Multi-Port Coolant Flow Valve for Engine Warm-Up and Cooling Split
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle engines experience poor fuel efficiency and unstable combustion during cold starts due to increased friction and heat loss, necessitating rapid temperature increase to improve efficiency and durability.
Innovation Solution
A cooling circuit with a flow control valve that controls coolant flow rates by varying the opening rates of outlet and inlet ports to prioritize heating or cooling based on engine operation conditions, allowing for simultaneous control of three outlet ports and one inlet port, reducing manufacturing costs and improving fuel efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant flow is maximized to the radiator for rapid cooling, then cooling performance is improved, but fuel efficiency deteriorates due to excessive heat loss during cold start
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control valve dynamically adjusts the opening rates of multiple ports based on operating conditions. During cold start, the valve closes the inlet port and opens the heater core outlet port to minimize coolant flow and retain heat. During normal operation, the valve opens the inlet port and radiator outlet port to maximize cooling. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining temperature and fuel efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow parameters (opening rates of ports) based on temperature conditions. The control unit monitors coolant temperature and adjusts the valve position to change flow resistance and distribution. This parameter change allows the system to optimize between heat retention and dissipation, resolving the fuel efficiency versus cooling performance contradiction.
2Measurement precision
If the flow control valve controls multiple ports simultaneously, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control valve merges multiple control functions into a single integrated valve body with multiple ports (inlet port, first outlet port, second outlet port, third outlet port). A single valve mechanism simultaneously controls flow to the radiator, heater core, and other components, achieving precise multi-path flow control without requiring multiple separate valves, thus resolving the contradiction between control precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control valve is designed as a multi-functional device that can simultaneously perform cooling control, heating control, and flow rate regulation for multiple circuits. This universal design achieves precise control of multiple parameters while using a single device, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high control precision.
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 solution quickly warms up the engine, maximizes fuel efficiency, and optimizes cooling performance, especially on steep slopes, by minimizing coolant loss to the oil heat exchanger or EGR cooler and maximizing flow to the heater core, thereby enhancing heating performance.
Implementation Method 1
controls coolant flow rates by varying the opening rates of outlet and inlet ports
Implementation Method 2
quickly warms up the engine... by minimizing coolant loss to the oil heat exchanger or EGR cooler and maximizing flow to the heater core
Implementation Method 3
a second outlet port connected to an oil heat exchanger or an EGR cooler
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a technology that can simultaneously control the flow rate of a coolant and perform variable separate cooling by controlling the opening rate of a flow control valve. The flow control valve has an inlet port connected to a coolant outlet of a cylinder block and a plurality of outlet ports connected to a cooling inlet port of an engine such that the opening rate of a first outlet port is symmetrically changed in a first direction and a second direction from a mid-operation angle of the entire operation section of the flow control valve.