Engine Cooling Device Pre-Heating Using Reversed Heat Exchanger Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal combustion engines require significant energy and incur high costs due to the need for external pre-heating devices to reduce thermal stress and improve cold start behavior, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing the existing cooling medium with a higher temperature level than the operational liquids during starting operations to pre-heat the engine through the existing cooling device, eliminating the need for additional heating components and reducing manufacturing and operating costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external pre-heating devices (electrical pre-heaters or plate heat exchangers) are used to pre-heat the internal combustion engine, then the thermal stress is reduced and cold start behavior is improved, but the energy consumption increases significantly and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device serves dual purposes: cooling the engine during operation and pre-heating the engine during starting operations. The cooling medium circulates through the heat exchanger, absorbing thermal energy from the operational liquid and using it to pre-heat the engine, making the system self-sufficient without external heating devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing cooling device is designed to perform multiple functions: it cools the internal combustion engine during operation and pre-heats the engine during starting operations. The heat exchanger exchanges heat between the operational liquid and cooling medium in both cooling and pre-heating modes, eliminating the need for separate heating equipment.
2Reliability
If external pre-heating devices are used to pre-heat the internal combustion engine, then the thermal stress is reduced and cold start behavior is improved, but the manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The existing cooling device is designed to perform multiple functions: it cools the internal combustion engine during operation and pre-heats the engine during starting operations. The heat exchanger exchanges heat between the operational liquid and cooling medium in both cooling and pre-heating modes, eliminating the need for separate heating equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-heating function is merged with the existing cooling device rather than being implemented as a separate system. The heat exchanger and cooling medium circulation system serve both cooling and pre-heating purposes, reducing the total number of components and manufacturing costs.
3Loss of energy
If the cooling medium has a higher temperature level than the operational liquid during starting operations, then the engine can be pre-heated using existing thermal energy, but the cooling device must be configured to operate in reverse heating mode
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device is designed to dynamically adapt its operation based on the engine state. During starting operations, the cooling device operates in heating mode by exchanging heat from the warmer cooling medium to the cooler operational liquid. During normal operation, it switches to cooling mode, reversing the heat flow direction. This dynamic operation is achieved through the inherent thermodynamic properties of the heat exchanger and the temperature differential between the cooling medium and operational liquid.
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 reduces energy consumption and costs by leveraging existing thermal energy for pre-heating, minimizing the need for additional components and improving engine start-up efficiency without increasing operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
heat is exchanged by the heat exchanger between the at least one operational liquid and the cooling medium
Implementation Method 2
already existing thermal energy carried by the cooling medium can be used for pre-heating the internal combustion engine
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A internal combustion engine (1), comprising at least one cooling device (2) for cooling at least one operational liquid of the internal combustion engine (1) during and/or after operation of the internal combustion engine (1), wherein the at least one cooling device (2) has at least one heat exchanger (3) and lines (4, 5) for transporting the at least one operational liquid to and from the at least one heat exchanger (3), wherein the heat exchanger (3) exchanges heat with a cooling medium, which cooling medium has during the operation of the internal combustion engine (1) a lower temperature level than the at least one operational liquid of the internal combustion engine (1), wherein during and/or before a starting operation of the internal combustion engine (1) the cooling device (2) is configured to pre-heat the internal combustion engine (1), wherein heat is exchanged by the heat exchanger (3) between the at least one operational liquid and the cooling medium, which cooling medium has before and/or during a starting operation of the internal combustion engine (1) a higher temperature level than the at least one operational liquid of the internal combustion engine (1).