Ejector Coolant Pump Reduces Engine Parasitic Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
The parasitic load on internal combustion engines due to cooling pump power consumption can be reduced by utilizing waste heat to assist in pumping cooling fluid, thereby increasing engine efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An internal combustion engine system that incorporates a heat exchanger in the exhaust system to transfer waste heat to a coolant, which is then used to expand and circulate through an ejector pump, reducing the need for a conventional pump's power consumption by utilizing a fluid pump and an ejector pump in the cooling fluid circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional cooling pump is used to circulate coolant through the engine, then the coolant circulation function is achieved, but the parasitic load on the engine increases due to power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts waste heat from exhaust gases, which is normally a harmful byproduct, into a useful resource to drive the ejector pump. The heat exchanger captures thermal energy from exhaust gases and transfers it to the coolant, creating a density difference that drives circulation through the ejector pump, thereby eliminating the need for a conventional powered cooling pump
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the conventional mechanically-driven cooling pump with a thermally-driven ejector pump system. Instead of using mechanical power to circulate coolant, the system uses thermal energy from exhaust gases to create density differences that drive natural circulation through the cooling system
Solution Approach 3:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the coolant by heating it with exhaust gases through the heat exchanger. This temperature change creates density differences between heated and unheated coolant, which drives the circulation flow through the ejector pump without requiring mechanical power
2Use of energy by moving object
If the cooling pump size is reduced to decrease parasitic load, then power consumption is reduced, but the pumping capability may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts waste heat from exhaust gases into useful pumping power. The heat exchanger captures thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted and uses it to heat the coolant, creating density-driven flow that provides sufficient circulation capability without requiring a large powered pump
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system serves itself by using its own waste heat from exhaust gases to drive its own circulation. The ejector pump is driven entirely by thermal energy from the engine's exhaust, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating external power requirements
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 configuration reduces the power required to pump coolant, decreasing the parasitic load on the engine and enhancing overall efficiency by leveraging waste heat for coolant circulation.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger in the exhaust system to transfer waste heat to a coolant
Implementation Method 2
transfer waste heat to a coolant, which is then used to expand
Implementation Method 3
an ejector pump positioned at a second location to receive the coolant from the heat exchanger to cause a pumping action on the coolant
Data Source
AI summary
An internal combustion engine includes a cooling fluid circuit and a pumping circuit. The pumping circuit drives an ejector pump located along the cooling fluid circuit, enabling a reduced parasitic load on the engine from pumping cooling fluid through the cooling fluid circuit.