Engine Cooling Control Valve for Rapid Warm-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling apparatuses for internal combustion engines fail to efficiently warm up the engine and vehicle accessories quickly, leading to suboptimal fuel efficiency and delayed warming of accessories like the throttle body and heat exchangers for air conditioning.
Innovation Solution
A cooling apparatus with a control device that manages coolant passages to prioritize warming up the internal combustion engine and accessories by setting a higher target temperature and maintaining a higher coolant flow rate through a third coolant passage with lower cooling capacity until the engine reaches a warming-up temperature, while also ensuring the accessories are warmed up efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the coolant flow rate through the first coolant passage (via coolant cooling device) is increased to cool the engine, then the engine temperature is reduced, but the warming-up speed of the engine and accessories is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The control valve dynamically adjusts the coolant flow distribution among different passages based on real-time engine temperature conditions. During cold start, the valve directs most coolant flow through the third passage (bypassing the cooling device) to enable rapid warming. Once the engine reaches operating temperature, the valve shifts flow distribution to allow cooling through the first passage. This dynamic flow management resolves the contradiction between rapid warming and effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant circulation system is segmented into multiple independent passages: a first passage through the coolant cooling device, a second passage through vehicle accessories, and a third passage as a bypass route. The control valve selectively activates different passages based on thermal conditions. This segmentation allows the system to optimize for either rapid warming or effective cooling by directing flow through appropriate passages, eliminating the need to choose between conflicting objectives.
2Temperature
If the coolant flow rate is restricted to maintain high coolant temperature for engine warming, then the engine warms up quickly, but the vehicle accessories (throttle body, heat exchanger) do not warm up adequately
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant circulation system is designed to serve multiple functions through different passages. The second coolant passage specifically routes coolant through vehicle accessories (throttle body, heat exchanger for air conditioning) to warm them up simultaneously with the engine. The control valve coordinates flow distribution across all passages, ensuring that accessories receive adequate warm coolant flow during the warming phase, thus achieving both engine warming and accessory readiness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary warming of both the engine and accessories by directing coolant flow through the second passage during cold start conditions. This preliminary action ensures that accessories are warmed up before the engine reaches full operating temperature, preparing them for immediate operation when needed, thus avoiding delays in accessory functionality.
3Reliability
If the control valve is controlled based only on coolant temperature to avoid knocking, then the coolant temperature is maintained slightly lower than target, but fuel efficiency is not thoroughly improved
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the target coolant temperature parameter dynamically based on engine operating conditions. During cold start, the target temperature is set higher to maximize warming efficiency. Once the engine reaches operating temperature, the target temperature is adjusted to maintain optimal combustion conditions and prevent knocking. This parameter change strategy allows the system to optimize for warming speed initially, then transition to fuel efficiency optimization, resolving the contradiction between reliable knocking prevention and thorough fuel efficiency improvement.
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 allows for rapid warming of the internal combustion engine and vehicle accessories, improving fuel efficiency and maintaining optimal temperatures for accessories, thus enhancing the engine's performance and accessory readiness.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant cooling device for cooling a coolant used for cooling the internal combustion engine
Implementation Method 2
at least one control valve by which coolant flow rates of the first coolant passage, the second coolant passage, and the third coolant passage are changed
Data Source
AI summary
A control device includes target temperature setting means, feedback control means, and shortcut control means. The target temperature setting means sets a target temperature (γ) of a coolant according to a temperature state of an internal combustion engine. The feedback control means controls a control valve in such a manner that a coolant temperature is the target temperature (γ). The shortcut control means controls the control valve in such a manner that, when the internal combustion engine is in a cold state, the target temperature setting means sets as the target temperature (γ) a warming-up temperature (α) higher than a feedback control temperature (A or B) which is set during feedback control.