A methanol engine range-extended mine truck thermal management system and method

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of heat management of range-extended mine trucks, in particular to a methanol engine range-extended mine truck heat management system and method. The system controls water pumps, methanol heaters, electromagnetic valves and other components through a methanol engine ECU, and integrates three core working modes: in the cold start preheating mode, the cooling liquid is heated and the engine and methanol fuel are preheated synchronously; in the methanol temperature maintaining mode, the methanol temperature is intelligently maintained through a heat exchange device by using engine waste heat to prevent knocking; and in the parking heating mode, an independent circulating loop is constructed to efficiently heat the cab. The system solves the problems of the prior art system, such as disintegration, complex structure, high cost and low energy efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of thermal management technology for range-extended mining trucks, specifically to a thermal management system and method for a methanol engine range-extended mining truck. Background Technology

[0002] With the adjustment of energy structure and the increasing environmental protection requirements, range-extended mining trucks using methanol as fuel are being used more and more widely in specific scenarios such as mining areas. However, methanol fuel suffers from poor atomization and evaporation difficulties in low-temperature environments, leading to numerous technical challenges for methanol engines, including difficulty in cold starting, engine knocking due to methanol temperature fluctuations during operation, and the need for independent heating in the cab when parked. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive thermal management solution that can effectively address methanol engine cold start preheating, methanol insulation during operation, and cab heating when parked.

[0003] Currently, existing technical solutions often suffer from drawbacks such as system fragmentation, low integration, poor energy efficiency, and high cost. Specifically: In existing technologies, there are solutions that use gasoline as a cold-start ignition fuel. While this solution can assist with cold starts, it requires an additional gasoline storage, transportation, and supply system, resulting in a complex overall vehicle fuel system structure. Furthermore, the mixed use of gasoline and methanol fuels increases the complexity and safety risks of fuel management in mining areas, and also leads to higher operating costs.

[0004] Furthermore, in traditional vehicle thermal management systems, the engine water jacket and the cab heater typically use a simple series connection. While the engine does not require heating during parking and heating operation, this series connection causes heated coolant to flow through the entire cold engine block, resulting in significant heat loss, low heating efficiency, and poor fuel economy.

[0005] Furthermore, some solutions design the methanol heating system, engine preheating system, and cab heating system as independent subsystems. This discrete architecture leads to redundant configuration of hardware (such as heaters, water pumps, valves, etc.), resulting in a complex overall system structure, large space occupation, high manufacturing costs, poor inter-system coordination, and inconvenient maintenance. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the aforementioned issues, this invention provides a thermal management system and method for a methanol engine range extender mining truck, which fulfills the cold start requirements of the methanol engine in the mining truck, the methanol fuel temperature range requirements during engine operation, and the cab heating requirements.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a thermal management system for a methanol engine range extender mining truck, comprising: a methanol engine ECU, a heating module, a water pump, a heat exchange device, an engine water jacket, a cab heater, at least one normally open solenoid valve, and at least one electronic heater water valve. The normally open solenoid valve is installed on the pipeline from the outlet of the heating module to the coolant channel of the heat exchange device. It is used to control whether the high-temperature coolant flows through the heat exchange device and to switch the flow path of the coolant in the cold start preheating mode and the methanol heat preservation mode by switching the opening and closing state. The methanol engine ECU is used to receive vehicle signals and sensor signals. The vehicle signals include key switch signals, parking status signals, and engine running status signals. The sensor signals include coolant temperature signals, methanol temperature signals, and cab temperature signals. Based on the received signals, the ECU determines the current operating condition and automatically triggers the following operating modes: Cold start preheating mode: When the methanol engine ECU detects that the key switch is in the ON position, the engine is in the stopped state, and the coolant temperature and methanol temperature are both lower than the preset threshold, it controls the water pump and heating module to start, and opens the normally open solenoid valve, so that the coolant flows through the heat exchange device to simultaneously heat the engine and methanol fuel. Methanol insulation mode: When the methanol engine ECU detects that the engine is running and the heating module is off, and the methanol temperature exceeds the preset range, it dynamically controls the opening and closing of the normally open solenoid valve according to the methanol temperature to adjust the flow rate of the high-temperature coolant flowing through the heat exchange device. Parking Heating Mode: When the methanol engine ECU detects that the parking status signal is valid, the engine is in a stopped state, and the cab temperature is lower than the heating threshold, it controls the start of the water pump and heating module, and opens the electronic water valve for heating to create an independent heating circuit.

[0008] By integrating three major functional modules—cold start preheating, methanol insulation, and parking heating—into a single system, which is uniformly controlled by the methanol engine ECU, hardware resource sharing and high system integration are achieved. This significantly simplifies the structure of the vehicle thermal management system and reduces manufacturing costs and installation space requirements.

[0009] The intelligent switching between three working modes precisely meets the thermal requirements of methanol engine range-extended mining trucks under different operating conditions, effectively solving three core problems: difficulty in cold starting at low temperatures, knocking caused by methanol temperature fluctuations during operation, and low energy efficiency of parking heating, thereby improving the vehicle's adaptability and reliability in harsh environments.

[0010] The independent heating circuit allows the cab to be heated without starting the engine when the vehicle is parked, which improves comfort and avoids fuel waste and wear caused by engine idling.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inlet of the water pump is connected to the return port of the engine water jacket, and the outlet of the water pump is connected to the inlet of the heating module; the outlet of the heating module is connected to the inlet of the normally open solenoid valve through a pipeline; the outlet of the normally open solenoid valve is connected to the inlet of the coolant passage of the heat exchange device; the outlet of the coolant passage of the heat exchange device is connected to the inlet of the engine water jacket through a pipeline; and the heating module is a methanol heater using methanol as fuel.

[0012] The heating module is clearly defined as a methanol heater that uses methanol as fuel, which is consistent with the fuel type of methanol engine. It replaces the existing technology of using gasoline as cold start ignition fuel, eliminating the need for additional gasoline refueling / storage facilities and adapting to the single methanol supply scenario in mining areas.

[0013] By connecting the pipelines of the engine water jacket, water pump, heating module, normally open solenoid valve, and heat exchange device in a specific order, the heated coolant is allowed to flow first through the heat exchange device to heat the methanol before flowing back to the engine water jacket, forming a methanol-engine dual heating closed loop. This shortens the cold start preheating time and improves the starting success rate in low-temperature environments.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the technical solution of the present invention, a one-way valve is provided in the common circuit of the cold start preheating mode and the methanol heat preservation mode to prevent the coolant from circulating in reverse.

