EGR Cooler Soot Removal via Intermittent Coolant Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cooling efficiency of diesel engine EGR coolers is reduced due to soot deposits from incomplete fuel combustion, which adheres to heat transfer pipes and decreases the intake charging efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A diesel engine with an EGR cooler cooled by engine coolant, where a control device activates coolant supply when the engine is operational and below a preset temperature, using coolant to condense water vapor in soot deposits, expanding them and facilitating removal by exhaust gas contact pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the EGR cooler continuously cools exhaust gas using engine coolant, then cooling efficiency is maintained, but soot deposits accumulate on heat transfer pipes reducing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The EGR cooler operates intermittently rather than continuously. The control device activates coolant supply to the EGR cooler only when specific conditions are met (engine operating temperature ≤ prescribed temperature and EGR valve is open), allowing periodic cleaning of soot deposits while maintaining cooling efficiency during active periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the coolant supplied to the EGR cooler. By supplying coolant at engine operating temperature (which is ≤ prescribed temperature) rather than continuously cooled coolant, the system creates conditions for soot deposit condensation and peeling while maintaining effective exhaust gas cooling.
2Temperature
If coolant is supplied to the EGR cooler at low temperature, then cooling efficiency improves, but soot deposits are not effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the coolant from continuously low temperature to variable temperature based on engine operating conditions. By supplying coolant at engine operating temperature (≤ prescribed temperature) rather than continuously cooled coolant, the system creates conditions for soot deposit condensation and peeling while maintaining effective exhaust gas cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of soot deposits into a beneficial cleaning mechanism. Water vapor in exhaust gas condenses into condensed water within soot deposits when cooled by the coolant, and the volume expansion of condensed water causes soot deposits to peel off and be removed by exhaust gas flow, thus converting deposition (harm) into self-cleaning (benefit).
3Temperature
If the EGR cooler operates continuously, then cooling performance is maintained, but fuel consumption increases due to unnecessary coolant circulation
Solution Approach 1:
The EGR cooler operates intermittently rather than continuously. The control device activates coolant supply to the EGR cooler only when specific conditions are met (engine operating temperature ≤ prescribed temperature and EGR valve is open), reducing unnecessary coolant circulation and fuel consumption while maintaining cooling efficiency when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the engine's own operating conditions to determine when cooling is needed. By monitoring engine operating temperature and EGR valve status, the system automatically activates cooling only when thermodynamically necessary, eliminating the need for external control signals or additional energy input.
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 effectively suppresses performance reduction by removing soot deposits from EGR coolers, maintaining cooling efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs by only activating the cooling system when needed.
Implementation Method 1
When the heat transfer pipe is cooled by a low-temperature coolant, the soot that has stuck to the heat transfer pipe is cooled, whereby the water vapor therein is turned into condensed water.
Data Source
AI summary
A diesel engine is provided with an EGR line G3 configured to recirculate a portion of exhaust gas, discharged from an engine body 11, to the engine body 11 as combustion gas, an EGR cooler 16 provided in the EGR line G3 and configured to cool exhaust gas by coolant, a coolant supply device configured to supply coolant to the EGR cooler 16, and a control device 30 configured to activate the coolant supply device when the engine body 11 is in operation and a temperature of the engine body 11 is lower or equal to a preset prescribed temperature.