Cylinder Liner Flow Balancer for Uniform Coolant Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cylinder liners in engines face challenges with coolant flow imbalance and pressure issues due to a singular coolant feed location, which can lead to inefficient heat management and reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a flow balancer on the cylinder liner's outer surface, positioned in the coolant flow path, to distribute coolant uniformly across the water jacket, enhancing mixing and pressure properties, and allowing for alternative manufacturing methods like centrifugal casting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a singular coolant feed location is used in the cylinder liner, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but coolant flow imbalance and pressure issues occur leading to inefficient heat management
Solution Approach 1:
The single coolant feed location is segmented into multiple feed locations (first and second coolant feed locations) around the water jacket circumference. This segmentation allows coolant to be distributed to different regions of the water jacket simultaneously, achieving balanced coolant flow and pressure distribution while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the integrated flow balancer design
2Device complexity
If coolant is fed from a single location, then the coolant passage structure is simplified, but heat management efficiency decreases due to flow imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The flow balancer introduces local quality variations into the coolant flow path by creating region-specific flow resistance characteristics. The first and second regions of the water jacket have differentiated coolant flow paths with specific resistance values, allowing each region to receive appropriately balanced coolant flow for optimal heat management without requiring complete structural redesign
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional cylinder liner design is used, then manufacturing methods are limited, but service life is reduced due to coolant flow issues
Solution Approach 1:
The flow balancer modifies the coolant flow parameters (flow rate, pressure distribution, flow direction) by introducing controlled flow resistance variations through its geometric features. This parameter adjustment ensures optimal coolant distribution to different water jacket regions, preventing hot spots and thermal stress that would reduce cylinder liner service life, while the design remains compatible with various manufacturing methods including centrifugal casting
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
Improves coolant distribution and pressure management, extending the service life of the cylinder liner and enabling more efficient heat management through balanced coolant flow, suitable for various engine configurations and manufacturing techniques.
Implementation Method 1
a flow balancer for coolant, formed on the outer liner surface, positioned in a coolant flow path extending in an axial direction along the water jacket surface from the water jacket feed outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A cylinder liner in a power assembly for an engine includes an elongate liner body including a water jacket surface and a plurality of combustion air ports extending from an outer liner surface to an inner liner surface. A coolant supply passage extends from a coolant inlet formed in an outer liner surface, to a water jacket feed outlet spaced axially from the plurality of combustion air ports. A flow balancer for coolant is positioned in a coolant flow path extending in an axial direction along the water jacket surface from the water jacket feed outlet. The cylinder liner may form, in service in an engine, an upper water jacket, and a lower air annulus. The flow balancer assists in normalizing a flow and pressure of coolant through the water jacket.