[0015] A one-way valve is installed in the shared circuit for cold start preheating and methanol insulation to prevent the coolant from circulating in reverse due to pressure difference (such as the heated coolant flowing back into the unpreheated engine water jacket during cold start, or the high-temperature coolant flowing back into the water pump during methanol insulation). This prevents problems such as abnormal local temperature and reduced heating efficiency, ensures stable circuit operation when switching between the two modes, and extends the service life of components such as water pumps and solenoid valves.

[0016] As a preferred embodiment of the technical solution of the present invention, the system further includes a status detection and manual triggering subsystem, which includes: A manual trigger switch is electrically connected to the methanol engine ECU; A status sensor is installed on the coolant line and / or the heating module; The methanol engine ECU is configured to: in response to the instruction of the manual trigger switch, read the data from the status sensor and output the test results for maintenance and repair.

[0017] Through a detection subsystem consisting of a manual trigger switch and a status sensor, staff can directly trigger the ECU to read key data such as coolant pipeline pressure / temperature and heating module operating current. This allows for the identification of system faults without disassembling the pipelines, replacing the traditional method of checking hardware one by one, shortening maintenance time, and reducing the difficulty of maintenance in the harsh environment of the mining area.

[0018] The status sensor continuously monitors the system's operating parameters. When abnormalities such as pipeline leaks or heating module overheating occur, the ECU can promptly report them to the vehicle's instrument panel, preventing safety risks such as methanol leaks and engine damage caused by system failures and improving the safety of mining truck operation.

[0019] As a preferred embodiment of the technical solution of the present invention, the electric water valve for heating air includes a first electric water valve for heating air and a second electric water valve for heating air. When the vehicle is parked and heating is activated, the methanol engine ECU controls the first and second electronic heater valves to open simultaneously, forming the independent parking heating loop. In the vehicle heating mode when the engine is running, the methanol engine ECU controls the first heater electronic water valve to open and the second heater electronic water valve to close, so that the high-temperature engine coolant flows through the cab heater and then flows back to the engine water jacket.

[0020] By employing differentiated control of two electronic heater valves, seamless switching between independent parking heating and engine waste heat heating is achieved: when parked, heating needs can be met without starting the engine, reducing idling fuel consumption; when driving, engine waste heat is utilized for heating, reducing the additional energy consumption of the heating module and balancing comfort and fuel economy. In driving heating mode, the second electronic heater valve is closed, ensuring that the engine's high-temperature coolant flows only through the short path of the heater intake, cab heater, and heater return, avoiding heat loss caused by the redundant piping of the parking heating system, thus improving the cab heating speed and meeting the rapid heating needs in the low-temperature environment of the mining area.

[0021] As a preferred embodiment of the technical solution of the present invention, a three-way connector is also included. Through the three-way connector and the pipeline layout, the coolant circuit realizing cold start preheating, methanol insulation, and parking heating functions is integrated into one unit. Specifically, the three-way connector connects the methanol and engine coolant heating circuit, the methanol insulation circuit, and the cab parking heating circuit. The structure and operation of the methanol and engine coolant heating circuit are as follows: the water pump draws coolant from the engine water jacket, the coolant is heated by the heating module and then flows through the open solenoid valve and heat exchange device, where it exchanges heat with methanol to raise the temperature of the methanol, and finally flows back to the engine block, while simultaneously heating the engine water jacket so that the methanol fuel, coolant and engine water jacket reach the temperature required for engine starting. The methanol insulation circuit consists of the following components and operates as follows: After the engine starts, the heating module and water pump are shut down, and the high-temperature coolant generated by the engine itself flows through a one-way valve, a normally open solenoid valve, and a heat exchange device. When the methanol temperature sensor detects that the methanol temperature has reached the upper limit of the preset range, the methanol engine ECU controls the normally open solenoid valve to close, and the high-temperature coolant no longer flows through the heat exchange device, thus cooling the methanol. When the methanol temperature reaches the lower limit of the preset range, the methanol engine ECU controls the normally open solenoid valve to open, and the high-temperature coolant flows through the heat exchange device, thus heating the methanol. This cycle repeats to maintain the methanol temperature within the preset range. The structure and operation of the cab parking heating circuit are as follows: Under parking conditions, the water pump pumps coolant, which is heated by the heating module and then flows through the first electronic water valve and the cab heater to provide a heat source for the cab heating. The coolant then flows through the second electronic water valve and finally returns to the water pump. The two electronic water valves are controlled by the vehicle signal. When the cab needs heating, the first electronic water valve is opened. When the cab needs parking heating, the first electronic water valve and the second electronic water valve are opened.

[0022] By integrating the pipelines of the three functional circuits through a three-way connector, the number of independent pipelines is reduced (such as the cold start preheating circuit and the methanol insulation circuit sharing the heat exchange device-normally open solenoid valve section pipeline, and the parking heating circuit and the cold start circuit sharing the water pump-heating module section pipeline). Compared with the existing multi-circuit independent layout scheme, the pipeline length and number of interfaces are reduced, the risk of leakage is reduced, the overall vehicle weight is reduced, and the load-bearing efficiency of the mining truck is improved.

[0023] As a preferred embodiment of the technical solution of the present invention, the heating module is further provided with a power adjustment unit, and the methanol engine ECU is configured to dynamically adjust the output power of the heating module according to the difference between the target temperature and the actual temperature in the cold start preheating mode or the parking heating mode.

[0024] The ECU adjusts the heating module power based on the difference between the target temperature (such as the engine coolant temperature during cold start and the cab temperature during parking heating) and the actual temperature. This avoids energy waste caused by the heating module operating at rated power for a long time (for example, when the actual temperature is close to the target temperature in the later stage of cold start, reducing the power can reduce methanol consumption; when the temperature reaches the target during parking heating, the power is maintained at a low level to avoid overheating), further reducing vehicle operating costs and meeting the energy-saving needs of long-term high-load operation in mining areas.

