Vehicle Coolant Valve for Engine and Transmission Warming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles with automatic transmissions experience increased energy loss due to cold transmission fluid, known as transmission spin loss, which reduces energy efficiency until the fluid warms up.
Innovation Solution
A coolant circuit with an Exhaust Gas Heat Recovery (EGHR) system and a control valve that directs engine coolant flow to either the internal combustion engine or the transmission fluid warming system based on coolant temperature, ensuring efficient heating of the engine or transmission fluid to minimize energy loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the engine coolant is directed to warm the transmission fluid, then transmission spin loss is reduced, but the engine warming speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two coolant flow paths based on real-time temperature conditions. The control valve adjusts the coolant flow direction dynamically: when engine temperature is below threshold, coolant circulates through the engine to warm it; when engine temperature reaches threshold, coolant is redirected to the transmission fluid to reduce spin loss. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing the warming priority at different operational stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the engine coolant temperature as a switching parameter to change the flow path configuration. When the coolant temperature parameter reaches a pre-defined threshold, the control valve changes the flow path from engine-warming mode to transmission-warming mode. This parameter-based control enables automatic optimization of energy distribution between engine and transmission warming needs.
2Productivity
If the engine coolant is directed to warm the engine, then engine operating efficiency improves, but transmission fluid warming is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary warming of the engine first before directing heat to the transmission fluid. By initially prioritizing engine warming when coolant temperature is low, the system ensures the engine reaches optimal operating conditions first. Only after the engine is sufficiently warmed does the system redirect coolant flow to warm the transmission fluid, thereby reducing spin loss at the appropriate time.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts coolant flow distribution based on real-time temperature monitoring. The switching between engine-warming priority and transmission-warming priority is automatic and condition-based, ensuring that the engine receives adequate warming attention first, then transitioning to transmission fluid warming when conditions permit.
3Device complexity
If a single coolant flow path is used, then system complexity is reduced, but the ability to selectively warm engine or transmission fluid is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant circuit is segmented into two distinct flow paths: one dedicated to engine warming and another to transmission fluid warming. The control valve acts as a switching mechanism that directs coolant flow along one path or the other based on temperature conditions. This segmentation enables selective warming capability while maintaining relatively simple system architecture through straightforward path selection rather than complex multi-path simultaneous 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
The system quickly warms the internal combustion engine when coolant temperature is low and prioritizes transmission fluid warming when it's adequate, reducing transmission spin loss and enhancing overall vehicle efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The EGHR system transfers heat from a flow of exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine to the engine coolant
Implementation Method 2
The control valve directs the flow of the engine coolant along the first fluid flow path when a temperature of the engine coolant is below a pre-defined temperature, and directs the flow of the engine coolant along the second fluid flow path when the temperature of the engine coolant is equal to or greater than the pre-defined temperature
Implementation Method 3
A transmission fluid warming system is disposed along the second fluid flow path
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a coolant circuit that circulates a flow of an engine coolant therethrough. The coolant circuit includes an Exhaust Gas Heat Recover (EGHR) system for transferring heat from a flow of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine to the flow of the engine coolant. A control valve is disposed downstream of the EGHR system, and directs the flow of the engine coolant along either a first fluid flow path back to the internal combustion engine to heat the internal combustion engine, or a second fluid flow path including a transmission fluid warming system to heat a supply of transmission fluid to reduce transmission spin loss.