Cylinder Head Cooling with Parallel Coolant Channels

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cylinder head designs for burner power machines face challenges in effectively cooling thermally highly loaded areas, such as valve web areas and components like fuel injectors or spark plugs, which require efficient cooling to prevent overheating and damage.

Innovation Solution

The cylinder head incorporates a unique coolant distribution system with multiple coolant channels arranged between outlet and inlet channels, allowing coolant to flow directly through thermally stressed areas and then upwards to cool components like fuel injectors or spark plugs, before flowing into an upper coolant coat to further dissipate heat.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If multiple coolant channels are added to cool thermally highly loaded areas, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidcoolant channel configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent coolant channels (first, second, third, and fourth coolant channels) that can be individually optimized for different thermal zones. Each channel is positioned to cool specific thermally highly loaded areas such as valve web regions and combustion chamber areas, allowing targeted cooling without requiring a single complex distributed system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different coolant channels are strategically positioned to provide localized cooling to specific thermally stressed regions. The first and second coolant channels cool valve web areas between exhaust ports, while the third and fourth channels cool areas between exhaust and intake ports. This local quality approach ensures that each region receives appropriate cooling based on its specific thermal load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Temperature

If coolant flows through multiple channels to cool all critical areas, then comprehensive cooling is improved, but pressure loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling coverageVSAvoidcoolant pressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The coolant flow path is segmented into parallel channels rather than a single long serpentine path. The first, second, third, and fourth coolant channels are arranged to allow coolant to flow through multiple channels simultaneously from a common inlet, reducing the total flow path length and pressure loss while maintaining comprehensive cooling coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coolant distribution system transitions from a one-dimensional sequential flow path to a multi-dimensional parallel flow architecture. Multiple coolant channels are positioned at different locations and orientations within the cylinder head, allowing coolant to distribute in multiple spatial dimensions simultaneously, thereby reducing flow resistance and pressure loss while achieving comprehensive cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design enables efficient cooling of critical areas within the cylinder head, effectively managing thermal stress and extending the lifespan of components, while also optimizing coolant flow to minimize pressure loss and ensure adequate cooling.

Implementation Method 1

The cylinder head has a (e.g., central) receptacle for a mounting sleeve, a fuel injector, or a spark plug. The cylinder head has one, preferably single, coolant inlet (e.g., on the cylinder head base side) for connecting to a coolant source. The cylinder head has a first coolant channel, which is arranged (e.g., in a valve land region) between the first and second exhaust ports

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

The first, second, and third coolant channels are arranged (e.g., directly) downstream of the coolant inlet and can be flowed through in parallel with coolant from the coolant inlet. The cylinder head has a coolant chamber designed to cool the receptacle and arranged downstream of the first, second, and third coolant channels.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4022181B1Cooling-optimised cylinder head and optimised cylinder head cooling method
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP4022181B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4022181B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates, inter alia, to a cylinder head (10). A first, a second and a third coolant channel (46, 48, 50) are situated downstream of a coolant inlet (28), and coolant can flow through them in parallel from the coolant inlet (28). A coolant chamber (62) is formed for cooling a receptacle (26) and is situated downstream of the first, second and third coolant channels (46, 48, 50). An upper coolant jacket (38) is situated downstream of the coolant chamber (62).