanical work output by the expansion machine 24 can be used, for example, to drive a drive train of the motor vehicle and / or converted into electrical energy by a generator (not shown). The expansion machine 24 is preferably arranged directly downstream of the evaporator 22 and / or directly upstream of the condenser 26.

[0059] The condenser 26 essentially completely condenses the working fluid. The working fluid can thus be sucked in again by the working fluid pump 20 and conveyed to the evaporator 22. Preferably, the condenser 26 is arranged directly downstream of the expansion machine 24 and / or directly upstream of the working fluid pump 20.

[0060] The cooling circuit 14 has a coolant pump 30, a thermostat 32, and a first cooler 34. Furthermore, at least one component 36, 38 to be cooled is integrated into the cooling circuit 14. The component 36 to be cooled can be, for example, an internal combustion engine (for example, with a cylinder head and engine block). The component 38 to be cooled can be, for example, an exhaust gas cooler of an exhaust gas recirculation line (EGR line). However, it is also possible for the at least one component 36, 38 to be cooled to be designed differently, for example, as a fuel cell.

[0061] The coolant pump 30 pumps a coolant through the cooling circuit 14. The coolant pump 30 is preferably arranged directly upstream of the component 36 to be cooled.

[0062] The thermostat 32 is arranged, preferably directly, downstream of the components 36, 38 to be cooled. The thermostat 32 can direct the coolant to the first cooler 34 or to the coolant pump 30 depending on the temperature of the coolant. If the temperature of the coolant falls below a predetermined temperature, for example, the coolant is directed from the thermostat 32 to the coolant pump 30. This can be advantageous, for example, during a cold start of the component 36 embodied as an internal combustion engine. If the temperature of the coolant exceeds a predetermined temperature, for example, the coolant is directed from the thermostat 32 to the first cooler 34. This can be advantageous, for example, during normal operation of the component 36 embodied as an internal combustion engine.

[0063] In the first cooler 34, the coolant from the thermostat 32 is cooled. Preferably, the first cooler 34 is a high-temperature cooler. During normal operation, the high-temperature cooler cools the coolant, for example, from approximately 110°C to approximately 100°C. The temperature range in which the high-temperature cooler operates may depend on the design of the components 36, 38 to be cooled.

[0064] The first radiator 34 can be arranged in the front of the motor vehicle. The first radiator 34 can be cooled by the wind while the motor vehicle is moving. It is also possible to provide an additional, preferably electric, fan (not shown) for cooling the first radiator 34.

[0065] The first radiator 34 can be accommodated in a radiator box 40 or carried by a radiator box 40. The radiator box 40 can be carried on a body and / or a frame of the motor vehicle. The radiator box 40 can have a first coolant inlet 42 that is connected to a coolant inlet of the first radiator 34. The radiator box 40 can have a first coolant outlet 44 that is connected to a coolant outlet of the first radiator 40. The radiator box 40 can be designed in one piece or in multiple pieces. The radiator box 40 can surround the first radiator 34 in a frame-like manner.

[0066] The cooling section branch 16 has a second cooler 46 and a heat exchanger 48. The cooling section branch 16 branches off from the cooling circuit 14 and flows into the cooling circuit 14.

[0067] The cooling section branch 16 serves to branch off a partial flow from the cooling circuit 14. At the end of the cooling section branch 16, the partial flow is fed back into the cooling circuit 14. The partial flow is preferably branched off at a point upstream of the components 36, 38 to be cooled, e.g., directly downstream of the coolant pump 30 and directly upstream of the component 36 to be cooled. The partial flow has thus already been cooled by the first cooler 34. The partial flow is preferably branched off at a point located, preferably directly, downstream of the coolant pump 30. A pressure at the inlet of the second cooler 46 can thus be close to a maximum pressure of the coolant in the device 10.

[0068] The branched partial flow is cooled in the second cooler 46. The second cooler 46 is preferably a low-temperature cooler. During normal operation, the low-temperature cooler cools the partial flow of coolant, for example, to a temperature range between 5 K and 50 K, preferably to 25 K, above the ambient temperature of the motor vehicle or the second cooler 46. The partial flow can thus be cooled to a temperature significantly below the coolant temperature at the outlet of the first cooler 34.

[0069] The second radiator 46 can be arranged in the front of the motor vehicle. The second radiator 46 can be cooled by the wind while the motor vehicle is moving. It is also possible to provide an additional, preferably electric, fan (not shown) for cooling the second radiator 46.

[0070] The first cooler 34 and the second cooler 36 can be structurally included in the same cooling module or the same cooling device. The first cooler 34 and the second cooler 46 can expediently be separate passages in the cooling module, each having different inlets and outlets. The second cooler 46 can be housed or supported in the same cooler box 40 as the first cooler 34. The cooler box 40 can frame the first cooler 34 and the second cooler 46. The cooler box 40 can have a second coolant inlet 50 connected to a coolant inlet of the second cooler 46. The cooler box 40 can have a second coolant outlet 52 connected to a coolant outlet of the second cooler 46.

