Engine Control Adjusting Start Condition by Blowoff Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine control systems fail to maintain adequate air conditioning performance during economical running mode, leading to discomfort for occupants due to improper engine restart timing and temperature settings, especially when the air conditioner is turned on immediately before engine stop control.
Innovation Solution
An engine control apparatus that dynamically adjusts the engine start condition based on the blowoff temperature of the air conditioner, resetting the start condition if the blowoff temperature increases, and considering both outside air temperature and vehicle interior temperature to ensure the engine is restarted before the occupant feels cold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the engine stop control is activated to reduce emission gas and fuel consumption, then the economical running control is improved, but the air conditioning performance deteriorates due to engine water temperature reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting the blower switch state before engine stop control is activated. When the blower switch is ON, the system predicts future blowoff temperature reduction and preemptively adjusts the engine restart condition, ensuring the engine restarts at the appropriate time to maintain air conditioning performance while still achieving fuel savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the engine restart condition based on real-time blowoff temperature predictions. The restart threshold is not fixed but adapts according to the predicted temperature trajectory, allowing the system to optimize between fuel consumption and air conditioning performance under varying operating conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the engine restart condition is set based on fixed temperature threshold, then the control simplicity is improved, but the air conditioning comfort deteriorates when blower is operated before engine stop
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the blower switch state before engine stop control is activated. When the blower switch is ON, the system predicts future blowoff temperature reduction and preemptively adjusts the engine restart condition, ensuring the engine restarts at the appropriate time to maintain air conditioning performance while still achieving fuel savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the blower switch state and predicted blowoff temperature to dynamically adjust the engine restart condition. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain simple control logic while adapting to different operating conditions, ensuring reliable air conditioning performance without complex control algorithms.
3Loss of energy
If the engine restart is delayed to maintain economical running mode, then the fuel consumption is reduced, but the occupant comfort deteriorates due to insufficient heating temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the blower switch state before engine stop control is activated. When the blower switch is ON, the system predicts future blowoff temperature reduction and preemptively adjusts the engine restart condition, ensuring the engine restarts at the appropriate time to maintain air conditioning performance while still achieving fuel savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the engine restart condition based on real-time blowoff temperature predictions. The restart threshold is not fixed but adapts according to the predicted temperature trajectory, allowing the system to optimize between fuel consumption and air conditioning performance under varying operating conditions.
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 approach ensures the engine is restarted at a suitable temperature, maintaining air conditioning performance and preventing occupant discomfort by aligning the engine restart with the temperature increase of the air conditioner, thus enhancing the overall comfort and efficiency of the vehicle's heating system.
Implementation Method 1
The air conditioner uses cooling water of the engine as a heat source, performs heat exchange between the cooling water and the air from the blower fan to perform heating of blowing air
Data Source
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AI summary
An engine control apparatus is configured to perform an engine start control of automatically starting an engine mounted on a vehicle when the engine has stopped by an engine stop control of automatically stopping the engine. A start condition setting section is configured to set an engine start condition for automatically starting the engine based on a blowoff temperature that is a temperature of air blown off from an air conditioner mounted on the vehicle at a predetermined time point if the air conditioner is being operated when the engine is automatically stopped by the engine stop control. An engine start control section is configured to instruct to start the engine if the engine start condition is satisfied. If the blowoff temperature is increased after the engine start condition is set, the start condition setting section resets the engine start condition based on the increased blowoff temperature.