[0025] Secondly, the present invention provides a thermal management method for a methanol engine range-extended mining truck, employing the thermal management system described in the first aspect, the method comprising: It receives vehicle signals and sensor signals; vehicle signals include key switch signals, parking status signals, and engine running status signals; sensor signals include coolant temperature signals, methanol temperature signals, and cab temperature signals. Based on the signal, determine and enter one of the following operating modes: When the key switch is detected to be in the ON position, the engine is in a stopped state, and the coolant temperature and methanol temperature are both lower than the corresponding preset threshold, the cold start preheating mode is triggered: the water pump and heating module are started, and the normally open solenoid valve is opened, so that the coolant flows through the engine water jacket, water pump, heating module, normally open solenoid valve and heat exchange device in sequence, and heats the engine and methanol fuel simultaneously. When the engine is detected to be running, the heating module is turned off, and the methanol temperature is below the preset lower limit or above the preset upper limit, the methanol heat preservation mode is triggered: if the methanol temperature is below the preset lower limit, the normally open solenoid valve is opened to allow the high-temperature engine coolant to flow through the heat exchange device to heat the methanol; if the methanol temperature is above the preset upper limit, the normally open solenoid valve is closed to stop heating and maintain the methanol temperature within the preset range. When the vehicle is detected to be parked and the cab temperature is lower than the preset heating threshold, the parking heating mode is triggered: the water pump and heating module are started, and the electric heater valve is opened, so that the coolant circulates between the heating module, the electric heater valve and the cab heater, forming an independent heating circuit.

[0026] Based on the aforementioned thermal management system, a corresponding control method is proposed, clarifying the logical flow of signal reception, mode judgment, and execution control, ensuring the orderly switching of the three working modes (such as automatically switching to methanol insulation mode after cold start preheating, and automatically activating heating mode when parked), avoiding manual intervention, improving the convenience of mining truck operation, and adapting to the efficient operation needs of mining area drivers.

[0027] This solution addresses key issues in existing technologies, such as difficulty in low-temperature starting, methanol temperature runaway, and high costs of parking heating, resulting in a complete thermal management solution that enhances the overall applicability of mining trucks in cold mining areas.

[0028] As a preferred embodiment of the technical solution of the present invention, in the methanol insulation mode, controlling the opening and closing of the normally open solenoid valve according to the methanol temperature specifically includes: Real-time monitoring of methanol temperature; When the methanol temperature is lower than the preset lower limit, the normally open solenoid valve is controlled to open, so that the high-temperature coolant flows through the heat exchange device to heat the methanol. When the methanol temperature exceeds a preset upper limit, the normally open solenoid valve is closed to cut off the high-temperature coolant and stop heating the methanol.

[0029] Through a closed-loop logic of real-time monitoring, threshold judgment, and solenoid valve control, the methanol temperature is strictly maintained within a preset range, avoiding problems such as engine knocking caused by excessively high methanol temperature and incomplete combustion caused by excessively low methanol temperature. This improves the stability of engine power output and service life, and reduces downtime losses in the mining area due to engine failure.

[0030] As a preferred embodiment of the technical solution of the present invention, the method further includes a condition detection and maintenance step: Receive commands from manually triggered switches; In response to the instruction, data from the status sensors located on the coolant lines and / or heating modules are read; Based on the data, output the test results for maintenance and repair.

[0031] By transforming the status detection and maintenance functions into an independent mode, staff can trigger the detection when the vehicle is stopped, without occupying the mining truck's operating time. At the same time, the detection results are directly output (such as the instrument showing that the pipeline pressure is normal or the heating module is faulty), avoiding the errors of experience-based judgment in traditional maintenance, improving maintenance efficiency, and reducing the downtime of mining vehicles.

[0032] As a preferred embodiment of the technical solution of the present invention, in the parking heating mode, the step of controlling the electronic water valve for heating specifically includes: When the parking heating mode is entered, the first and second electric water valves of the heating system are opened simultaneously to form an independent parking heating loop. When the vehicle enters the driving heating mode while the engine is running, the first electronic heater valve is opened, and the second electronic heater valve is closed, so that the high-temperature engine coolant flows through the cab heater and returns to the engine water jacket.

[0033] The opening and closing logic of the two electronic water valves for heating is clearly defined in different heating modes to ensure that an independent heating module-heater circulation is formed when the vehicle is parked, avoiding ineffective engine operation; when driving, waste heat is used for heating to reduce the energy consumption of the heating module, and at the same time, the valve control prevents coolant from flowing through redundant pipelines, thereby improving heating efficiency.

[0034] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, this application has the following advantages: by integrating three core working modes—cold start preheating, methanol insulation, and parking heating—it replaces the existing technology's solution of setting up multiple independent systems, simplifies the structure of the vehicle thermal management system, reduces the number of hardware components such as pipes and control units, and lowers vehicle manufacturing costs and the difficulty of later maintenance.

[0035] Using the methanol engine ECU as the core control unit, the actuators are adjusted in real time by receiving signals from the vehicle and sensors. This avoids the problems of heat loss during parking heating and high cost due to reliance on gasoline for cold starts caused by the series structure in existing technologies. During cold starts, the engine and methanol fuel are heated simultaneously to ensure rapid starting in low-temperature environments. When methanol is kept warm, the coolant supply is dynamically adjusted to prevent engine knocking due to abnormal methanol temperature, thus improving the adaptability of mining trucks to harsh working conditions.

[0036] In the parking heating mode, the heating module, the electronic water valve for warm air, and the cab heater form an independent cycle, which does not rely on the engine's waste heat and avoids the problem of heat loss when the engine does not need to be heated in the existing technology. It can accurately meet the cab heating needs in the parking waiting scenario in the mining area, while reducing the engine's ineffective operation and reducing fuel consumption. Attached Figure Description

[0037] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0038] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the system provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the purpose, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments and accompanying drawings will be used to clearly and completely describe the technical solution protected by this application. Obviously, the embodiments described below are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0040] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used in this application and in the specification of this invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.

[0041] like Figure 1As shown in the figure, this embodiment of the invention provides a thermal management system for a methanol engine range extender mining truck, including: a methanol engine ECU, a heating module, a water pump, a heat exchange device, an engine water jacket, a cab heater, at least one normally open solenoid valve, and at least one electronic heater water valve; the inlet of the water pump is connected to the return port of the engine water jacket, and the outlet of the water pump is connected to the inlet of the heating module; the outlet of the heating module is connected to the inlet of the normally open solenoid valve through a pipeline; the outlet of the normally open solenoid valve is connected to the coolant passage inlet of the heat exchange device; the coolant passage outlet of the heat exchange device is connected to the inlet of the engine water jacket through a pipeline; the heating module is a methanol heater using methanol as fuel.

