Motor Vehicle Engine Cooling Circuit Cylinder Head Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat engine designs for motor vehicles either fail to provide optimal cooling of the cylinder head or generate significant pressure drops due to the configuration of water chambers, which affects the efficiency of the cooling process.

Innovation Solution

The proposed design includes a cylinder head cooled by two lower and upper water chambers, with an additional fourth water chamber in the upper part of the cylinder head that allows longitudinal coolant circulation and degassing, reducing pressure drops and enhancing cooling by compartmentalizing the cylinder head into separate cavities for each water chamber.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single water chamber is used to cool the cylinder head, then the cooling circuit is simple, but the cooling efficiency of the cylinder head is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling circuit structureVSAvoidcylinder head cooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cylinder head is divided into multiple water chambers (first, second, third water chambers) with distinct circulation paths. The first water chamber cools one side of the cylinder head, the second water chamber cools the other side, and the third water chamber provides additional cooling zones, allowing independent temperature control and improved overall cooling efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Temperature

If two independent water chambers (lower and upper) are used to cool the cylinder head, then cooling efficiency improves, but pressure drops increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecylinder head cooling efficiencyVSAvoidpressure drop in water chambers
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The first, second, and third water chambers are hydraulically connected through communication orifices to form an integrated cooling system. This allows the coolant to flow through multiple chambers in sequence, distributing the pressure drop across the entire system rather than concentrating it in single chambers, while maintaining effective cooling of all cylinder head regions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Temperature

If outlet orifices are added to upper and lower water chambers for independent cooling, then cooling performance improves, but pressure drops in the water chambers increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecylinder head cooling performanceVSAvoidpressure drop in water chambers
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

Different water chambers are equipped with outlet orifices at strategically located positions (first outlet orifice in the first water chamber, second outlet orifice in the second water chamber, third outlet orifice in the third water chamber) to optimize local cooling efficiency in specific regions of the cylinder head while managing pressure distribution across the system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design achieves improved cooling efficiency of the cylinder head, particularly around combustion chambers, while minimizing pressure drops, thereby optimizing the engine's thermal management system.

Implementation Method 1

a first water chamber (20) allowing longitudinal circulation of a cooling liquid along one side of the row of cylinders (14), a second water chamber (22) allowing transverse circulation of the cooling liquid through a part of the cylinder head (16)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

an internal cooling circuit which comprises successively, from upstream to downstream, at least one cooling pump (15), an inlet (18)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Data Source

PatentEP2145088B1Motor vehicle engine comprising a novel cooling circuit
Publication Date: 2011.06.08 RENAULT SA
  • EP2145088B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2145088B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a motor vehicle engine (10), comprising an internal cooling with, in series, a pump (15), a first water chamber (20) permitting a longitudinal circulation of a cooling liquid along the cylinders (14), a second water chamber (22), permitting transverse circulation of the cooling liquid across a cylinder head (16), a third water chamber (24) permitting the circulation of the cooling liquid along the opposite side of the cylinders (14), characterised in that the second water chamber (22) is arranged in a lower part of the cylinder head (16) and the cooling circuit comprises a fourth water chamber (28) arranged in an upper part of the cylinder head (16), supplied by the second water chamber (22) and communicating with the third water chamber (24).