Patent ID: 8857163

Claim:
An exhaust heat utilization system comprising: a working fluid heating tank mounted on a vehicle driven by an engine and configured to heat a working fluid stored therein with exhaust heat of the engine; and exhaust heat utilizing means for utilizing the exhaust heat recovered by supplying the working fluid heated by the working fluid heating tank, the exhaust heat utilization system including: a heat insulation tank connected to a working fluid inlet of the exhaust heat utilizing means and configured to store the working fluid heated by the working fluid heating tank and have a capacity larger than a capacity of the working fluid heating tank; and a working fluid recovery tank connected to a working fluid outlet of the exhaust heat utilizing means and configured to store the working fluid having a temperature lower than a temperature at the working fluid inlet and have a capacity larger than the capacity of the working fluid heating tank, wherein the exhaust heat utilization system transfers the heated working fluid in the working fluid heating tank to the heat insulation tank and fills the emptied working fluid heating tank with the low-temperature working fluid stored in the working fluid recovery tank.