Cooling Package Fan Control for Debris-Resistant Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural vehicle cooling systems face issues with debris plugging intake screens, leading to reduced cooling capacity and increased plugging risks due to cross-winds and high volumes of debris, necessitating a more efficient airflow solution that pushes clean air across heat exchangers while allowing for debris removal.
Innovation Solution
A controller and method for an air mover that operates based on temperature data from heat exchangers to determine airflow requirements, using a pusher air mover to generate airflow across heat exchangers in a single pass configuration, with the ability to reverse airflow for debris removal, optimizing airflow velocity and reducing plugging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high volumes of air are drawn into the cooling package from the sides of the vehicles, then cooling capacity is increased, but intake screens become plugged with debris
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air intake function from the side screens and relocates it to the top of the vehicle. The air mover draws air from the cleaner top area, separating the intake function from the debris-prone side screens. This allows high air volumes to be drawn while avoiding the plugging issue at the screen location.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of drawing air in through side screens as conventional systems do, the patent inverts the approach by drawing air from the top and pushing it down through the cooling package. This reversal of airflow direction and intake location avoids the debris accumulation problem while maintaining high cooling capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If stacked or multiple pass heat exchangers are used, then cooling capacity is increased, but possibility of plugging intake screens increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intake screen from the conventional side location where it would be exposed to debris. By extracting the screen function and relocating the air intake to the top, the system maintains multiple pass heat exchangers for high cooling capacity while eliminating the screen plugging risk associated with side intake locations.
3Reliability
If air mover pushes air from the top of the vehicle, then cleaner air is drawn in and intake area is increased, but airflow velocity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a controllable air mover that can dynamically adjust airflow characteristics. By positioning the air mover at the top and controlling its operation, the system draws in large volumes of clean air from the top area and maintains adequate airflow velocity through the cooling package, resolving the contradiction between clean air intake and sufficient flow velocity.
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 solution enhances cooling efficiency by ensuring clean airflow across heat exchangers, reduces plugging, and effectively removes debris, thereby maintaining optimal cooling performance and extending the lifespan of cooling system components.
Implementation Method 1
An air mover is operated at the set point speed to generate airflow across each of the heat exchangers
Implementation Method 2
engine coolant, hydraulic oil and charge air temperature data is measured
Data Source
AI summary
A controller and method for operating an air mover for a cooling system of a work vehicle. In one embodiment, engine coolant, hydraulic oil and charge air temperature data is measured. The temperature data is reconciled by using the largest required fan speed as the set point speed for cooling the heat exchangers with airflow. An air mover is operated at the set point speed to generate airflow across each of the heat exchangers.