Vehicle Cooling System Control via Predictive Thermal Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems in vehicles do not effectively manage thermal loads on radiators, leading to material strain and reduced service life due to uneven temperature distribution and frequent changes in cooling fluid and ambient air flows.
Innovation Solution
A method to control the cooling system by predicting future temperature profiles and adjusting the thermostat, water pump, fan, and radiator blinds to minimize the magnitude, frequency, and direction of material strains, thereby reducing thermal stress on the radiator and extending its service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the thermostat frequently opens and closes to maintain engine temperature, then the engine cooling efficiency is improved, but the radiator experiences increased thermal stress and material strain
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit predicts future cooling demands based on driving conditions and pre-adjusts the thermostat position before temperature extremes occur. This prevents frequent abrupt opening/closing cycles by preparing the system in advance, thereby maintaining engine cooling efficiency while reducing thermal stress on the radiator.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermostat is controlled in a dynamic manner with multiple intermediate positions rather than simple on/off switching. The control unit adjusts the thermostat opening degree continuously based on predicted cooling needs, smoothing out temperature fluctuations and reducing the frequency of full open/close transitions that cause material strain.
2Productivity
If the cooling fluid flow rate is increased to improve cooling performance, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the temperature distribution uniformity in the radiator deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system differentiates between different regions of the cooling system and applies appropriate flow rates to each. The control unit adjusts the thermostat to optimize flow distribution across the radiator core, ensuring that high flow rates are applied where cooling demand is highest while maintaining adequate flow in other regions, thus achieving both high cooling efficiency and temperature uniformity.
3Power
If the fan speed is increased to enhance radiator cooling, then the heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fan operates at partial speed rather than always at maximum capacity. The control unit determines the minimum necessary fan speed to achieve the predicted cooling demand, running the fan at lower speeds during moderate conditions and only increasing to higher speeds when absolutely necessary, thus maintaining heat dissipation efficiency while minimizing energy consumption.
4Productivity
If the cooling system is designed with high cooling capacity, then the cooling performance is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing cooling system components (thermostat, water pump, fan, radiator) are made multi-functional through intelligent control. The control unit enables these standard components to perform both their primary cooling function and a secondary function of predicting and adapting to future cooling demands, thereby achieving high cooling performance without adding complex dedicated hardware for each function.
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
The method reduces wear on the radiator and other components by minimizing temperature fluctuations and maintaining efficient cooling performance, thereby enhancing the robustness and longevity of the cooling system components.
Implementation Method 1
The radiator 100 is a heat exchanger, in which the ambient air, which is often forced through the radiator 100 by the headwind 161, 162, cools hot cooling fluid 154 as it passes through the radiator 100.
Implementation Method 2
The radiator 100 is a heat exchanger, in which the ambient air... cools hot cooling fluid 154 as it passes through the radiator 100.
Implementation Method 3
The cooling fluid can be circulated in the cooling system, in which the engine 200 and a radiator 100 are included in a cooling fluid loop. The surplus heat is transported via the loop from the engine 200 to the radiator 100.
Implementation Method 4
The thermostat 120 controls the flow Q of cooling fluid through the radiator 100. The thermostat 120 can be controlled 132 by a control unit 300.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for controlling a vehicle cooling system includes: a velocity prediction unit makes a prediction of at least one future velocity profile vpred for the vehicle; a temperature prediction unit predicts at least one future temperature profile Tpred for at least one component in the vehicle, based on at least tonnage for the vehicle; information related to a section of road ahead of the vehicle and on the at least one future velocity profile vpred. A cooling system control unit controls the cooling system based on the at least one future temperature profile Tpred and on a limit value temperature Tcomp_lim for the respective at least one component in the vehicle so that a number of fluctuations of an inlet temperature Tcomp_fluid_in_radiator for the cooling fluid flow into the radiator is reduced and/or so that a magnitude of the flow into the radiator is reduced when a temperature derivative dT/dt for the inlet temperature Tcomp_fluid_in_radiator exceeds a limit value dT/dtlim for the temperature derivative.