[0042] The normally open solenoid valve is installed on the pipeline from the outlet of the heating module to the coolant channel of the heat exchange device. It is used to control whether the high-temperature coolant flows through the heat exchange device and to switch the flow path of the coolant in the cold start preheating mode and the methanol heat preservation mode by switching the opening and closing state. The methanol engine ECU is used to receive vehicle signals and sensor signals. The vehicle signals include key switch signals, parking status signals, and engine running status signals. The sensor signals include coolant temperature signals, methanol temperature signals, and cab temperature signals. Based on the received signals, the ECU determines the current operating condition and automatically triggers the following operating modes: Cold start preheating mode: When the methanol engine ECU detects that the key switch is in the ON position, the engine is in the stopped state, and the coolant temperature and methanol temperature are both lower than the preset threshold, it controls the water pump and heating module to start, and opens the normally open solenoid valve, so that the coolant flows through the heat exchange device to simultaneously heat the engine and methanol fuel. Methanol insulation mode: When the methanol engine ECU detects that the engine is running and the heating module is off, and the methanol temperature exceeds the preset range, it dynamically controls the opening and closing of the normally open solenoid valve according to the methanol temperature to adjust the flow rate of the high-temperature coolant flowing through the heat exchange device. Parking Heating Mode: When the methanol engine ECU detects that the parking status signal is valid, the engine is in a stopped state, and the cab temperature is lower than the heating threshold, it controls the start of the water pump and heating module, and opens the electronic water valve for heating to create an independent heating circuit.

[0043] In an open-pit coal mine operating at -25°C, a certain model of methanol-powered range-extended mining truck is equipped with this thermal management system. When the truck requires a cold start, the vehicle sends a cold start request signal to the ECU. Upon receiving the signal, the ECU immediately controls the water pump and heating module to start, and simultaneously opens the normally open solenoid valve. Coolant flows from the engine water jacket, is pumped to the heating module, and is heated to 60°C. It then flows through the normally open solenoid valve into the heat exchanger, where it exchanges heat with the methanol flowing through the heat exchanger, raising the methanol temperature from -25°C to 40°C. The coolant then flows back to the engine water jacket, raising its temperature from -25°C to 50°C, thus achieving synchronous heating of the engine and methanol fuel and ensuring a smooth start for the mining truck.

[0044] When the mining truck is running normally and the engine is running, it enters the methanol insulation mode. At this time, the heating module is turned off, and the ECU monitors the methanol temperature in real time through the methanol temperature sensor. When the methanol temperature drops to 35°C, the ECU controls the normally open solenoid valve to open, and the 90°C high-temperature coolant generated by the engine flows through the heat exchange device to heat the methanol; when the methanol temperature rises to 55°C, the ECU controls the normally open solenoid valve to close, stopping the heating and maintaining the methanol temperature in the 35-55°C range to prevent engine knocking.

[0045] When the mining truck is parked waiting to load or unload cargo, the driver activates the parking heating function, and the entire vehicle sends a heating request signal to the ECU. The ECU controls the water pump and heating module to start, and simultaneously opens the electronic heater valve. The coolant is heated to 70°C by the heating module and then flows through the electronic heater valve into the cab heater to heat the cab. After heating, the coolant flows back to the water pump, forming an independent heating circuit to maintain the temperature inside the cab at around 20°C.

[0046] During the cold start preheating process, coolant flows out from the engine water jacket return port, is pressurized by the water pump, and enters the methanol heater, where it is heated to 65°C. Then, the solenoid valve is frequently opened to enter the heat exchange device, where it fully exchanges heat with the methanol, raising the methanol temperature from -25°C to 42°C. After that, the coolant flows back to the engine water jacket inlet, raising the engine water jacket temperature from -25°C to 52°C. The entire preheating process takes only 8 minutes, which is 40% shorter than the traditional cold start method, and no additional gasoline is required.

[0047] In some embodiments, a one-way valve is installed on the common loop of the cold start preheating mode and the methanol insulation mode, i.e., on the pipeline from the coolant channel outlet of the heat exchanger to the engine water jacket inlet. When the system switches from the cold start preheating mode to the methanol insulation mode, the heating module is turned off, the engine high-temperature coolant pressure is 0.3 MPa, the one-way valve opens normally, and the high-temperature coolant flows smoothly through the heat exchanger to heat the methanol. If the coolant tends to flow backward due to pipeline pressure fluctuations, the one-way valve closes quickly when the reverse pressure reaches 0.1 MPa, effectively preventing the coolant from circulating backward and avoiding unheated coolant from entering the heat exchanger and affecting the methanol insulation effect. At the same time, it prevents high-temperature coolant from flowing back into the water pump, which could damage the water pump seals.

[0048] In some embodiments, the system further includes a status detection and manual triggering subsystem, which includes: A manual trigger switch is electrically connected to the methanol engine ECU; A status sensor is installed on the coolant line and / or the heating module; The methanol engine ECU is configured to: in response to the instruction of the manual trigger switch, read the data from the status sensor and output the test results for maintenance and repair.

[0049] The manual trigger switch is a rocker switch, which is electrically connected to the methanol engine ECU via wires; temperature sensors and pressure sensors are installed at the inlet and outlet of the coolant line, respectively, and a current sensor is installed at the power input of the heating module.

[0050] When the mining truck undergoes routine maintenance, the technician presses the rocker switch. The ECU immediately responds, reading the coolant inlet and outlet temperatures detected by the temperature sensor, the pipeline pressure detected by the pressure sensor, and the heating module operating current detected by the current sensor. This data is converted into digital signals and transmitted via the CAN bus to the truck's onboard display, showing the test results. If the difference between the coolant inlet and outlet temperatures is less than 5°C, it indicates a possible blockage in the heat exchange device; if the heating module operating current is 0, it indicates a power supply failure in the heating module.

[0051] In some embodiments, the electric water valve for heating air includes a first electric water valve for heating air and a second electric water valve for heating air; When the vehicle is parked and heating is activated, the methanol engine ECU controls the first and second electronic heater valves to open simultaneously, forming the independent parking heating loop. In the vehicle heating mode when the engine is running, the methanol engine ECU controls the first heater electronic water valve to open and the second heater electronic water valve to close, so that the high-temperature engine coolant flows through the cab heater and then flows back to the engine water jacket.

[0052] When the mining truck is parked, the driver activates the parking heating function. Upon receiving the signal, the ECU controls the simultaneous opening of the first and second electronic heater valves. The coolant, heated to 75°C by the heating module, flows sequentially through the first electronic heater valve and the cab heater to heat the cab. After heating, the coolant flows back to the water pump through the second electronic heater valve, forming an independent parking heating loop.

[0053] When the mining truck is running normally and the engine is running, it enters the vehicle heating mode. The ECU controls the opening of the first electronic heater valve and the closing of the second electronic heater valve. The 85°C high-temperature coolant generated by the engine flows out from the heater inlet, passes through the first electronic heater valve, and enters the cab heater to heat the cab. After heating, the coolant flows back to the engine water jacket from the heater return inlet. There is no need to start the heating module, which can save 1.2L of methanol consumption per hour and reduce fuel costs.

