Supercharged Engine Air Cooling via Integrated AC Evaporator
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Supercharged internal combustion engines face reduced filling efficiency and increased detonation risk due to compressed air temperature, and existing systems for cooling air fed to engines do not effectively manage fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system with electronically-controlled expansion valves and a controller that manages the coolant compressor and evaporators to selectively activate main and auxiliary evaporators for air cooling and air conditioning, prioritizing engine cooling and passenger compartment cooling based on demand, while optimizing fuel efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a heat exchanger is used to cool the compressed air, then the filling efficiency of engine cylinders is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the engine cooling circuit and air conditioning circuit into a single integrated system. The heat exchanger serves dual purposes: cooling compressed air for the engine and providing air conditioning for the passenger compartment. This merging eliminates the need for separate cooling systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining improved filling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant compressor and heat exchanger are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously. The same compressor provides cooling for both the engine intake air and the passenger compartment air conditioning. The heat exchanger acts as both an intercooler for the compressed air and an evaporator for the air conditioning system, making the system more efficient and less complex.
2Temperature
If an evaporator is added downstream of the heat exchanger to further cool the air flow, then the cooling effect is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator is integrated into the air conditioning circuit and serves dual purposes: providing air conditioning for the passenger compartment and further cooling the compressed air for the engine. By making the evaporator multi-functional, the patent achieves enhanced cooling effect without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates electronically-controlled expansion valves that can dynamically adjust the cooling distribution between the engine air cooling path and the passenger compartment air conditioning path. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize cooling performance for either function as needed, providing improved cooling effect while managing system complexity through intelligent control.
3Temperature
If both the main evaporator and auxiliary evaporator are activated, then the cooling performance is improved, but the fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electronically-controlled expansion valves to dynamically regulate the cooling distribution between the main evaporator (for passenger compartment air conditioning) and the auxiliary evaporator (for engine air cooling). The electronic controller adjusts valve positions based on real-time operating conditions, allowing the system to achieve optimal cooling performance while minimizing fuel consumption by activating only the necessary evaporator paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (expansion valve positions, coolant flow distribution) based on engine load and temperature conditions. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system can achieve high cooling performance when needed while reducing energy consumption during lighter cooling demands, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling performance and fuel consumption.
4Reliability
If the coolant compressor is continuously activated, then the cooling reliability is improved, but the fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the coolant compressor activation based on real-time monitoring of cooling demands from both the engine air cooling and passenger compartment air conditioning systems. The electronic controller activates the compressor only when cooling is required and deactivates it when cooling demands are met, ensuring reliable cooling performance while minimizing fuel consumption through optimized operational cycles.
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 system effectively cools air for the engine and passenger compartment, maintaining high efficiency and reducing fuel consumption without significant increases in fuel usage across various engine conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger arranged along the air feed duct, downstream of the air compressor, to cool a flow of supercharged air from the compressor by means of a coolant in a cooling circuit of the engine
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator is also interposed in the air feed duct, downstream of the aforementioned heat exchanger, to further cool the air flow by means of a coolant that circulates in an air conditioning circuit
Implementation Method 3
a first expansion valve arranged in the air conditioning circuit between the condenser and the main evaporator, and a second expansion valve arranged in the air conditioning circuit between the condenser and the auxiliary evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
A system for feeding air to an engine of a vehicle includes a heat exchanger arranged along a duct for feeding air, downstream of a supercharging compressor, to cool a flow of air fed by the air compressor, by a fluid that circulates in an engine cooling circuit. The system also includes an evaporator, interposed in the duct downstream of the heat exchanger, to further cool the air flow by a coolant that circulates in an air conditioning circuit of the vehicle. The air conditioning circuit includes a coolant compressor and a controller for controlling activation of the coolant compressor, depending on a request for air conditioning of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, and a request for cooling the air fed to the engine. The electronic controller is configured to enable the coolant compressor to be activated only when the engine load is below a certain threshold.