[0071] The first radiator 34 and the second radiator 46 can be arranged directly next to one another or adjacent to one another. The first radiator 34 and the second radiator 46 can be arranged next to one another with respect to a transverse axis of the motor vehicle. A partition wall 54 can separate the first radiator 34 and the second radiator 46 from one another, preferably hydraulically and / or thermally. The partition wall 54 can be oriented vertically. The first radiator 34 and the second radiator 46 can, for example, be of the same height and / or different widths. Preferably, the first radiator 34 can be wider than the second radiator 46.

[0072] The coolant partial flow cooled by the second cooler 46 is directed directly to the heat exchanger 48. The partial flow cooled by the second cooler 46 is thus not heated by another heat exchanger or the like before reaching the heat exchanger 48. The cooled partial flow reaches the heat exchanger 48 at a temperature level that the cooled partial flow essentially already had upon leaving the second cooler 46.

[0073] The heat exchanger 48 is thermally coupled to the (indirect) condenser 26. The heat exchanger 48 is hydraulically decoupled from the condenser 26. The heat exchanger 48 cools the condenser 26 and transfers the waste heat from the working fluid of the waste heat recovery circuit 12 condensing in the condenser 26 to the coolant partial flow. The heat exchanger 48 and the condenser 26 preferably form a structural unit.

[0074] After flowing through the heat exchanger 48, the coolant partial flow is fed back to the cooling circuit 14, e.g. directly upstream of the coolant pump 30, and mixed with the coolant main flow.

[0075] It is possible for the cooling section branch 16 to have a flow limiting device 56. The flow limiting device 56 can limit a volume flow or

[0076] Limit, preferably adjust, the mass flow of the coolant partial flow through the cooling section branch 16. The flow-limiting device 56 can, for example, comprise an orifice plate and / or a valve device. The valve device (e.g., in the form of a flap valve) can comprise a pressure-limiting valve, a control valve, a regulating valve, and / or a shut-off valve. The flow-limiting device 56 can be arranged in a line of the cooling section branch 16. However, it is also possible to integrate the flow-limiting device 56, for example, into the cooler box 40.

[0077] The Figures 3 and 4 show a modified embodiment with a modified cooling section branch 16'.

[0078] The cooling section branch 16' branches off from the cooling circuit 14 in the cooler box 40. For this purpose, the cooler box 40 can have a bypass 58. The bypass 58 can run internally or externally from the cooler box 40. The bypass 58 can have the flow-limiting device 56. The bypass 58 can connect a channel section of the cooler box 40 upstream or preferably downstream of the first cooler 34 to the second coolant inlet 50, which leads to the second cooler 46.

[0079] It is also possible for the bypass 58 to directly connect, for example, the first cooler 34 and the second cooler 46 to one another, ie to branch off, for example, from a section of the first cooler 34 which may be located downstream of an inlet-side region of the cooler box 40 and upstream of an outlet-side region of the cooler box 40.

[0080] The Figures 5 and 6 show a version with a modified cooling section branch 16".

[0081] The cooling section branch 16" has a further coolant pump 60. The further coolant pump 60 enables the partial flow guided through the cooling section branch 16" to be adjusted by the further coolant pump 60 independently of the speed of the coolant pump 30. The further coolant pump 60 can preferably keep the partial coolant flow through the cooling section branch 16" constant independently of the speed of the coolant pump 30. The further coolant pump 60 can also be used, for example, as a booster coolant pump. The further coolant pump 60 is preferably electrically driven. The further coolant pump 60 is arranged downstream of the branch point from the cooling circuit 14 and upstream of the second cooler 46.

[0082] It is also possible to use the additional coolant pump 60 in the design variant according to the Figures 3 and 4to be integrated, e.g. downstream of the second cooler 46 and / or upstream of the heat exchanger 48.

[0083] It is explicitly pointed out that the cooling devices installed in the Figures 2 , 4 and 6 shown herein independently of the energy recovery devices according to the Figures 1 , 3 and 5 This means that the cooling devices can also be used in other cooling circuits for cooling alternative or additional components. For example, the first cooler could be used to cool a traction battery, and the second cooler could be used to cool another component of a motor vehicle (e.g., air conditioning circuit, drive unit and / or power electronics, etc.).

[0084] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, a multitude of variants and modifications are possible, which also make use of the inventive concept and therefore fall within the scope of protection. In particular, the invention also claims protection for the subject matter and features of the subclaims, independently of the referenced claims. In particular, the individual features of independent claim 1 are each disclosed independently of one another. In addition, the features of the subclaims are also disclosed independently of all features of independent claim 1 and, for example, independently of the features relating to the presence and / or configuration of the waste heat source, the waste heat utilization circuit, the cooling circuit, and / or the cooling section branch of independent claim 1.All ranges stated herein are to be understood as being disclosed in such a way that all values ​​falling within the respective range are disclosed individually, e.g., also as preferred narrower outer limits of the respective range. List of reference symbols

