Single Adjustable Valve for Engine Coolant Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid-type cooling systems for internal combustion engines require multiple thermostat valves, increasing system costs, weight, and complexity, while failing to efficiently manage coolant flow during the warm-up phase after a cold start, leading to suboptimal heat transfer and increased fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
A single adjustable control valve is used to manage coolant flow through both the cylinder head and cylinder block, allowing for demand-dependent control of coolant circulation, reducing system complexity and weight, and optimizing heat transfer by adjusting coolant flow based on temperature measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple thermostat valves are used to control coolant flow through the cylinder head and cylinder block, then the thermal management precision is improved, but the system complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple thermostat valves into a single thermostat valve that controls coolant flow for both the cylinder head and cylinder block. This single valve integrates the functions of multiple separate valves, reducing system complexity and weight while maintaining effective thermal management through a unified control mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The single thermostat valve is designed to perform multiple functions by controlling coolant flow to different engine components (cylinder head and cylinder block) simultaneously. This multi-functional valve replaces several specialized valves, achieving system simplification without compromising thermal management capability
2Temperature
If coolant flow is maintained at high rates during the warm-up phase, then thermal loading is reduced, but fuel consumption increases due to excessive heat extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat valve dynamically adjusts coolant flow rates based on engine operating conditions and temperature requirements. During the warm-up phase, it optimizes flow rates to provide sufficient cooling when needed while minimizing excessive heat extraction, thereby reducing fuel consumption without compromising thermal management
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes coolant flow parameters (flow rate, temperature) adaptively based on engine state. By adjusting these parameters according to actual thermal demands during different operating phases, the system avoids excessive cooling during warm-up, reducing the energy penalty associated with heat extraction while maintaining adequate thermal control
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 solution reduces fuel consumption by minimizing heat extraction during the warm-up phase, enhances thermal management, and improves thermal efficiency by allowing for precise control of coolant flow, thereby accelerating engine heating and reducing friction losses.
Implementation Method 1
the heat is discharged to the coolant in the interior of the cylinder head surface... the heat which is discharged to the coolant is thereby extracted from the coolant again outside the cylinder head
Implementation Method 2
the heat which is discharged to the coolant is thereby extracted from the coolant again outside the cylinder head, for example by a heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid-cooling engine system is described with a coolant control device having an adjustable control element capable of independently controlling the flow of coolant through a cylinder head and cylinder block. The device contains a rotatable drum that can be rotated along its longitudinal axis to expose holes and thereby allows coolant circulation based on a temperature within the engine system. The coolant control device has three positions but may also be fine-tuned within each position to control the flow of coolant through the cylinder head and cylinder block in order to adjust the amount of heat extracted according to demand, which serves to control the liquid-type cooling circuit in a demand-dependent manner that accounts for the operating modes of the internal combustion engine.