Drivetrain Control Using Topographic Data for Engine Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy utility vehicles face inefficiencies in fuel consumption due to the high power consumption of engine fans, which are often activated unnecessarily to manage engine temperature, disrupting auxiliary systems like cabin heating.
Innovation Solution
A method to control the drivetrain of a vehicle using an electronic control unit (ECU) that accesses topographic data to estimate engine load and temperature variations, allowing for proactive management of engine and cooling system temperatures to avoid fan activation, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the engine fan is activated to cool the engine, then the engine temperature is reduced, but the fuel consumption increases due to high power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling during downhill sections or low-load periods before the engine temperature reaches critical levels. By proactively reducing temperature during favorable conditions, the fan can be kept inactive during high-power consumption periods, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining temperature and reducing fuel consumption
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous fan operation, the system implements periodic cooling cycles where the fan is activated intermittently during suitable periods (downhill driving, low engine load) to maintain average temperature within acceptable ranges, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while still protecting the engine
2Use of energy by moving object
If the engine fan is delayed or avoided, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the engine temperature may exceed safe operating limits
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors engine temperature, vehicle speed, acceleration, and route topology in real-time. This feedback mechanism allows the control unit to dynamically adjust drivetrain parameters and predict future temperature trends, ensuring that temperature remains within safe limits while minimizing fan activation
Solution Approach 2:
By predicting future temperature based on route topology and current engine state, the system takes preliminary cooling actions during favorable periods before temperature becomes critical, ensuring reliability is maintained without excessive fan operation
3Use of energy by moving object
If auxiliary systems are used to draw heat from the engine, then fan activation is delayed, but the auxiliary systems may not be needed or wanted for their primary purpose
Solution Approach 1:
The engine cooling system serves dual purposes: its primary function of temperature control and a secondary function of waste heat recovery for cabin heating or other auxiliary systems. The control strategy intelligently balances these competing demands by utilizing waste heat when auxiliary heating is needed while maintaining temperature control, thus resolving the contradiction between fuel efficiency and system versatility
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 method reduces the frequency of engine fan activation, conserving fuel by maintaining engine and cooling system temperatures below activation thresholds, optimizing drivetrain control based on route topology and engine load estimates.
Implementation Method 1
the engine uses heat exchanger with a coolant liquid
Implementation Method 2
the engine fan forces an airflow over the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided to control a drivetrain of a vehicle, especially a utility vehicle, wherein the drivetrain includes an engine with a cooling system. The cooling system includes a fan. The cooling system and the drivetrain are controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU has access to a navigation system with topographic data. The method includes determining a topology of an upcoming route of the vehicle, estimating the load of the engine dependent of the topology of the upcoming route, estimating a temperature variation of the cooling system during the upcoming route, and controlling the drivetrain dependent on the estimated temperature variation, such that an actual temperature of the cooling system is kept below a temperature threshold value during the upcoming route of the vehicle. The temperature threshold value is dependent on a temperature at which said fan is activated.