[0054] In some embodiments, a T-joint is also included, through which the coolant circuit realizing cold start preheating, methanol insulation, and parking heating functions is integrated into one unit via the T-joint and piping layout. Specifically, the T-joint integrates the methanol and engine coolant heating circuit, the methanol insulation circuit, and the cab parking heating circuit into one unit; The structure and operation of the methanol and engine coolant heating circuit are as follows: the water pump draws coolant from the engine water jacket, the coolant is heated by the heating module and then flows through the open solenoid valve and heat exchange device, where it exchanges heat with methanol to raise the temperature of the methanol, and finally flows back to the engine block, while simultaneously heating the engine water jacket so that the methanol fuel, coolant and engine water jacket reach the temperature required for engine starting. The methanol insulation circuit consists of the following components and operates as follows: After the engine starts, the heating module and water pump are shut down, and the high-temperature coolant generated by the engine itself flows through a one-way valve, a normally open solenoid valve, and a heat exchange device. When the methanol temperature sensor detects that the methanol temperature has reached the upper limit of the preset range, the methanol engine ECU controls the normally open solenoid valve to close, and the high-temperature coolant no longer flows through the heat exchange device, thus cooling the methanol. When the methanol temperature reaches the lower limit of the preset range, the methanol engine ECU controls the normally open solenoid valve to open, and the high-temperature coolant flows through the heat exchange device, thus heating the methanol. This cycle repeats to maintain the methanol temperature within the preset range. The structure and operation of the cab parking heating circuit are as follows: Under parking conditions, the water pump pumps coolant, which is heated by the heating module and then flows through the first electronic water valve and the cab heater to provide a heat source for the cab heating. The coolant then flows through the second electronic water valve and finally returns to the water pump. The two electronic water valves are controlled by the vehicle signal. When the cab needs heating, the first electronic water valve is opened. When the cab needs parking heating, the first electronic water valve and the second electronic water valve are opened.

[0055] In some embodiments, in the methanol insulation mode, the methanol engine ECU uses the engine coolant temperature as an indirect control parameter to control the opening and closing of the normally open solenoid valve. The methanol engine ECU directly uses the monitored methanol temperature as the driving parameter to control the opening and closing of the normally open solenoid valve in the methanol insulation mode.

[0056] In methanol heat preservation mode, the methanol engine ECU monitors the methanol temperature in real time from the temperature sensor installed in the methanol fuel line. The ECU has preset suitable ranges for methanol temperature, such as an upper limit Tmax and a lower limit Tmin. When the detected methanol temperature is higher than Tmax, the ECU controls the normally open solenoid valve to close, cutting off the flow of high-temperature coolant through the heat exchanger, stopping methanol heating and initiating cooling. When the detected methanol temperature is lower than Tmin, the ECU controls the normally open solenoid valve to open, allowing high-temperature coolant to flow through the heat exchanger to heat the methanol. Through this closed-loop control, the methanol temperature is dynamically stabilized within the range of [Tmin, Tmax], effectively preventing engine knocking.

[0057] In some embodiments, the heating module is further provided with a power adjustment unit, and the methanol engine ECU is configured to dynamically adjust the output power of the heating module according to the difference between the target temperature and the actual temperature in cold start preheating mode or parking heating mode.

[0058] The system has entered either cold start preheating mode or parking heating mode. The methanol engine ECU has received the corresponding mode trigger signal, such as when the coolant temperature during cold start is less than the preset start threshold signal, or when the parking signal plus the cab temperature during parking heating is less than the comfort threshold signal.

[0059] The power regulation unit has established a stable communication connection with the methanol engine ECU and can receive power regulation commands sent by the ECU in real time. At the same time, the coolant temperature sensor is used during cold start and the cab temperature sensor is used during parking and heating. The coolant temperature sensor has been calibrated and can feed back accurate actual temperature data to the ECU.

[0060] Key parameters are pre-stored in the ECU, including: Target temperature: In cold start preheating mode, it is the target temperature of the engine coolant; in parking heating mode, it is the target temperature of the cab. Power adjustment threshold: Divided into high power threshold, medium power threshold and low power threshold, the threshold can be adapted to the needs of different modes; Power levels: The output power levels supported by the heating module, such as rated power P1=15kW, medium power P2=8kW, low power P3=5kW, and standby power P0=1kW.

[0061] 1. The specific adjustment steps under cold start preheating mode include: Step a1: Parameter initialization and real-time acquisition After the methanol engine ECU is activated in cold start preheating mode, it immediately reads the pre-stored coolant target temperature T1_target and collects the actual coolant temperature T1_actual at a frequency of 1Hz through the coolant temperature sensor.

[0062] The ECU calculates the temperature difference ΔT1=T1_target-T1_actual in real time, and reads the current output power status of the heating module.

[0063] Step a2: Power level determination based on temperature difference If ΔT1>ΔT 高 : If it is determined that the coolant temperature needs to be increased quickly, the ECU sends a command to the power regulation unit to switch to the rated power P1; After receiving the command, the power regulation unit adjusts the fuel supply of the heating module or the operating current of the electric heating tube to make the heating module operate at its rated power and accelerate the temperature rise of the coolant.

[0064] If ΔT 中 <ΔT1≤ΔT 高 : The ECU determines that the current coolant temperature is close to the target value and that power needs to be reduced to avoid overheating. The ECU sends a command to switch to medium power P2. The power regulation unit responds to commands by reducing the fuel supply or lowering the operating current, so that the heating module maintains heating at medium power to avoid excessive temperature fluctuations.

[0065] If ΔT 低 <ΔT1≤ΔT 中 : If the current coolant temperature is determined to be close to the target value and power needs to be further reduced, the ECU sends a command to switch to low power P3. The heating module operates at low power, slowly increasing the coolant temperature until it approaches the target value.

[0066] If ΔT1≤ΔT低 : Once the coolant temperature is determined to have reached or is close to the target temperature, the ECU sends a command to switch to standby power P0. The heating module maintains the temperature at extremely low power to prevent the coolant temperature from dropping rapidly due to ambient heat dissipation, while waiting for the engine start signal.

[0067] Step a3: Power reset after mode switching When the ECU receives a signal that the engine has started successfully, the cold start preheating mode ends, and the ECU immediately sends a stop heating command to the power regulation unit. The heating module power drops to 0kW and exits the power regulation state.

