Construction Machine Reducing Agent Tank Cooling via Fan Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing construction machines are unable to efficiently cool the reducing agent tank, particularly due to the lack of introduction of fresh outside air for heat exchange.
Innovation Solution
A construction machine design that includes a vehicle body frame, an engine, a radiator, a bulkhead, a cover, a radiator fan, and a tank housing section with an introduction section for outside air, allowing the outside air to be utilized for cooling the reducing agent tank through the suction pressure of the radiator fan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the urea water tank is installed in a space adjacent to the radiator space separated by a bulkhead, then the tank is protected from direct heat exposure, but the fresh outside air cannot be introduced to cool the tank efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The space around the reducing agent tank is segmented into a first space (adjacent to radiator, separated by bulkhead) and a second space (communicating with outside air). This segmentation allows the tank to be protected from direct heat while still enabling efficient cooling through the second space that receives fresh outside air.
Solution Approach 2:
The bulkhead acts as an intermediary element that separates the radiator space from the reducing agent tank while allowing thermal management. It protects the tank from direct heat exposure while permitting indirect cooling through the introduced outside air that flows around the tank in the second space.
2Volume of moving object
If the reducing agent tank is placed near the engine and radiator for space efficiency, then the vehicle layout is compact, but the tank is exposed to high temperatures causing reducing agent deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The tank housing space is segmented into distinct regions: a first space adjacent to the radiator separated by a bulkhead, and a second space that communicates with the outside air introduction section. This segmentation enables compact layout while protecting the reducing agent from harmful heat exposure through the bulkhead barrier and active cooling airflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The bulkhead serves as a protective intermediary between the hot radiator/engine area and the reducing agent tank, blocking direct heat transfer. Simultaneously, the outside air introduction section provides a cooling intermediary that flows around the tank to dissipate heat, maintaining compact layout while eliminating harmful thermal exposure.
3Device complexity
If outside air is not introduced to the reducing agent tank area, then the system structure is simple, but the reducing agent tank cannot be cooled efficiently leading to quality deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The outside air introduction section serves multiple functions: it cools the reducing agent tank, provides airflow for the radiator, and maintains proper ventilation in the engine compartment. This multi-functionality enables efficient cooling and quality preservation without adding complex dedicated cooling systems, keeping the overall structure simple while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's own outside air intake and radiator fan to cool the reducing agent tank, rather than requiring a separate cooling system. The airflow path is designed so that the tank is cooled passively by the ambient airflow already present in the vehicle structure, enabling self-service cooling that maintains simplicity while ensuring reliable temperature control.
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 design enables efficient cooling of the reducing agent tank by utilizing fresh outside air for heat exchange, reducing the risk of reducing agent deterioration and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
allows the outside air and the pipe to pass therethrough by the suction pressure of the radiator fan
Implementation Method 2
the reducing agent tank can be cooled efficiently by utilizing fresh outside air for heat exchange
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A construction machine includes: a cover that covers an engine and a radiator; a radiator fan that is arranged at the rear of a vehicle body frame and discharges exhaust gas toward the rear of the vehicle body frame from the inner space of the cover; an injection device that injects a reducing agent into exhaust gas of the engine; a tank housing section that is arranged at one side of the vehicle body frame, includes an introduction section for introducing outside air, and houses a tank for storing the reducing agent injected by the injection device; and a connection section that is arranged in either the cover or the vehicle body frame and in the tank housing section, connects the inner space of the tank housing section and the inner space of the cover, and allows the outside air and the pipe to pass therethrough, the outside air having been introduced from the introduction section by the suction pressure of the radiator fan, the pipe supplying the reducing agent to the injection device.