Engine Cooling System With Internal Distribution Chamber

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling systems for high-specific-power engines, such as those with double cooling, are not optimally compatible with compact engine compartments and face inefficiencies in cooling the cylinder head, leading to increased size, thermal stresses, and higher production costs.

Innovation Solution

A cooling system with a distribution chamber integrated within the engine, featuring a first circuit with longitudinal and transverse coolant circulation through the cylinder block and a second circuit in the cylinder head, allowing for efficient heat transfer and reduced engine size through a third circuit with a regulating element controlling fluid flow, and a separation element made of plastic material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a distribution chamber is arranged at the external face of the engine, then the cooling efficiency of the cylinder head is improved, but the engine size increases making it unsuitable for compact engine compartments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidengine size
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The distribution chamber is nested within the cylinder block structure rather than being placed externally. The chamber is formed inside the first circuit of the cooling system, utilizing the existing engine block volume. This nesting approach allows the distribution chamber to be integrated into the engine's internal architecture, providing the necessary cooling function without increasing the external dimensions of the engine, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling efficiency and engine size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Loss of time

If a double cooling system is implemented, then the heating time of the engine is reduced, but the cooling efficiency of the cylinder head becomes insufficient for high-specific-power engines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating timeVSAvoidcooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent circuits: a first circuit with longitudinal and transverse passages through the cylinder block, and a second circuit within the cylinder head. The distribution chamber within the first circuit supplies coolant to the second circuit, creating a hierarchical cooling structure. This segmentation allows optimized coolant flow paths for both rapid heating during cold starts and efficient cooling under high thermal load, resolving the contradiction between reduced heating time and improved cooling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the engine are provided with different cooling characteristics through the segmented circuit design. The transverse passages in the cylinder block provide localized cooling at specific areas, while the second circuit in the cylinder head provides targeted cooling at the combustion face bridges. This local quality approach allows the system to achieve both rapid heating and efficient cooling in different locations simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Power

If the engine operates under high thermal stress, then the specific power is increased, but the risk of engine cracking and coolant boiling increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecific powerVSAvoidengine cracking risk
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is designed to establish coolant circulation in advance through the distributed passages before high thermal stress conditions occur. The longitudinal and transverse passages in the cylinder block, along with the distribution chamber, create pre-positioned cooling paths that are ready to immediately dissipate heat when combustion occurs. This preliminary arrangement of cooling pathways prevents thermal stress accumulation that would lead to cracking or coolant boiling, enabling high specific power operation with maintained reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 configuration enables optimal cooling of high-specific-power engines, reducing size and production costs while enhancing thermomechanical resistance and heat exchange efficiency, particularly at the combustion face bridges, thus minimizing the risk of coolant boiling and engine cracking.

Implementation Method 1

the heat transfer fluid circulates independently in a first and a second fluid circuit respectively of the cylinder block and of the cylinder head

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

which, in turn, is cooled by passing through a radiator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3258078B1Cooling system of a heat engine
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 RENAULT SA
  • EP3258078B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3258078B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a cooling system (2), in particular of the double-cooling type, for a heat engine (1) of a motor vehicle comprising first and second circuits (6a, 6b) of heat transfer fluid defined respectively in a cylinder block (5a) and a cylinder head (5b) of said engine (1), the system (2) comprising a distribution chamber (7) arranged in the first circuit (6a) intended to supply the second circuit (6b) with fluid.