Vehicle Engine Cooling Circuit Segmentation for Oil Heating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling circuits for vehicle engines are ineffective in reducing fuel consumption and pollutant emissions during cold operation, as they fail to quickly reduce mechanical losses by friction and lower coolant temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A controlled thermostatic valve system that manages the cooling liquid circulation and a bypass circuit for lubricating oil, using solenoid valves to regulate oil flow through a turbocharger, allowing increased oil circulation at lower temperatures to accelerate lubricating oil heating and maintaining low coolant temperatures for reduced emissions and fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the cooling liquid circulation is rapidly increased to lower coolant temperature for reducing emissions, then pollutant emissions are reduced, but the lubricating oil temperature cannot be quickly raised and mechanical losses by friction remain high
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling circuit is segmented into multiple independent pathways: a first circuit for coolant circulation through the radiator, a second circuit for lubricating oil heating through the turbocharger, and a third circuit for coolant circulation through the heater. This segmentation allows each circuit to be optimized independently, enabling the oil to be heated rapidly while the coolant temperature is controlled separately for emission reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The turbocharger body serves as an intermediary heat transfer component. It receives hot exhaust gases that heat the lubricating oil as it passes through the turbocharger bearings and housing. This intermediary mechanism enables rapid oil temperature increase without directly heating the oil through a separate heater, solving the contradiction between rapid oil heating and coolant temperature control.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the cooling liquid circulation is restricted to maintain low coolant temperature, then emissions are reduced, but the overall system efficiency decreases due to inability to rapidly warm up lubricating oil
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic control of circulation pumps and valves to adjust flow rates based on operating conditions. The first circulation pump can operate independently from the second circulation pump, allowing the coolant flow through the radiator to be optimized for emission reduction while the oil circulation through the turbocharger is optimized for rapid heating, thereby maintaining high system efficiency without compromising emission control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameters of different circuits independently. The coolant temperature is maintained at lower levels for emission reduction, while the lubricating oil temperature is rapidly increased through the turbocharger heating mechanism. This parameter differentiation allows the system to achieve both low emissions and high efficiency simultaneously.
3Device complexity
If a single cooling circuit is used for both coolant and lubricating oil, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to independently control temperatures for emissions and friction reduction is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling circuit is segmented into multiple independent pathways: a first circuit for coolant circulation through the radiator, a second circuit for lubricating oil heating through the turbocharger, and a third circuit for coolant circulation through the heater. This segmentation allows each circuit to be optimized independently, enabling the oil to be heated rapidly while the coolant temperature is controlled separately for emission reduction.
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 accelerates the rise in temperature of the lubricating oil while maintaining low coolant temperatures, reducing engine emissions and fuel consumption, particularly NOx emissions, and ensuring passenger compartment comfort.
Implementation Method 1
passing through the turbocharger 13 to accelerate the rise in temperature of the lubricating oil
Implementation Method 2
a liquid/oil exchanger 11 for cooling the lubricating oil under pressure circulating in the engine 1
Implementation Method 3
under the action of a circulation pump 2 operating in a closed circuit
Implementation Method 4
a thermostatic valve comprising an inlet receiving coolant coming from the engine and a coolant outlet connected to a cooling radiator
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The device has an oil/liquid exchanger (11) with a bypass line (23) connected to lubrication oil inlet and outlet of the exchanger. Flow of oil through the line is controlled by solenoid valves (24, 26) driven based on a temperature of a coolant e.g. water, at an inlet (4) of a thermostat (3). The valves occupy a position to stop lubrication oil circulation through the exchanger and to circulate the oil in the line at a temperature value. The valves take another position to stop the oil circulation in the line and to allow circulation of the oil in the exchanger at another temperature value.