Supplemental Coolant Heating With Recirculation for Fast Cabin Warm-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automotive heating systems experience delays in producing warm air due to the engine cooling fluid's initial temperature and may not provide sufficient heat under low load conditions or cold ambient temperatures, leading to inefficient passenger compartment heating.
Innovation Solution
A supplemental liquid heating system is integrated into the engine cooling and heating systems, utilizing a liquid heat generator and control valve to provide additional heat to the cooling fluid, ensuring quicker temperature reach and improved heating efficiency by directing cooling fluid through a hydrodynamic chamber where it absorbs heat before being circulated to the heater core.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the vehicle uses the engine cooling system as a heat source for the heating system, then the heating system can utilize waste heat from the engine, but there is a significant delay in achieving desired air temperature when the engine is first started or operated in cold conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-heating the cooling fluid using an auxiliary heater before it enters the heater core. This ensures that the cooling fluid is already at an elevated temperature when needed for heating the passenger compartment, eliminating the delay that would otherwise occur while waiting for the engine to warm up the cooling fluid naturally.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the engine operates under low load conditions or in cold ambient temperatures, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the amount of heat available from the engine cooling system decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an auxiliary heater as an intermediary device that can supplement or replace engine heat when the engine produces insufficient thermal energy. This mediator ensures consistent heating performance regardless of engine load or ambient conditions, allowing the engine to operate efficiently at lower loads while maintaining passenger comfort.
3Device complexity
If the heating system relies solely on engine cooling fluid temperature, then the system design is simple, but the heating performance is insufficient during extended cold periods or idle engine operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the engine cooling system with an auxiliary heating system, creating a hybrid thermal management system. The auxiliary heater is integrated into the existing cooling circuit, allowing it to supplement engine heat when needed while maintaining the simplicity of the original system architecture. This combination ensures reliable heating performance across all operating conditions.
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 solution reduces the time to achieve desired passenger compartment temperatures and enhances heating efficiency by providing additional heat when needed, ensuring consistent warmth even in cold conditions or with efficient engines under low load.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid heat generator operable to heat the cooling fluid
Implementation Method 2
a heater core fluidly connected to the supplemental heating system and operable to transfer heat from the cooling fluid to the air stream
Data Source
AI summary
A preferred embodiment supplemental heating system is fluidly connectable to a vehicle cooling system and includes a liquid heat generator operable for heating a cooling fluid delivered to the supplemental heating system from the vehicle's cooling system. The liquid heat generator includes a discharge passage connectable to a heater core of the vehicle and a inlet passage connectable to the vehicle's cooling system. The supplemental heating system further includes a control valve having an inlet connectable to an exit passage of a heater core of the vehicle, a discharge passage fluidly connected to the liquid heat generator, and a second discharge passage connectable to the vehicle's cooling system. The control valve is operable for controlling the proportion of cooling fluid exiting the heater core that is returned to the vehicle's cooling system and recirculated back to the liquid heat generator.