Active Louver System for Multi-Function Automotive Radiator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle cooling systems with stacked heat exchangers experience increased hydraulic losses and aerodynamic drag, leading to compromised efficiency and performance, as air entering inner heat exchangers is often at a higher temperature than ambient, necessitating thicker or larger downstream heat exchangers that add weight and cost.
Innovation Solution
A non-stacked vehicle thermal management system with adjustable louvers and actuators controls airflow between heat exchangers, allowing direct airflow into each heat exchanger without passing through others, and includes air ducts with additional louvers to optimize airflow and reduce hydraulic power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If heat exchangers are stacked one in front of the other, then the system can provide cooling for multiple subsystems, but hydraulic losses and aerodynamic drag increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the airflow paths into separate segments, allowing air to flow directly into each heat exchanger through dedicated inlets rather than forcing all air through a stacked sequence. This segmentation enables independent airflow control for each heat exchanger, reducing unnecessary hydraulic losses while maintaining the ability to cool multiple subsystems simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional stacked arrangement to a multi-dimensional configuration where heat exchangers are positioned side-by-side with separate airflow paths. This dimensional change allows parallel airflow through multiple heat exchangers, eliminating the sequential airflow constraints of stacked designs and reducing aerodynamic drag
2Productivity
If downstream heat exchangers are made thicker or larger to compensate for reduced efficiency, then heat transfer performance is maintained, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows each heat exchanger to receive ambient temperature air directly through its own inlet, creating locally optimal cooling conditions for each component. This eliminates the need to oversize downstream heat exchangers to compensate for warmed air from upstream units, maintaining heat transfer performance with reduced weight
3Adaptability or versatility
If air flows through multiple stacked heat exchangers, then all subsystems receive cooling, but the temperature of air entering inner heat exchangers is higher than ambient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the airflow system into independent paths, with each heat exchanger having its own air inlet that draws ambient temperature air directly. This ensures each heat exchanger operates with optimal ambient temperature air regardless of the thermal state of other subsystems, while all subsystems still receive the cooling they need
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration maximizes heat transfer while minimizing hydraulic power consumption, enhancing the efficiency and performance of heat exchangers by allowing independent control of airflow through each exchanger, reducing drag and weight, and optimizing thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
vehicle heat exchangers are designed to exchange heat between two different fluids, or two similar fluids that are at different temperatures
Implementation Method 2
air which is forced to flow through the heat exchanger, either as a result of vehicle movement or through the use of a fan
Implementation Method 3
an active louver system that controls air flowing through the air inlet directly into the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle thermal management system is provided that includes two or more heat exchangers configured in a non-stacked arrangement, where separate air inlets corresponding to each of the heat exchangers allow a direct intake of ambient air. Active louver systems consisting of sets of adjustable louvers and a control actuator are used to control and regulate air flowing directly into one or more of the heat exchangers, where the adjustable louvers are either adjustable between two positions, i.e., opened and closed, or adjustable over a range of positions. Air ducts may be used to couple the output from one heat exchanger to the input of a different heat exchanger.