Patent ID: 8297238

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: an engine; an exhaust system operatively connected to the engine and configured to remove exhaust gas from the engine; a thermoelectric generator (TEG) operatively connected to the exhaust system and configured to allow exhaust gas flow therethrough; a first radiator operatively connected to the engine; an openable and closable engine valve configured to open to permit coolant to circulate through the engine and the first radiator when coolant temperature is greater than a predetermined minimum coolant temperature; a second radiator; a plurality of coolant passages; and a first and a second valve controllable to route cooling fluid from the TEG to the engine through some of the coolant passages under a first set of operating conditions to establish a first cooling circuit, and from the TEG to the second radiator through other of the coolant passages under a second set of operating conditions to establish a second cooling circuit; wherein the first cooling circuit bypasses the second radiator and the second cooling circuit bypasses the engine and the first radiator.