[0068] 2. The specific adjustment steps for the parking heating mode include: Step b1: Dual-parameter acquisition and priority determination After the parking heating mode is activated, the ECU simultaneously collects two key temperature parameters: Actual cab temperature T2_actual (collected by an NTC temperature sensor inside the cab, frequency 1Hz); The actual temperature of the cooling fluid in the heating circuit, T3_actual (collected by a temperature sensor in the heating pipes, frequency 1Hz).

[0069] The ECU reads the pre-stored target temperature T2_target in the cab and uses the cab temperature as the core adjustment basis to calculate the temperature difference ΔT2=T2_target-T2_actual.

[0070] Step 2: Power adjustment based on cab temperature difference If ΔT2>ΔT 高 : Determining that the cab needs to be heated quickly, the ECU sends a rated power command P1 to the power regulation unit; The heating module heats the coolant at its rated power, rapidly raising the coolant temperature to 70-75℃. The cab heater then efficiently exchanges heat, accelerating the cab's temperature rise.

[0071] If ΔT 中 <ΔT2≤ΔT 高 : The ECU determined that the cab temperature was rising well and sent a medium-power P2 command. The heating module operates at medium power to maintain the coolant temperature at 65-70℃, ensuring a steady increase in the cab temperature and preventing the heater from overheating.

[0072] If ΔT 低 <ΔT2≤ΔT 中 : When the ECU determines that the cab temperature is close to the target value, it sends a low-power P3 command. The heating module operates at low power, maintaining the coolant temperature at 60-65℃, and the cab temperature slowly approaches the target value, reducing fuel consumption.

[0073] If ΔT2≤ΔT 低 : Once the cab temperature is determined to be within a comfortable range, the ECU sends a standby power P0 command. The heating module operates at standby power, only compensating for the temperature loss of the coolant caused by heat dissipation from the pipeline, maintaining the cab temperature in a stable range of 18-22℃, and avoiding temperature fluctuations caused by frequent start-stop cycles.

[0074] Step b3: Power protection adjustment under abnormal operating conditions If the ECU detects that the coolant temperature T3_actual in the heating circuit is greater than 80°C, it immediately sends a command to reduce the power to 0kW, and the heating module stops working until T3_actual is less than 75°C, at which point it resumes low-power operation to prevent excessive pipe pressure caused by coolant boiling. If a fault is detected in the cab temperature sensor, the system will automatically switch to using coolant temperature as the adjustment basis, with the target coolant temperature set to 65°C. The power will be adjusted according to the logic in step b2 above to ensure that the heating function is not interrupted.

[0075] 3. Feedback and correction mechanisms during the adjustment process After executing the ECU command, the power regulation unit needs to send the actual power feedback signal back to the ECU within 100ms. The ECU compares the commanded power with the actual power. If the deviation is greater than 10%, the regulation command is resent to ensure power control accuracy. Every 30 seconds, the matching relationship between the temperature difference ΔT and the power level is corrected. For example, if ΔT2=5℃ (in the medium power range) is detected 3 times in a row but the cab temperature does not rise, it is determined that there may be a blockage in the heater duct. The ECU automatically increases the power by one level (e.g., from medium power 8kW to rated power 15kW) and prompts the vehicle instrument panel that the heating system efficiency has decreased and asks you to check the duct.

[0076] This invention also provides a thermal management method for a methanol engine range-extended mining truck, employing the thermal management system described in the above embodiments. The method includes: S1. Receive vehicle signals and sensor signals; vehicle signals include key switch signal, parking status signal, and engine running status signal; sensor signals include coolant temperature signal, methanol temperature signal, and cab temperature signal. S2. Based on the signal, determine and enter one of the following working modes: When the key switch is detected to be in the ON position, the engine is in a stopped state, and the coolant temperature and methanol temperature are both lower than the corresponding preset threshold, the cold start preheating mode is triggered: the water pump and heating module are started, and the normally open solenoid valve is opened, so that the coolant flows through the engine water jacket, water pump, heating module, normally open solenoid valve and heat exchange device in sequence, and heats the engine and methanol fuel simultaneously. When the engine is detected to be running, the heating module is turned off, and the methanol temperature is below the preset lower limit or above the preset upper limit, the methanol heat preservation mode is triggered: if the methanol temperature is below the preset lower limit, the normally open solenoid valve is opened to allow the high-temperature engine coolant to flow through the heat exchange device to heat the methanol; if the methanol temperature is above the preset upper limit, the normally open solenoid valve is closed to stop heating and maintain the methanol temperature within the preset range. When the vehicle is detected to be parked and the cab temperature is lower than the preset heating threshold, the parking heating mode is triggered: the water pump and heating module are started, and the electric heater valve is opened, so that the coolant circulates between the heating module, the electric heater valve and the cab heater, forming an independent heating circuit.

[0077] In the methanol insulation mode, the opening and closing of the normally open solenoid valve is controlled according to the methanol temperature, specifically including: real-time monitoring of methanol temperature; When the methanol temperature is lower than the preset lower limit, the normally open solenoid valve is controlled to open, so that the high-temperature coolant flows through the heat exchange device to heat the methanol. When the methanol temperature exceeds a preset upper limit, the normally open solenoid valve is closed to cut off the high-temperature coolant and stop heating the methanol.

[0078] The specific logic flow for pattern determination is as follows: (1) Cold start preheating mode judgment logic (highest priority, triggered only when the engine is stopped) The ECU first receives a key switch signal indicating the ON position and an engine running signal indicating the engine is off, confirming that the vehicle is in a ready-to-start state. The ECU reads the coolant temperature sensor signal; if the coolant temperature T... 冷 ≤T 冷起 Simultaneously read the methanol temperature signal; if the methanol temperature T 甲 ≤T 甲冷起 ; When the above two conditions are met, the ECU determines that cold start preheating is required, immediately triggers the cold start preheating mode, controls the water pump and heating module to start, opens the normally open solenoid valve, and starts the coolant circulation heating.

[0079] (2) Methanol insulation mode judgment logic (triggered only when the engine is running) The ECU receives an engine operation signal indicating that it is running (speed > 500 rpm), and the cold start preheating mode has been exited, confirming that the vehicle is in normal driving condition; The ECU detected that the heating module was turned off, ruling out interference from cold start or parking heating; The ECU reads the methanol temperature signal in real time. If the methanol temperature T 甲 <T 保下 or T 甲 >T 保上 ; When the above conditions are met, the ECU determines that methanol insulation is required, triggers the methanol insulation mode, and controls the opening and closing of the normally open solenoid valve according to the methanol temperature.

