Engine Coolant Bubble Outlet Unit for Heat Pump Compressor Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heat pump systems face inefficiencies due to bubbles in the coolant, which reduce cooling effectiveness and make it difficult to maintain consistent engine temperature, leading to potential engine damage and increased service time.

Innovation Solution

A heat pump system with a bubble outlet unit connected between the exhaust gas heat exchanger and heat radiator, featuring separate coolant inlet and outlet lines and a bubble outlet hole, effectively removes bubbles from the coolant by utilizing a coolant pump and water level sensors to manage coolant flow and bubble discharge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a coolant circulation channel is provided to cool the engine, then the engine cooling effect is improved, but bubbles are drawn into the channel causing cooling effect deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine cooling effectVSAvoidcooling effect stability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes bubbles from the coolant by providing a dedicated bubble outlet hole in the coolant supply line, separating the harmful bubbles from the cooling system while allowing clean coolant to continue circulating through the engine

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If bubbles are contained in the coolant, then the coolant circulation continues, but the cooling effect and heat recovery amount are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoolant circulation continuityVSAvoidheat recovery amount
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of bubbles into a beneficial separation process by using the bubble outlet hole to actively remove bubbles, thereby transforming the presence of bubbles from a detrimental factor into an opportunity for improved heat recovery and cooling efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Duration of action of moving object

If bubbles are present in the coolant, then circulation continues, but temperature control consistency deteriorates causing engine hunting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoolant circulation durationVSAvoidtemperature control consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts bubbles that cause temperature fluctuations from the coolant stream through the bubble outlet hole, ensuring consistent temperature control and preventing engine hunting while maintaining continuous coolant circulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 efficiently removes bubbles from the coolant, enhancing reliability and reducing service time by ensuring consistent coolant flow and improved heat exchange efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a bubble discharge unit connected between an exhaust gas heat exchanger connected to an exhaust manifold of the engine and a heat radiator configured to radiate heat of the coolant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

a heat radiator configured to radiate heat of the coolant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 3

a heat radiator configured to radiate heat of the coolant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 4

a coolant pump may be provided between the exhaust gas heat exchanger and the heat radiator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Data Source

PatentEP3611356B1Cooling circuit of an engine for driving a heat pump compressor
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3611356B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3611356B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3611356B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is disclosed a heat pump system comprising a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant of an air condition; an engine configured to drive the compressor; and a bubble outlet unit connected to a coolant circulation channel for supplying a coolant to the engine 30 and configured to discharge the bubbles contained in the coolant, the bubble outlet unit comprising a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, that are separately provided, and a bubble outlet hole provided in at least one of the coolant inlet and outlet.