Vehicle Cooling System Closing Device for Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles equipped with cooling systems that use ambient air as coolant experience momentum loss due to air acceleration, leading to increased energy consumption and costs, especially at higher speeds, as the coolant inlet and outlet openings contribute to air resistance and drag.
Innovation Solution
A method that employs a closing device to adjust the effective opening cross-section of the coolant inlet and outlet openings based on the cooling system's capacity, reducing passive inflow and turbulent flow, thereby minimizing air resistance and energy consumption, even when the cooling system is not in operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the cooling system uses ambient air as coolant with open coolant inlet and outlet openings, then the cooling system can effectively cool components, but the vehicle experiences increased air resistance and momentum loss
Solution Approach 1:
The closing device dynamically adjusts the effective opening cross-section of the coolant inlet opening based on operating conditions. When the vehicle is stationary or moving slowly, the closing device opens to allow maximum air flow for cooling. When the vehicle moves at high speed, the closing device reduces the opening cross-section to minimize air resistance, thereby resolving the contradiction between cooling capacity and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter (effective opening cross-section) of the coolant inlet opening according to vehicle speed and cooling demands. By varying this parameter, the system optimizes the balance between maintaining adequate cooling airflow and reducing aerodynamic drag, thus addressing the energy consumption issue while preserving cooling functionality.
2Reliability
If the coolant inlet opening is kept open to ensure cooling capacity, then adequate airflow is provided, but air resistance and drag increase
Solution Approach 1:
The closing device provides dynamic control over the coolant inlet opening, adjusting its degree of opening based on real-time operating conditions. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the opening is sufficiently large to maintain reliable cooling performance when needed, while being reduced to minimize air resistance during high-speed operation, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling reliability and reduction of harmful aerodynamic effects.
3Productivity
If the vehicle speed increases to improve transport efficiency, then productivity increases, but momentum loss due to air resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of open coolant openings (increased air resistance) into a controllable parameter. By using the closing device to adjust the opening cross-section, the system allows the vehicle to maintain high speeds for productivity while minimizing the harmful momentum loss from air resistance, effectively converting a potential disadvantage into a manageable variable that serves both productivity and energy efficiency.
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 approach enables energy-efficient vehicle operation by reducing air resistance and momentum loss, particularly at high speeds, by dynamically controlling the opening cross-sections of the coolant openings, thus lowering energy consumption and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a passive inflow of a coolant, in particular cooling air, into the coolant duct, e.g. due to temporary or permanent pressure differences at the coolant inlet and/or at the coolant outlet opening
Implementation Method 2
turbulent flow around the coolant inlet and/or the coolant outlet opening can contribute to the drag of the vehicle
Implementation Method 3
the passive inflow of the coolant and the turbulent flow around the coolant inlet and/or the coolant outlet opening make (avoidable) contributions to the air resistance of the vehicle
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle (2, 38) comprising a cooling system (4) with a coolant channel (6) which comprises a coolant inlet opening (12) and a coolant outlet opening (16). In order to operate the vehicle (2, 38) in an energy efficient manner, the cooling system comprises a closing device (22, 58, 60) and during a journey of the vehicle (2, 38), an effective opening cross-section of one of the openings (12, 16) of the coolant channels (6) is modified using the closing device (22, 58, 60) in accordance with a cooling performance of the cooling system.