[0085] 10Energy recovery device 12Waste heat recovery circuit 14Cooling circuit 16Cooling section branch 20Working fluid pump 22Evaporator 24Expander 26Condenser 28Waste heat source 30Coolant pump 32Thermostat 34First cooler 36Component to be cooled 38Component to be cooled 40Cooler box 42First coolant inlet 44First coolant outlet 46Second cooler 48Heat exchanger 50Second coolant inlet 52Second coolant outlet 54Partition wall 56Flow limiting device 58Bypass 60Additional coolant pump

Claims

1. An energy recovery device (10) for a motor vehicle comprising: a waste heat source (28); a waste heat utilization circuit (12), preferably a Clausius Rankine waste heat utilization circuit, wherein the waste heat utilization circuit (12) is configured to convert waste heat from the waste heat source (28) to mechanical energy; a cooling circuit (14) which comprises a coolant pump (30) and a first cooler (34) and in which a component (36) to be cooled, preferably a drive device, is integrated; and a cooling section branch (16) which branches off from the cooling circuit (14), the cooling section branch (16) comprising a second cooler (46) and, directly downstream of the second cooler (46), a heat exchanger (48) which is connected in a heat-transferring manner to a working medium of the waste heat utilization circuit (12) for cooling the working medium, characterized in that the cooling section branch (16) branches off from the cooling circuit (14) directly downstream of the coolant pump (30) and directly upstream of the component (36) to be cooled, wherein the cooling section branch (16) further comprises a further coolant pump (60) wherein the further coolant pump (60) is located downstream of the branching point from the cooling circuit (14) and upstream of the second cooler (46).

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein: the first cooler (34) and / or second cooler (46) is air-cooled, preferably ambient air-cooled, airstream-cooled and / or fan-cooled.

3. The device (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: the first cooler (34) and the second cooler (46) are arranged adjacent to each other; and / or the first cooler (34) and the second cooler (46) are hydraulically and / or thermally separated from one another by a partition wall (54); and / or the first cooler (34) and the second cooler (46) are accommodated in a common cooler box (40); and / or the first cooler (34) and the second cooler (46) are structurally included in the same cooling module (34, 40, 46).

4. The device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the first cooler (34) is a high-temperature cooler which is preferably configured to cool down a coolant from about 110°C to about 100°C during normal operation; and / or the second cooler (46) is a low-temperature cooler which is preferably configured to cool a coolant in normal operation to a temperature range between 5 K and 50 K, preferably up to 25 K, above an ambient temperature of the second cooler (46).

5. The device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the cooling section branch (16) comprises a, preferably closable, bypass (58) at the first cooler (34) or in a cooler box (40) of the first cooler (34) and / or the second cooler (46), wherein preferably the bypass (58) connects the first cooler (34) directly to the second cooler (46).

6. The device (10) according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the following is fulfilled: the bypass (58) extends internally or externally of the cooler box (40); the bypass (58) connects a duct portion of the radiator box (40) upstream or downstream of the first cooler (34) to a coolant inlet (50) leading to the second cooler (46); the bypass (58) connects the first cooler (34) and the second cooler (46) directly to each other; and the bypass (58) branches off from a portion of the first cooler (34) that is downstream of an inlet-side portion of the cooler box (40) and upstream of an outlet-side portion of the cooler box (40). upstream of an outlet-side region of the cooler box (40).

7. The device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the cooling section branch (16) opens into the cooling circuit (14) directly downstream of the first cooler (34) and / or directly upstream of the coolant pump (30).

8. The device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: the cooling section branch (16) and the waste heat utilization circuit (12) are hydraulically separated from each other; and / or the working fluid of the waste heat utilization circuit (12) is cooled indirectly via the heat exchanger (48) by coolant that has flowed through the first cooler (34) and the second cooler (46).

9. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the cooling section branch (16) comprises a flow limiting device (56) for limiting, preferably adjusting, a partial flow through the cooling section branch (16).

10. The device (10) according to claim 9, wherein the flow limiting device (60) comprises: an orifice; and / or a valve device, preferably comprising a pressure relief valve, a control valve, a regulating valve and / or a shut-off valve.

11. The device (10) according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein: the flow limiting device (60) is arranged in a conduit of the cooling section branch (16); or the flow limiting device (60) is arranged in a cooler box (40) of the first cooler (34) and / or the second cooler (46); or the flow limiting device (60) is arranged in a bypass which connects the first cooler (34) directly to the second cooler (46).

12. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the further coolant pump (60) is controllable independently of the coolant pump (30) of the cooling circuit (14).

13. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the waste heat utilization circuit (12) comprises a condenser (26), a working fluid pump (20), an evaporator (22) and an expansion machine (24).

14. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the waste heat source (28) is a fuel cell and / or an internal combustion engine.

15. A motor vehicle, preferably commercial vehicle, comprising: the energy recovery device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein preferably: the first cooler (34) and the second cooler (46) are arranged in a front end of the motor vehicle; and / or the first cooler (34) and the second cooler (46) are arranged next to each other, preferably directly, with respect to a transverse axis of the motor vehicle.