[0080] (3) Parking heating mode judgment logic (second highest priority, triggered only when the vehicle is parked and the engine is off) The ECU receives a high-level parking status signal and an engine stop signal, confirming that the vehicle is in a parking stop state. The ECU reads the signal from the cab temperature sensor. If the cab temperature T 驾实 ≤T 采暖 And the cold start preheating mode was not triggered (coolant temperature T). 冷 >T 冷起 (Or the key switch is not in the ON position). When the above conditions are met, the ECU determines that parking heating is required, triggers the parking heating mode, controls the water pump and heating module to start, opens the electronic water valve for heating, and starts the independent heating cycle.

[0081] (4) Pattern conflict and priority handling If both the cold start preheating mode and the parking heating mode meet the triggering conditions, the cold start preheating mode takes priority. After the cold start preheating is completed, it will automatically switch to the parking heating mode. If the vehicle switches to park and triggers parking heating while the methanol insulation mode is running, the ECU will first turn off the methanol insulation mode and then start the parking heating mode to avoid circuit conflicts.

[0082] The process of determining and entering the cold start preheating mode based on the signal specifically includes the following steps: Receive the key switch signal and engine operation signal sent by the vehicle. If the key switch signal is in the ON position and the engine operation signal is in the off state, proceed to the next step. Receive the actual coolant temperature T sent by the coolant temperature sensor. 冷实 The actual methanol temperature T sent by the methanol temperature sensor 甲实 If T 冷实 ≤Preset cold start coolant threshold T 冷起 And T 甲实 ≤Preset cold start methanol threshold T甲冷起 The system determines that it needs to enter the cold start preheating mode. The system controls the start of the water pump and heating module, and opens the normally open solenoid valve, allowing the coolant to flow sequentially through the engine water jacket, water pump, heating module, normally open solenoid valve, and heat exchange device, simultaneously heating the engine and methanol fuel.

[0083] The process of determining and entering the methanol insulation mode based on the signal specifically includes the following steps: Receive the engine operation signal sent by the vehicle. If the engine operation signal indicates that the engine is running and the heating module is detected to be in the off state, proceed to the next step. Receive the actual methanol temperature T sent by the methanol temperature sensor 甲实 If T 甲实 <Preset methanol insulation lower limit threshold T> 保下 or T 甲实 >Preset methanol insulation upper limit threshold T 保上 It was determined that the methanol insulation mode needed to be entered. The normally open solenoid valve is controlled to open and close based on the actual methanol temperature T, allowing the high-temperature engine coolant to selectively flow through the heat exchanger, thus maintaining the methanol temperature at [T]. 保下 T 保上 Within the preset range.

[0084] The process of determining and entering the parking heating mode based on the signal specifically includes the following steps: Receive the parking status signal and engine operation signal sent by the vehicle. If the parking status signal indicates that the parking brake is engaged and the engine operation signal indicates that the engine is off, proceed to the next step. Receive the actual cab temperature T sent by the cab temperature sensor 驾实 If T 驾实 ≤Preset parking heating threshold T 采暖 Furthermore, the triggering conditions for the cold start preheating mode (coolant temperature T) were not met. 冷实 >Preset cold start coolant threshold T 冷起 If the key switch signal is not in the ON position, it is determined that the parking heating mode needs to be entered. The system controls the start of the water pump and heating module, and opens the electronic water valve for the heater, allowing the coolant to circulate between the heating module, the electronic water valve, and the cab heater, forming an independent heating circuit.

[0085] The preset cold start coolant threshold T 冷起 Preset cold start methanol threshold T 甲冷起 Preset methanol insulation lower limit threshold T 保下 Preset methanol insulation upper limit threshold T 保上 and preset parking heating threshold T 采暖All parameters are stored in the configurable parameter area of ​​the methanol engine ECU, and the threshold values ​​can be adjusted according to the ambient temperature of the mining area via the vehicle diagnostic interface. The adjustment range is: T 冷起 The temperature can be adjusted within the range of 3℃-10℃. 甲冷起 The temperature can be adjusted within the range of 5℃-15℃. 保下 The temperature can be adjusted within the range of 30℃-40℃. 保上 The temperature can be adjusted within the range of 50℃-60℃. 采暖 It can be adjusted within the range of 10℃-20℃.

[0086] The mode determination also includes conflict handling logic: if the trigger conditions for both the cold start preheating mode and the parking heating mode are met simultaneously, the cold start preheating mode is executed first; the mode is executed only when the cold start preheating mode meets the exit condition (T). 冷实 >T 冷 And T 甲实 >T 甲冷起 After a period of ≥30 seconds, the system will automatically re-evaluate whether the trigger conditions for the parking heating mode are met. If they are met, the system will switch to the parking heating mode.

[0087] During the mode determination process, if any sensor (coolant temperature sensor, methanol temperature sensor, cab temperature sensor) sends an abnormal signal, then: If the cold start preheating mode is not triggered, the pause mode will detect the sensor malfunction and indicate it via the vehicle's instrument panel, preventing preheating. If the parking heating mode is not triggered, the mode judgment will be paused and a sensor fault will be indicated, and heating will not be possible, thus ensuring the safety and reliability of the mode judgment.

[0088] In the parking heating mode, the steps for controlling the electronic heater valve specifically include: When the parking heating mode is entered, the first and second electric water valves of the heating system are opened simultaneously to form an independent parking heating loop. When the vehicle enters the driving heating mode while the engine is running, the first electronic heater valve is opened, and the second electronic heater valve is closed, so that the high-temperature engine coolant flows through the cab heater and returns to the engine water jacket.

[0089] In the methanol insulation mode, the engine coolant temperature is used as an indirect control parameter. The opening and closing of the normally open solenoid valve is controlled by querying the pre-stored coolant temperature-methanol temperature mapping relationship or the methanol estimated temperature calculated based on the model.

[0090] Only when the methanol temperature sensor malfunctions and the system has entered methanol insulation mode will the control logic that uses engine coolant temperature as an indirect control parameter be activated to replace direct methanol temperature detection.

[0091] Two types of key data are pre-stored in the methanol engine ECU to ensure the accuracy of indirect control: Coolant temperature-methanol temperature mapping table: generated based on measured data of the same type of mining truck under different ambient temperatures and engine loads.

[0092] In some embodiments, the method further includes a condition detection and maintenance step: Receive commands from manually triggered switches; In response to the instruction, data from the status sensors located on the coolant lines and / or heating modules are read; Based on the data, output the test results for maintenance and repair.

