Engine Coolant Additive Concentration for Volume Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing engine coolant formulations require centralized production and costly shipping due to the use of ethylene glycol, which is harmful and voluminous, and often unnecessary in certain environments, leading to increased risks and costs.

Innovation Solution

A super-concentrate engine coolant additive with an alkaline pH, comprising a salt of a C6-C12 aliphatic monobasic carboxylic acid (40-70 weight percent), a salt of an azole compound (1-10 weight percent), and up to 35 weight percent water, which can be easily mixed with ethylene glycol or water to form a corrosion-inhibiting coolant formulation, reducing the volume of additives needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If ethylene glycol is used as the major coolant liquid, then freeze point depression is achieved, but shipping costs and safety risks increase due to volume and toxicity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefreeze pointVSAvoidvolume of coolant

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the concentration parameter by providing a highly concentrated additive formulation (containing 5-20% corrosion inhibitors by weight) that requires minimal volume in the final coolant mix, thereby reducing the total volume of coolant needed while maintaining freeze protection capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the corrosion inhibition function from the bulk coolant liquid and concentrates it into a separate additive component, allowing the coolant to use water or other liquids as the major component rather than requiring large volumes of ethylene glycol

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Temperature

If ethylene glycol is used as the major coolant liquid, then freeze point depression is achieved, but shipping costs increase due to the volume of material transported

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefreeze pointVSAvoidshipping volume

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the concentration parameter by providing a highly concentrated additive formulation (containing 5-20% corrosion inhibitors by weight) that requires minimal volume in the final coolant mix, thereby reducing the total volume of coolant needed while maintaining freeze protection capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the corrosion inhibition function from the bulk coolant liquid and concentrates it into a separate additive component, allowing the coolant to use water or other liquids as the major component rather than requiring large volumes of ethylene glycol

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If corrosion inhibitors are incorporated into the coolant formulation, then corrosion protection is improved, but production becomes centralized and shipping costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrosion inhibitionVSAvoidproduction decentralization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the coolant system into a bulk liquid component (water or other inexpensive liquid) and a concentrated additive component (containing corrosion inhibitors), allowing the additive to be manufactured centrally in small volumes and then distributed to local sites for mixing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the corrosion inhibition function from the bulk coolant liquid and concentrates it into a separate additive component, allowing the coolant to use water or other liquids as the major component rather than requiring large volumes of ethylene glycol

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The additive maintains solubility and corrosion inhibition without the need for excessive ethylene glycol, minimizing shipping costs and risks, while maintaining effectiveness across various temperature conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a salt of a C6-C12 aliphatic monobasic carboxylic acid and a salt of an azole compound which provides corrosion inhibition to ferrous and non-ferrous metals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

a salt of a C6-C12 aliphatic monobasic carboxylic acid and a salt of an azole compound which provides corrosion inhibition to ferrous and non-ferrous metals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical Bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

The additive has an alkaline pH and includes a salt of a C6-C12 aliphatic monobasic carboxylic acid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuffering:

Implementation Method 4

The additive, in the absence of extreme temperature storage and shipping conditions, generally remains flowable and homogeneous

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP2778208B1Engine coolant additive

Publication Date: 2017.10.25 VALVOLINE LICENSING & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC

AI summary

An engine coolant additive for use in combination with a major amount of a coolant liquid is described. The engine coolant additive has an alkaline pH, and includes a salt of a monobasic carboxylic acid compound, a salt of an azole compound, and from about 25 weight percent to about 35 weight percent water. The additive may optionally include a transition metal compound such as molybdenum-containing compounds to assist in corrosion inhibition.