Motor Vehicle Cooler Arrangement with Selective Airflow Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
In motor vehicles with supercharged combustion engines and EGR systems, condensate precipitation and ice formation in charge air and EGR coolers can obstruct pipelines, particularly in cold weather, due to inadequate regulation of cooling air flow.
Innovation Solution
A cooler device with a screening mechanism and control system that selectively limits air flow through the charge air cooler and EGR cooler elements to prevent ice formation, allowing sufficient airflow through the EGR cooler and a portion of the charge air cooler, while minimizing space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the screening means limits the air flow through all cooler elements to prevent ice formation, then ice formation is reduced, but the air flow through the charge air cooler is excessively restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The cooler elements are divided into different zones with independent airflow control. The EGR cooler is fully screened while the charge air cooler retains partial airflow, allowing selective ice prevention without completely blocking charge air cooling
Solution Approach 2:
Different screening intensities are applied to different cooler elements based on their specific ice formation risks. The EGR cooler receives full screening protection while the charge air cooler receives partial protection, matching the local ice formation hazard levels
2Ease of operation
If the screening means is placed far from the cooler elements to regulate air flow effectively, then air flow regulation is improved, but the device occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The screening means is integrated within the existing cooler device structure, nesting the screening function inside the cooler assembly rather than placing it as a separate external component, thus saving space
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
Prevents ice formation in the EGR cooler and a smaller portion of the charge air cooler, ensuring continuous operation in cold weather without obstructing airflow through critical pipelines, and allows for compact placement of the screening mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
the respective cooler elements each comprise pipelines for the medium which is to be cooled and air passages for a cooling air flow which are arranged between the pipelines... the medium which is to be cooled (i.e. charge air or exhaust gases respectively) is led through these pipelines and is cooled, via the cooling flanges, by ambient air which passes through air passages between the pipelines
Implementation Method 2
cooling air flow which are arranged between the pipelines... ambient air which passes through air passages between the pipelines
Implementation Method 3
the inlet air for the combustion engine is pressurised by a compressor and the resulting pressurised charge air is thereafter cooled
Implementation Method 4
When the charge air is cooled in the charge air cooler, condensate precipitates in the pipelines of the charge air cooler's cooler element
Implementation Method 5
a screening means arranged in front of or behind said cooler elements in order to regulate the air flow through them
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooler device (1) for a motor vehicle comprising: - a charge air cooler (10) with a first cooler element (11), - an EGR cooler (20) with a second cooler element (21), whereby the first and second cooler elements are arranged beside and substantially in plane with one another, and whereby the respective cooler elements each comprise pipelines for the medium which is to be cooled and air passages for a cooling air flow which are arranged between the pipelines, - a screening means (40) arranged in front of or behind the cooler elements in order to regulate the air flow through the latter, and - a control mechanism (50) by which the screening means is switchable to and fro between an open position in which the screening means does not, or at least does not appreciably, limit the air flow through said air passages of the cooler elements, and a closed position in which the screening means limits the air flow through the air passages between all of said pipelines of the second cooler element and the air flow through the air passages between only some of said pipelines of the first cooler element in order to counteract ice formation in these pipelines.