Cooling Controller Thermal Management for Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling controllers for internal combustion engines face challenges in managing heat generation in electromagnetic control valves, particularly when the engine temperature is high, leading to potential overheating and reduced efficiency in warm-up processes.
Innovation Solution
A cooling controller that adjusts the switching cycle and duty cycle of the electromagnetic control valve based on engine temperature, using a processing circuit to regulate current flow and set a longer switching cycle when the temperature is low to reduce heat generation and maintain a small average cross-sectional flow area, while shortening the cycle when the temperature is high to prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the electromagnetic control valve is kept closed by continuous current flow through the coil to maintain small cross-sectional flow area when engine temperature is low, then the warm-up efficiency is improved, but the coil overheats when engine temperature is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by switching the current flow through the coil on and off at predetermined intervals. Instead of continuous current flow, the control valve is energized periodically with the duty cycle and frequency adjusted based on engine temperature. When engine temperature is low, the valve remains closed longer to maintain warm-up efficiency. When engine temperature is high, the switching frequency increases and duty cycle decreases to allow heat dissipation, preventing coil overheating while maintaining adequate flow area control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the electromagnetic control valve's operation adaptive to changing engine temperature conditions. The control system dynamically adjusts the duty cycle and switching frequency of the coil current based on real-time engine temperature feedback. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize between warm-up efficiency at low temperatures and heat dissipation at high temperatures, resolving the contradiction between maintaining valve closure and preventing coil overheating.
2Area of stationary object
If the switching cycle is lengthened to maintain the electromagnetic control valve closed with sufficient force, then the cross-sectional flow area is sufficiently reduced, but the heat generation in the coil increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic action to control the electromagnetic valve by switching current on and off at optimized intervals. By adjusting the duty cycle (ratio of on-time to total cycle time) and switching frequency, the system achieves adequate valve closure force during the on-period while allowing heat dissipation during the off-period. This periodic control reduces average heat generation compared to continuous operation while maintaining sufficient valve closure when needed for flow area control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the duty cycle and switching frequency of the coil current based on engine temperature and operating conditions. When engine temperature is low and valve closure is critical, the duty cycle is increased and/or switching frequency decreased to maintain closure force. When temperature is high, the duty cycle is decreased and/or switching frequency increased to reduce heat generation. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining flow area control and reducing energy loss as heat.
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 effectively reduces heat generation in the coil when the engine is warm, preventing overheating and ensuring efficient warm-up by dynamically adjusting the electromagnetic control valve's operation based on temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
electromagnetic force needs to be produced in order to close the electromagnetic control valve when the internal combustion engine is running
Implementation Method 2
current flows through the coil of the electromagnetic control valve in order to keep the electromagnetic control valve closed. As a result, after the internal combustion engine is warmed up, the coil will be overheated
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device includes an inner passage, an outer passage, an engine-driven pump, an electromagnetic control valve, and a driving circuit that regulates current flowing through the electromagnetic control valve by activating and deactivating a switching element. A cooling controller for the cooling device includes a processing circuit configured to execute an operation process for operating, when the engine-driven pump is driven, the switching element by setting a duty cycle of an activation time to a switching cycle, which is a reciprocal of a switching frequency of the switching element, to be a larger value when a temperature of the internal combustion engine is low than when the temperature is high and a cycle varying process for setting a longer switching cycle when the temperature of the internal combustion engine is less than a preset temperature than when the temperature is greater than or equal to the preset temperature.