Cooling Water Bypass Valve Control for Leak-Free Temperature Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling water temperature control devices waste cooling water and fail to effectively utilize its heat due to constant leakage when the thermo valve is closed, and they are difficult to adjust for different operating temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A cooling water temperature control device with a main flow passage, a thermo valve, a sub-flow passage bypassing the thermo valve, and a control unit that opens a sub-valve to allow cooling water to flow only when necessary, enabling the thermo valve to sense temperature changes without constant leakage, and allowing the operating temperature of the thermo valve to be adjusted by changing the sub-valve's opening temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the thermo valve is closed to prevent cooling water leakage, then water waste is reduced, but the temperature sensing unit cannot sense temperature changes because cooling water does not reach the sensed region
Solution Approach 1:
The flow passage is divided into a main flow passage and a sub-flow passage. The main flow passage allows cooling water to reach the temperature sensing unit when the sub-valve is open, while the sub-valve controls a separate bypass flow passage that can be independently opened to supply cooling water to the sensed region without opening the main thermo valve. This segmentation enables independent control of sensing function and flow control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub-valve acts as an intermediary component that controls cooling water flow to the sensed region independently of the main thermo valve. By opening the sub-valve, cooling water can reach the temperature sensing unit through the sub-flow passage without requiring the main thermo valve to be open, thus enabling temperature sensing while keeping the main valve closed to prevent water waste.
2Measurement precision
If cooling water constantly leaks through the closed thermo valve to enable temperature sensing, then the temperature sensing unit can sense temperature changes, but cooling water is wasted and heat cannot be effectively utilized
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous cooling water flow through the closed thermo valve, the sub-valve is opened periodically or on-demand to supply cooling water to the sensed region only when temperature sensing is required. This periodic action enables temperature sensing capability while minimizing cooling water waste and heat loss during periods when sensing is not needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the operating temperature of the thermo valve is changed by replacing the wax in the temperature sensing unit, then the opening temperature can be adjusted, but it requires replacing the entire thermo valve component
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature control system is segmented into the thermo valve component and the sub-valve component. The sub-valve's opening temperature can be independently adjusted without affecting the thermo valve's internal wax mechanism. This segmentation allows flexible temperature adjustment by simply changing the sub-valve's operating characteristics rather than replacing the entire thermo valve assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub-valve serves as an intermediary that provides adjustable temperature control functionality without requiring modification of the thermo valve's internal temperature sensing mechanism. By adjusting when the sub-valve opens, the effective opening temperature of the overall system can be changed while keeping the thermo valve component itself unchanged.
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 configuration reduces water waste, effectively uses the heat of the cooling water, and allows for easy adjustment of the thermo valve's opening temperature without replacing the thermo valve, thereby optimizing temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensing unit (2f) that senses the temperature of a sensed region (R1a) in the main flow passage (R1)
Implementation Method 2
a thermo valve (2) that opens and closes the main flow passage (R1)
Data Source
AI summary
The cooling water temperature control device includes a thermo valve 2 that opens a main flow passage R1 when the temperature of a sensed region R1a in the main flow passage R1 reaches or exceeds an operating temperature set in advance, a sub-valve 3 that opens and closes a sub-flow passage R2 bypassing the thermo valve 2, and a control unit 6 that opens the sub-valve 3 when the temperature of the cooling water on an upstream side of the thermo valve 2 is a predetermined temperature. One end on the upstream side of the sub-flow passage R2 is connected to the sensed region R1a in the main flow passage R1 or to a downstream side of the sensed region R1a, and the operating temperature of the thermo valve 2 is set to be equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature.