Dual-Pump Cooling Circuit for Independent Coolant Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vocational vehicles, such as refuse and mixer trucks, face challenges in efficiently dissipating thermal energy generated by actuators, leading to reduced operational efficiency and increased energy losses due to inadequate cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
A dual-pump cooling system is implemented, where two coolant pumps are used to supply coolant to different branches of the vehicle's components, allowing for precise and independent control of coolant delivery, reducing energy losses by optimizing coolant distribution based on cooling demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a single cooling system is used for all electrical components, then the system structure is simple, but the cooling efficiency is insufficient and energy losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into multiple independent branches, each with its own coolant pump. The first coolant pump serves the first electrical component, while the second coolant pump serves the second electrical component and also supplies coolant to the first pump. This segmentation allows each pump to be optimized for its specific component's cooling demands, reducing overall energy losses while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.
2Reliability
If coolant supply is optimized for one electrical component, then cooling efficiency for that component improves, but other components may receive insufficient cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multiple independently controllable coolant pumps that can dynamically adjust their operation based on the specific cooling demands of different electrical components. Each pump can be activated or adjusted independently, allowing the system to adapt to varying thermal loads across different components, thereby maintaining high cooling efficiency for each component while ensuring overall system reliability.
3Productivity
If a dual-pump system is implemented, then coolant distribution is optimized and energy losses reduce, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second coolant pump is designed with multi-functionality, serving both the second electrical component directly and also supplying coolant to the first coolant pump. This universal design allows one pump to perform multiple roles, reducing the need for additional pumps while maintaining optimized coolant distribution, thereby improving operational efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 dual-pump cooling system enhances thermal management, improving operational efficiency and reducing energy consumption by ensuring that components with varying cooling demands receive the appropriate amount of coolant, thereby maintaining optimal temperatures and extending vehicle operation time.
Implementation Method 1
a radiator fluidly coupled downstream of the first electrical component and the second electrical component and configured to remove thermal energy from the coolant
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system includes a first electrical component, a second electrical component, a first coolant pump fluidly coupled to the first electrical component, and a second coolant pump fluidly coupled to an inlet of the first coolant pump and the second electrical component. The first coolant pump is configured to supply a first portion of coolant to the first electrical component. The second coolant pump is configured to supply the first portion of the coolant to the first coolant pump and a second portion of the coolant to the second electrical component. A radiator is fluidly coupled downstream of the first electrical component and the second electrical component and configured to remove thermal energy from the coolant.