Dynamic Antifreeze Concentration Control for Vehicle Cooling Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle engine cooling systems with high ethylene glycol concentrations face issues such as increased hydraulic loads on pumps, space constraints due to bulky heat exchangers, and inadequate adjustment of antifreeze concentration to match varying cooling demands, leading to inefficient cooling and potential engine component degradation.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with a separate reservoir for concentrated antifreeze and a separation unit that adjusts the antifreeze concentration based on ambient temperature, allowing for customizable cooling capacity and reducing the likelihood of coolant freezing, while also recycling ethylene glycol to minimize storage and refilling needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the concentration of ethylene glycol in the coolant is increased to prevent freezing, then the freezing protection is improved, but the heat capacity of the mixture decreases and hydraulic losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic adjustment system that varies the ethylene glycol concentration in the coolant based on ambient temperature conditions. Through a control unit that monitors outdoor temperature and automatically adjusts the mixing ratio via dosing pumps, the system optimizes the balance between freezing protection and cooling efficiency, reducing hydraulic losses when high glycol concentration is not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the concentration parameter of ethylene glycol in the coolant dynamically according to environmental conditions. By adjusting the glycol-to-water ratio based on ambient temperature, the system adapts the coolant properties to match operational requirements, improving both freezing protection and energy efficiency.
2Reliability
If the concentration of ethylene glycol in the coolant is increased to prevent freezing, then the freezing protection is improved, but larger heat exchangers are required due to higher viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts ethylene glycol concentration based on ambient temperature, using higher concentrations only when freezing conditions are anticipated. This reduces the viscosity of the coolant during normal operation, allowing for more compact heat exchanger designs while maintaining adequate freezing protection when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the concentration parameter of ethylene glycol according to environmental conditions, the system optimizes the balance between freezing protection and coolant flow characteristics, reducing the required heat exchanger volume while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If a high concentration of ethylene glycol is used in the coolant, then freezing protection is improved, but the pump capacity required to dissipate heat increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the ethylene glycol concentration based on ambient temperature and engine cooling demands. By reducing glycol concentration when freezing is not a concern, the system decreases hydraulic losses and reduces the pump capacity required to maintain adequate coolant circulation for heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the concentration parameter of ethylene glycol to optimize the balance between freezing protection and pump workload. Lower concentrations reduce viscosity and hydraulic resistance, decreasing the power required by the water pump while maintaining adequate freezing protection through selective concentration adjustment.
4Productivity
If the antifreeze concentration is adjusted dynamically, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into existing system components: the control unit serves as both the engine management controller and the antifreeze concentration controller; the dosing pumps utilize existing fuel pump mechanisms; temperature sensors serve dual purposes for engine monitoring and ambient condition detection. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity while enabling dynamic concentration adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing sensors, control units, and pump mechanisms to automatically adjust antifreeze concentration without requiring dedicated separate systems. The control unit monitors ambient temperature and automatically controls the dosing pumps, making the system self-regulating and reducing complexity through utilization of available resources.
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 reduces hydraulic loads on pumps, allows for smaller heat exchangers and pipes, and effectively manages antifreeze concentration to prevent freezing and enhance cooling efficiency, thereby extending pump lifespan and optimizing space usage.
Implementation Method 1
circulating a coolant through an engine block to extract heat
Implementation Method 2
transfer heat to a heat exchanger that then uses the heat to warm a vehicle interior
Implementation Method 3
vehicle interior heating circuit to transfer heat to a heat exchanger
Implementation Method 4
aqueous solution of (mono) ethylene glycol (ethane-1,2-diol), e.g., antifreeze, thereby forming a mixture with a depressed freezing point
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for a cooling system for a vehicle engine. In one example, the cooling system includes a coolant solution circulated through both an engine cooling circuit and a vehicle interior heating circuit that is fluidly coupled to the engine cooling circuit, and a reservoir containing concentrated antifreeze. The concentrated antifreeze is flowed from the reservoir to the vehicle interior heating circuit via a shutoff valve to increase a concentration of antifreeze in the coolant solution. In some embodiments, a separation unit may be used to decrease the concentration of antifreeze in the coolant solution.