Cylinder-Specific Engine Cooling via Crankshaft-Driven Spray
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional engine cooling systems face challenges in efficiently managing thermal loads across different regions of an internal combustion engine, leading to unnecessary coolant flow and increased fuel consumption, as they struggle to balance material strength, knocking behavior, friction, and combustion chamber distortion.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with a force-fit connection to the crankshaft, utilizing a coolant pump and control valves to regulate coolant flow and direct it to specific regions of the engine via spray devices, allowing for precise, crank-angle-dependent cooling, eliminating the need for coolant jackets and optimizing heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling systems provide continuous coolant flow to all cylinder regions, then cooling coverage is ensured, but fuel consumption increases due to unnecessary coolant flow
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into cylinder-specific cooling circuits, with each cylinder having its own coolant line and spray devices. This allows independent control of coolant flow to each cylinder based on its specific thermal load requirements, eliminating unnecessary cooling in cylinders that do not require it.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts coolant flow based on real-time thermal load detection. When a cylinder exceeds its maximum temperature threshold, coolant flow is activated; when the threshold is met, flow is stopped. This dynamic control optimizes fuel consumption by providing cooling only when and where needed.
2Temperature
If conventional cooling systems use coolant jackets for thermal communication, then cooling is provided to all regions, but device complexity and packaging size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the traditional coolant jacket structure from the engine design. Instead of using integrated coolant channels within the cylinder block and head, the system uses external spray devices that apply coolant directly to the cylinder surfaces, simplifying the overall structure and reducing packaging requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces solid coolant jacket structures with a hydraulic spray-based cooling approach. Coolant is delivered through dedicated lines and spray devices that apply liquid cooling directly to the cylinder surfaces, eliminating the need for complex internal coolant passages and reducing structural complexity.
3Temperature
If conventional cooling systems maintain high coolant flow to ensure cooling, then thermal management is adequate, but energy demand and fuel consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor cylinder temperatures and provide feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts coolant flow accordingly - increasing flow when temperatures rise above thresholds and reducing or stopping flow when thermal management requirements are met, thereby optimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters of coolant flow based on detected thermal conditions. Coolant flow rate, pressure, and distribution are dynamically adjusted according to the actual thermal load of each cylinder, transitioning from high constant flow to variable flow that matches actual cooling requirements, thus reducing unnecessary energy demand.
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 enables targeted cooling of individual cylinders and regions, reducing energy demand, fuel consumption, and enhancing thermal management by ensuring that only the necessary coolant flow is used when and where it is needed, thereby improving engine efficiency and performance.
Implementation Method 1
having a spray device for applying a spray jet onto the outer wall of a region of the internal combustion engine
Implementation Method 2
The coolant may flow in a circuit in channels and cavities provided for thermal communication (known as the water jacket)
Implementation Method 3
a first coolant line having at least one device for regulating the flow of a coolant, which device is in force-fit connection with the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for a cooling system. In one example, a cooling system comprises a device for regulating a coolant flow, where the device is in force-fit connection to a plurality of crankshafts, each crankshaft corresponding to a single cylinder of a plurality of cylinders. The cooling system further comprises a plurality of injectors for injecting coolant onto outer surfaces of the plurality of injectors.