Cooling Fan Control System for Vehicle Engine Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling fan control systems for vehicle engine compartments cannot bidirectionally communicate with the engine management system (EMS) and engine control unit (ECU), making it difficult to adjust the cooling fan motor's rotation speed based on internal engine temperature and potentially leading to voltage drops and disconnections due to complex wiring, affecting stable power supply.
Innovation Solution
A cooling fan control system that includes a sensor unit with a temperature sensor and air-conditioner pressure transducer to generate output values, allowing bidirectional communication with EMS and ECU, and a control portion to adjust the cooling motor's rotation speed based on control conditions formed by these values, including target and secondary control conditions, to maintain optimal coolant temperature and pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cooling fan control system uses complex wiring to connect components, then the cooling fan can be operated, but voltage drops and wire disconnections occur, affecting stable power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cooling fan control system with the engine control unit (ECU) by merging the control functions into a single integrated controller. This consolidation eliminates separate wiring connections between multiple components, reducing the risk of voltage drops and disconnections while maintaining reliable power supply to the cooling fan.
Solution Approach 2:
The ECU is designed to perform multiple functions including both engine control and cooling fan control. By making the control unit universal, the system eliminates the need for separate dedicated control components and their associated wiring, thereby reducing complexity while ensuring stable power supply through the integrated control architecture.
2Measurement precision
If the cooling fan control system is separated from the motor, then the control system can be independently designed, but it cannot detect motor state or compensate rotation speed based on internal temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling fan control system with the motor control functions within the same ECU. This integration enables the control system to directly detect motor state parameters and compensate rotation speed based on internal temperature readings, as both sensing and control functions reside in the same unified controller.
3Adaptability or versatility
If bidirectional communication between EMS and ECU is not implemented, then the system structure can be simpler, but it is impossible to adjust cooling fan rotation speed based on internal engine temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements bidirectional communication between the EMS and ECU, creating a feedback loop where temperature data from the engine is transmitted to the cooling fan control system. This enables the system to dynamically adjust cooling fan rotation speed based on real-time internal engine temperature readings, optimizing cooling efficiency while maintaining manageable communication complexity through standardized protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling fan control system is provided. The system includes a sensor unit that includes a temperature sensor that generates a first output value corresponding to a coolant temperature and an air-conditioner pressure transducer that generates a second output value corresponding to an air-conditioner pressure and a cooling control portion. The cooling control portion generates a control condition based on the first output value and the second output value and adjusts a rotation speed of a cooling motor based on the control condition. The control condition includes a target control condition formed as a region including a cross point of the first output value and the second output value. The cooling control portion adjusts the rotation speed of the cooling motor to cause the first output value and the second output value to correspond to the target control condition.