[0093] In some embodiments, the cold start preheating mode or parking heating mode also includes a power adjustment step: The methanol engine ECU dynamically adjusts the output power of the heating module based on the difference between the target temperature and the actual temperature of the coolant.

[0094] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A thermal management system for a methanol engine range extender mining truck, characterized in that, include: Methanol engine ECU, heating module, water pump, heat exchanger, engine water jacket, cab heater, at least one normally open solenoid valve, and at least one electronic heater water valve; The normally open solenoid valve is installed on the pipeline from the outlet of the heating module to the coolant channel of the heat exchange device. It is used to control whether the high-temperature coolant flows through the heat exchange device and to switch the flow path of the coolant in the cold start preheating mode and the methanol heat preservation mode by switching the opening and closing state. The methanol engine ECU is used to receive vehicle signals and sensor signals. The vehicle signals include key switch signals, parking status signals, and engine running status signals. The sensor signals include coolant temperature signals, methanol temperature signals, and cab temperature signals. Based on the received signals, the ECU determines the current operating condition and automatically triggers the following operating modes: Cold start preheating mode: When the methanol engine ECU detects that the key switch is in the ON position, the engine is in the stopped state, and the coolant temperature and methanol temperature are both lower than the preset threshold, it controls the water pump and heating module to start, and opens the normally open solenoid valve, so that the coolant flows through the heat exchange device to simultaneously heat the engine and methanol fuel. Methanol insulation mode: When the methanol engine ECU detects that the engine is running and the heating module is off, and the methanol temperature exceeds the preset range, it dynamically controls the opening and closing of the normally open solenoid valve according to the methanol temperature to adjust the flow rate of the high-temperature coolant flowing through the heat exchange device. Parking Heating Mode: When the methanol engine ECU detects that the parking status signal is valid, the engine is in a stopped state, and the cab temperature is lower than the heating threshold, it controls the start of the water pump and heating module, and opens the electronic water valve for heating to create an independent heating circuit.

2. The thermal management system for a methanol engine range extender mining truck according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inlet of the water pump is connected to the return port of the engine water jacket, and the outlet of the water pump is connected to the inlet of the heating module; the outlet of the heating module is connected to the inlet of the normally open solenoid valve through a pipeline; the outlet of the normally open solenoid valve is connected to the inlet of the coolant passage of the heat exchange device; the outlet of the coolant passage of the heat exchange device is connected to the inlet of the engine water jacket through a pipeline; the heating module is a methanol heater that uses methanol as fuel.

3. The thermal management system for a methanol engine range extender mining truck according to claim 2, characterized in that, A one-way valve is provided in the common circuit of the cold start preheating mode and the methanol heat preservation mode to prevent the coolant from circulating in reverse.

4. The thermal management system for a methanol engine range extender mining truck according to claim 3, characterized in that, The system also includes a status detection and manual triggering subsystem, which includes: Manually trigger switch, electrically connected to methanol engine ECU; A status sensor is installed on the coolant line and / or the heating module; The methanol engine ECU is configured to: in response to the instruction of the manual trigger switch, read the data from the status sensor and output the test results for maintenance and repair.

5. The thermal management system for a methanol engine range extender mining truck according to claim 4, characterized in that, The electric water valve for heating includes a first electric water valve for heating and a second electric water valve for heating. When the vehicle is parked and heating is activated, the methanol engine ECU controls the first and second electronic heater valves to open simultaneously, forming the independent parking heating loop. In the vehicle heating mode when the engine is running, the methanol engine ECU controls the first heater electronic water valve to open and the second heater electronic water valve to close, so that the high-temperature engine coolant flows through the cab heater and then flows back to the engine water jacket.

6. The thermal management system for a methanol engine range extender mining truck according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a T-connector, through which the coolant circuit that realizes cold start preheating, methanol insulation and parking heating functions is integrated into one unit through the T-connector and pipeline layout.

7. A thermal management method for a methanol engine range-extended mining truck, characterized in that, The method of using a thermal management system as described in any one of claims 1-6 includes: It receives vehicle signals and sensor signals; vehicle signals include key switch signals, parking status signals, and engine running status signals; sensor signals include coolant temperature signals, methanol temperature signals, and cab temperature signals. Based on the signal, determine and enter one of the following operating modes: When the key switch is detected to be in the ON position, the engine is in a stopped state, and the coolant temperature and methanol temperature are both lower than the corresponding preset threshold, the cold start preheating mode is triggered: the water pump and heating module are started, and the normally open solenoid valve is opened, so that the coolant flows through the engine water jacket, water pump, heating module, normally open solenoid valve and heat exchange device in sequence, and heats the engine and methanol fuel simultaneously. When the engine is detected to be running, the heating module is turned off, and the methanol temperature is below the preset lower limit or above the preset upper limit, the methanol heat preservation mode is triggered: if the methanol temperature is below the preset lower limit, the normally open solenoid valve is opened to allow the high-temperature engine coolant to flow through the heat exchange device to heat the methanol; if the methanol temperature is above the preset upper limit, the normally open solenoid valve is closed to stop heating and maintain the methanol temperature within the preset range. When the vehicle is detected to be parked and the cab temperature is lower than the preset heating threshold, the parking heating mode is triggered: the water pump and heating module are started, and the electric heater valve is opened, so that the coolant circulates between the heating module, the electric heater valve and the cab heater, forming an independent heating circuit.

8. The thermal management method for a methanol engine range extender mining truck according to claim 7, characterized in that, In the methanol insulation mode, the opening and closing of the normally open solenoid valve is controlled according to the methanol temperature, specifically including: When the methanol temperature is lower than the preset lower limit, the normally open solenoid valve is controlled to open, so that the high-temperature coolant flows through the heat exchange device to heat the methanol. When the methanol temperature exceeds a preset upper limit, the normally open solenoid valve is closed to cut off the high-temperature coolant and stop heating the methanol.

9. The thermal management method for a methanol engine range extender mining truck according to claim 8, characterized in that, The method also includes condition detection and maintenance steps: Receive commands from manually triggered switches; In response to the instruction, data from the status sensors located on the coolant lines and / or heating modules are read; Based on the data, output the test results for maintenance and repair.

10. The thermal management method for a methanol engine range extender mining truck according to claim 9, characterized in that, In the parking heating mode, the steps for controlling the electronic heater valve specifically include: When the parking heating mode is entered, the first and second electric water valves of the heating system are opened simultaneously to form an independent parking heating loop. When the vehicle enters the driving heating mode while the engine is running, the first electronic heater valve is opened, and the second electronic heater valve is closed, so that the high-temperature engine coolant flows through the cab heater and returns to the engine water jacket.

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